Bible Commentaries
John 16

Verse 1

unto = to.

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

not . Greek. me. App-105 .

offended : literally scandalized, or caused to stumble. See John 6:61 .Matthew 5:29 ; Matthew 11:6 ; Matthew 26:31 , Matthew 26:33 . Compare 1 Corinthians 1:23 .Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:13 . The Talmud speaks of Him as "the hung".

Verse 2

shall = will.

put you out, &c. = make you excommunicate. Greek. aposunagogos. Occurs only here; John 9:22 ; and John 12:42 . Compare John 9:34 , John 9:35 .

killeth. See Acts 7:59 ; Acts 12:2 ; Acts 23:12 ; Acts 26:10 .

doeth , &c. = is presenting an offering to God. See Acts 26:9 .

God. App-98 .

service . Greek. latreia, technical word for an "offering". Occurs five times: here; Romans 9:4 ; Romans 12:1 .Hebrews 9:1 , Hebrews 9:6 . In the Septuagint five times: Exodus 12:25 , Exodus 12:26 ; Exodus 13:5 . Jos 22:27 . 1 Chronicles 28:13 .

Verse 3

unto you . All the texts omit.

have not known = knew not (Aor.),

not . Greek. ou. App-105 .

known . App-132 .

the Father . See p. 1511.

nor . Greek. oude .

Verse 4

the time . The texts read "their hour": i.e. the time of the things of verses: John 16:2 , John 16:3 .

shall come = shall have come.

at the beginning = from the beginning. Greek. ex arches. See note on John 6:64 . with. Greek. meta. App-104 .

Verse 5

now . Greek. nun. See John 12:27 .

go My way = am going away: i.e. withdrawing.

to . Greek. pros. App-104 .

Him That sent Me . See on John 14:24 .

sent. Greek. pempo. App-174 .

none = no one. Greek. oudeis.

of = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 .

asketh. Greek erotao. App-134 . They did not grasp the expediency of His going. So questioning had given place to sorrow. All else was excluded by the distress caused by "the things" foretold.

Verse 7

Nevertheless = But.

truth . Greek. atetheia. Compare App-175 ., and see p. 1511.

expedient = profitable. Greek. sumphero. Compare Matthew 5:29 , Matthew 5:30 . Acts 20:20 . Occurs in John here; John 11:50 ; and John 18:14 . The two last passages indicate what Caiaphas deemed "expedient".

go away : i.e. openly.

if . App-118 .

Comforter. See on John 14:16 .

unto. Greek. pros. Same as "to" in John 16:5 .

depart. Greek. poreuomai. Same word as in John 14:2 . Note the three different words used by the Lord. In this verse, aperchomai twice, translated "go away", expressing the fact; pareuomai, " depart", describing the change of sphere from earth to heaven, and in John 16:5 hupago, the manner, secretly, viz. by resurrection. It was in this way that Peter could not follow Him then (John 13:36 ).

Verse 8

And , &c. These four verses exhibit the Figure of speech Prosapodosis, App-6 .

when He is come = having come.

he. Greek. ekeinos. See John 14:26 .

reprove = convict, i.e. bring in guilty. Greek. elencho (Latin. convince). Elsewhere in John 3:20 , "reprove"; John 8:9 , "convict"; John 8:46 , "convince". Compare also Titus 1:9 . James 2:9 .

world. Greek. kosmos. App-129 .

of = concerning. App-104 .

sin. App-128 .

judgment. App-177 .

Verse 9

because . The mission of the Holy Spirit was to bring the world in guilty in regard to three things: (1) SIN. In God's sight sin is refusal to believe the Gospel concerning His son (1 John 5:10 ). The Jews regarded only moral offences (as men do to-day) and infractions of the ceremonial law and the traditions of the elders (Matthew 15:2 ) as sin. (2) RIGHTEOUSNESS. Here also God's standard and man's differ. The Jews regarded the punctilious Pharisee (Luke 18:11 , Luke 18:12 ) as the ideal. The only righteous One, whose standard was the will of God (John 8:29 . Hebrews 10:7 ), was rejected and crucified, and now in righteousness was to be removed from the earth, the seal of the Father's approval being put upon Him by resurrection. In Him Who is made unto us righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30 ), the Divine standard is revealed (Romans 1:17 ). (3) JUDGMENT. For the prince of this world has been already judged (John 12:31 ) and sentenced, and ere long the sentence will be executed (Romans 16:20 ).

believe . . . on. App-150 .

Verse 10

My Father . See on John 14:2 .

see = behold. App-133 .

no more . Greek. ouketi.

Verse 11

is judged = has been judged. App-122 .

Verse 12

I have , &c. Still there are many things I have.

cannot = are not ( App-105 ) able.

bear . Greek. bastazo. Compare its use in John 10:31 ; John 19:17 . Matthew 20:12 .Acts 15:10 . Galatians 1:6 , Galatians 1:2 , Galatians 1:5 . Compare 1 Corinthians 3:2 .Hebrews 5:12 . 1 Peter 2:2 .

Verse 13

Howbeit = But.

the Spirit of truth. See on John 14:17 and App-101 .

is come = shall have come.

guide = lead on the way. Greek. hodegeo. Elsewhere in Matthew 15:14 .Luke 6:39 . Acts 8:31 .Revelation 7:17 . Used in the Septuagint for Hebrew. nahdh. Nehemiah 9:19 . Psa 23:8 ; Psalms 73:24 ; Psalms 139:24 , &c.

into. Greek. eis. App-104 .

all truth = all the truth: i.e. all the truth necessary for His people from Ascension to Descension; the truth concerning the Pentecostal Church, the blessed hope of His return, and the mystery or secret of' the Body of Christ, yet to be revealed to Paul.

of = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

whatsoever = whatsoever things.

shall = will.

shew = tell or report. See John 4:25 ; John 5:15 .Acts 14:27 ; Acts 15:4 ; 1 Peter 1:12 .

things to come = the coming things.

Verse 14

glorify . See p. 1511.

Verse 15

therefore = on account of (Greek. dia. App-104 .John 16:2; John 16:2 ) this.

Verse 16

A little while . See on John 13:33 .

shall not see Me . Most of the texts read, "see ( App-133 .) Me no more".

see . App-133 :. a. Not the same word as in first clause.

because , &c. T Tr. A WI R omit this clause.

Verse 17

Then = Therefore.

among themselves = to (Greek. pros. App-104 .) one another.

Verse 18

cannot tell = do not (Greek. ou . App-105 .) know. App-132 .

Verse 19

Now. All the texts omit.

Jesus . App-98 .

were desirous = were wishing. Greek. thelo. App-102 .

among yourselves = with (Greek. meta. App-104 .) one another.

Verse 20

Verily, verily. Twenty-third occurrence. See on John 1:51 .

weep . Greek. klaio. See John 11:31 , John 11:38 .

lament. Greek. threneo (compare Engl. threnody). See Luke 23:27 , and the other two occurances. Matthew 11:17 , and Luke 7:32 (mourn).

Verse 21

A woman = The woman. The article, in conjunction with the Hebraism "in that day", verses: John 16:23 , John 16:26 , in. dicates the woman (wife) of Revelation 12:0 . See Isaiah 66:7-11 .Micah 5:3 . Compare Psalms 22:31 .Hosea 13:13 .Micah 4:9 , Micah 4:10 . The time is the time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7 ), the birth -pangs (sorrows, Matthew 24:8 ) which will result in the birth of the new Israel, the nation of Isaiah 66:8 and Matthew 21:43 .

child. App-108 :

anguish. Greek. thlipsis, tribulation. Matthew 24:21 , Matthew 24:29 .

for = on account of. Greek. dia. App-104 .John 16:2 .

man. App-123 .

is born = was born.

Verse 22

heart . Compare John 14:1 .

no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.

taketh . Most of' the texts read "shall take".

from . Greek. apo. App-104 .

Verse 23

in that day . See John 14:20 . The use of this important Hebraism (Isaiah 2:11 , Isaiah 2:12 and note there) in connexion with the woman of John 16:21 shows that it refers to Israel and has nothing to do with the Church. The promise as to "asking in My name" was fulfilled as long as the offer of restoration on condition of national repentance continued; when that offer was withdrawn (Acts 28:28 ), the promises (and "gifts") were 'with-drawn also. They will be renewed "in that day".

in. Greek. en. App-104 .

nothing . A double negative. Greek. ouk ouden.

ask . Greek. aiteo. App-134 .

in My name . See on John 14:13 . The texts connect "in My name" with "give" instead of' "ask".

Verse 24

Hitherto = Until now.

have ye asked = asked ye.

full = fulfilled: i.e. filled full.

Verse 25

proverbs . Greek. paroimia, a wayside saying. Occurs five times: here (twice); John 16:29 ; John 10:6 (parable); and 2 Peter 2:22 . In the Septuagint it is found in Proverbs 1:1 and at the title of the book. Elsewhere parabole is used. In N.T. parabole is frequent, rendered "parable", save Mark 4:30 (comparison); Luke 4:23 (proverb); and Hebrews 9:9 ; Hebrews 11:19 (figure).

but . Omit.

the time = an hour.

plainly = in free speech, openly. See John 11:14 .

Verse 26

At = In. Greek. en. App-104 .

that day . See John 16:23 .

pray. Greek. erotao. Same as "ask" in John 16:5 .

for = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

Verse 27

loveth. Greek. phileo. App-135 .

believed . App-150 .

from = from beside. Greek. para. App-104 . Compare John 8:42 ; John 13:3 ; John 17:8 .

Verse 28

go . Same word as "depart", John 16:7 .

Verse 29

said = say. The texts omit "unto Him".

Lo. Greek. ide. App-133 .

no . Greek. oudeis.

Verse 30

are we sure = we know. Greek. oida. App-132 . Same word as "tell "(John 16:18 ) and "knowest "in next clause.

by = in. Greek. en. App-104 .

Verse 31

believe . App-150 .

Verse 32

Behold . Greek. idou. App-133 .

the hour = an hour (no art.) All the texts omit "now".

shall be scattered = should be dispersed. Greek. skorpieo. Occurs elsewhere John 10:12 .Matthew 12:30 . Luke 11:23 . 2 Corinthians 9:9 . A stronger word in John 11:52 .Matthew 26:31 .

every man = each.

to = unto. Greek. App-104 .

his own = his own (home). Greek. to idia. Compare John 1:11 , where it means his own possessions.

and yet = and.

Verse 33

peace . Greek. eirene. See John 14:27 ; John 20:19 , Joh 21:26 .

tribulation . Same as "anguish", John 16:21 .

overcome = conquered. Greek nikao. Occurs twenty-eight times. Only here in John's Gospel, but six times in first Epistle. Always translated "overcome", except in Revelation 5:5 ; Revelation 6:2 ; Revelation 15:2 . The noun nike only in 1 John 5:4 , and nikos in Matthew 12:20 . 1 Corinthians 15:54 , 1 Corinthians 15:55 , 1 Corinthians 15:57 .