John 16

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John 16
P. Oxy. 208 (J 16,14-22).jpg
John 16:14-22 on the recto side of Papyrus 5, written about AD 250.
BookGospel of John
CategoryGospel
Christian Bible partNew Testament
Order in the Christian part4

John 16 is the sixteenth chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records Jesus' continued farewell discourse to His disciples, set on the last night before His crucifixion. Three key words in this chapter, ἁμαρτία, δικαιοσύνη, κρίσις (sin, righteousness and judgment, verses 8–10) "comprehend the three great steps of advance in spiritual truth among men".[1] Jesus speaks about the work of the Holy Spirit, the joy of the believers and His victory over the world.[2] The book containing this chapter is anonymous, but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that John composed this Gospel.[3]

Text[]

John 15:25-16:2 on the recto side of Papyrus 22, written c. AD 250.

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 33 verses.

Textual witnesses[]

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

Places[]

The setting for the discourse in this chapter and the following chapter appears to be in Jerusalem. The precise location is not specified, but John 18:1 states that afterwards, "Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley".

Purpose[]

The evangelist's purpose in this section of his gospel is to support the early Church for whom he is writing, to ensure that they do not fall away (Greek: ινα μη σκανδαλισθητε, hina mē skandalisthēte) (John 16:1). Some commentators suggest he is writing for a specific group of believers called the Johannine Community.[5]

Verse 1[]

Translations vary widely in the way they treat the opening verse of this chapter:

Verse 2[]

New King James Version

They will put you out of the synagogues.[6]

Jesus foretells the exclusion from the Jewish synagogues which the evangelist has already alluded to in John 9:22 and 12:42.[7]

Verse 13[]

New King James Version

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.[8]

Commentator Henry Alford notes that in the words all truth, "no promise of universal knowledge, nor of infallibility, is hereby conveyed; but a promise to them and us, that the Holy Spirit shall teach and lead us, not as children, under the tutors and governors of legal and imperfect knowledge, but as sons".[1]

Verse 24[]

Fragment of John 16:22-30 on the verso side of Papyrus 5, written c. AD 250.

King James Version

Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.[9]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Alford, H., Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary on John 16, accessed 28 November 2020
  2. ^ Halley, Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook: an Abbreviated Bible Commentary, 23rd edition. Zondervan Publishing House. 1962.
  3. ^ Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012.
  4. ^ Philip W. Comfort and David P. Barrett. The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers Incorporated, 2001, pp. 74-78.
  5. ^ Anderson, P., The Johannine Community, accessed 28 November 2020
  6. ^ John 16:2
  7. ^ Kieffer, R., John in Barton, J. and Muddiman, J. (2001), The Oxford Bible Commentary, p. 989
  8. ^ John 16:13
  9. ^ John 16:24

External links[]

Preceded by
John 15 		Chapters of the Bible
Gospel of John 		Succeeded by
John 17
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