John 16 KJV
The Work of the Holy Spirit
The Work of the Holy Spirit
The Spirit's conviction of the world is tripartite and forensic: sin is defined specifically as unbelief in Jesus, righteousness as his vindication through ascension to the Father, and judgment as the decisive defeat of the 'prince of this world,' forming a unique Johannine legal framework absent from Synoptic pneumatology. Themes: Courage, Holy Spirit
1hese things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Words in red are the direct words of Jesus Christ.
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Did You Know?
The Spirit's conviction of the world is tripartite and forensic: sin is defined specifically as unbelief in Jesus, righteousness as his vindication through ascension to the Father, and judgment as the decisive defeat of the 'prince of this world,' forming a unique Johannine legal framework absent from Synoptic pneumatology.
Jesus' assertion that his departure is 'expedient' inverts the disciples' grief by framing the ascension as the necessary precondition for the Spirit's indwelling mission, shifting emphasis from physical presence to eschatological empowerment for witness.
The childbirth metaphor for sorrow turning to joy echoes Isaiah 26:17 and Micah 4:9-10 yet reorients it from national deliverance to the post-resurrection 'birth' of the believing community's direct access to the Father, without intermediary questioning of Jesus.
Verse 23's shift to asking the Father 'in my name' without asking Jesus anything marks a covenantal transition from visible companionship to prayer grounded in realized glorification, distinguishing post-ascension practice from the earthly ministry.
The chapter's final declaration of cosmic victory ('I have overcome the world') stands in deliberate tension with the promise of ongoing tribulation, embodying Johannine realized eschatology where the Spirit sustains joy amid unresolved conflict rather than eliminating it.
Jesus paid the annual temple tax by instructing Peter to catch a fish whose mouth contained the exact coin needed, a detail unique to Matthew 17 that blends miracle with practical provision in first-century Jewish life.
Though an uneducated fisherman, Peter delivered the Pentecost sermon in Acts that led to the baptism of about three thousand converts in a single day, marking the birth of the early church.
John was the only apostle explicitly present at the crucifixion; from the cross Jesus entrusted his mother Mary to John's care, after which John took her into his own home (John 19:26-27).
Lazarus' name is a contracted form of Eleazar, meaning "God has helped," a detail that aligns with the narrative's emphasis on divine intervention after four days of entombment when decomposition was culturally expected.
In the northern reaches of ancient Israel this fertile region served as the humble setting where Jesus grew up in Nazareth and launched the greater part of his public ministry.
Jerusalem is mentioned over 800 times in the Bible. More than any other city.
Jesus raised Lazarus here after he had been dead four days.
Commentary & Study Notes Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871) ยท Public Domain These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended โ both the warnings and the encouragements just given.
Classic verse-by-verse commentary on John 16 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: Discourse at the supper table concluded.
- 1-5
- These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended โ both the warnings and the encouragements just given.
- 2
- They shall put you out of the synagogue โ (Joh 9:22; 12:42). the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service โ The words mean religious service โ "that he is offering a service to God." (So Saul of Tarsus, Ga 1:13, 14; Php 3:6).
Read all 23 notes on John 16 โ