Ioan 16:1

Romanian Cornilescu Translation

V-am spus aceste lucruri, pentruca ele să nu fie pentru voi un prilej de cădere.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

John 16:4, John 15:11, Matthew 11:6, Matthew 13:21, Matthew 13:57, Matthew 24:10, Matthew 26:31-33, Romans 14:21, Philippians 1:10, 1 Peter 2:8

Reciprocal: Matthew 10:27 - I tell Matthew 24:25 - General Mark 13:23 - behold Mark 14:27 - All Luke 18:34 - General John 14:25 - have John 16:17 - said Acts 9:16 - I will Acts 14:22 - we 1 Thessalonians 3:4 - we told

Gill's Notes on the Bible

These things have I spoken unto you,.... Concerning the world's hatred and persecution of them, and the little regard they would show to their doctrine: these things Christ thought, proper to give them notice of before hand, that expecting them, they might be prepared for them, and be fortified against them;

that, says he,

ye should not be offended: his view in speaking of them, was not to discourage them, but to prevent their stumbling at them, and falling by them. Hardships coming upon persons at unawares, bear the harder upon their spirits, and they are more apt to take offence at them and be impatient under them, which is prevented by previous intimation: had Christ said nothing of these things that should befall his disciples, they might have surprised them, and have been a stumbling to them; and might have tempted them to have relinquished their profession of him, and dropped their ministerial work; whereas being apprized of them before hand, they were not so shocking to them. This shows the tender concern of Christ for his disciples, how careful he was to remove, every occasion of stumbling, or what might be matter of offence to them; and may teach us to act in such like manner towards one another, in this, or any other case.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

These things - The things spoken in the two previous chapters, promising them divine aid and directing them in the path of duty.

Be offended - For the meaning of the word offend, see the notes at Matthew 5:29. It means here the same as to stumble or fall - that is, to apostatize. He proceeds immediately to tell them, what he had often apprised them of, that they would be subject to great persecutions and trials. He was also himself about to be removed by death. They were to go into an unfriendly world. All these things were in themselves greatly fitted to shake their faith, and to expose them to the danger of apostasy. Compare Luke 24:21. If they had not been apprised of this, if they had not known why Jesus was about to die, and if they had not been encouraged with the promised aid of the Holy Spirit, they would have sunk under these trials, and forsaken him and his cause. And we may learn hence:

1.That if Christians were left to themselves they would fall away and perish.

2.That God affords means and helps beforehand to keep them in the path of duty.

3.That the instructions of the Bible and the help of the Holy Spirit are all granted to keep them from apostasy.

4.That Jesus beforehand secured the fidelity and made certain the continuance in faith of his apostles, seeing all their dangers and knowing all their enemies. And, in like manner, we should be persuaded that “he is able to keep that which we commit to him against that day,” 2 Timothy 1:12.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XVI.

Christ warns his disciples, and foretells the persecutions

they should receive from the Jews, 1-4.

Foretells his death, and promises them the Comforter, 5-7.

Points out his operations among the Jews, and in the world,

8-11.

His peculiar influences on the souls of the disciples, 12-15.

Speaks figuratively of his death and resurrection, at which his

disciples are puzzled, 16-18.

He explains and illustrates the whole by a similitude, 19-22.

Shows himself to be the Mediator between God and man, and that

all prayers must be put up in his name, 23-28.

The disciples clearly comprehend his meaning and express their

strong faith in him, 29, 30.

He again foretells their persecution, and promises them his

peace and support, 31-33.

NOTES ON CHAP. XVI.

Verse John 16:1. These things have I spoken — Particularly what is mentioned in the two last chapters.

Be offended. — Ἱνα μη σκανδαλισθητε, That ye should not be stumbled. May not fall away from the faith, nor receive any injury to your souls, as that man does to his body who stumbles, or falls over a stone, or block, in the way which he has not discovered.