John 7:53–8:11 — "The Woman Caught in Adultery"

Swedenborgians affirm the spiritual truth of John 7:53–8:11 (the story of the woman caught in adultery), whether or not the passage is original to John. The account exemplifies core Swedenborgian theology: the nature of judgment, mercy, and spiritual transformation. Swedenborg taught that the Lord (Jesus) judges no one in the external sense but that judgment is determined by one's own spiritual state and choices. The woman's encounter with Jesus represents the soul's confrontation with divine mercy and the possibility of spiritual reformation.

In Swedenborgian theology, external actions (the woman's alleged sin) are less significant than internal spiritual condition. Jesus' response—'Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more'—reflects Swedenborg's understanding that God's primary purpose is regeneration and renewal, not condemnation. Whether textual critics date this passage late, Swedenborgians value it as a true account of divine love and the offer of spiritual transformation. The passage is read in Swedenborgian churches and cited in spiritual direction as exemplifying the path of reformation.