John 15:16

Ye have not, &c. Better, Ye chose Me not, but I chose you:-Ye" and -I" are emphatic; there is no emphasis on -Me." The reference is to their election to be Apostles, as the very word used seems to imply (comp. John 6:70; John 13:18; Acts 1:2); therefore the aorist as referring to a definite act in the past should be preserved in translation.

ordained you Better, appointed you(as 2 Timothy 1:11 and Hebrews 1:2), in order to avoid an unreal connexion with ordination in the ecclesiastical sense. The same word used in the same sense as here is rendered -set" in Acts 13:47 and 1 Corinthians 12:28, -ordained" 1 Timothy 2:7, and -made" Acts 20:28.

go and bring forth fruit -Go" must not be insisted on too strongly as if it referred to the missionary journeys of the Apostles. On the other hand it is more than a mere auxiliary or expletive: it implies the active carrying out of the idea expressed by the verb with which it is coupled (comp. Luke 10:37; Matthew 13:44; Matthew 18:15; Matthew 19:21), and perhaps also separation from their Master (Matthew 20:4; Matthew 20:7). The missionary work of gathering in souls is not specially indicated here: the -fruit" is rather the holiness of their own lives and good works of all kinds. -Bring forth" should be bear as in John 15:5.

should remain Better, should abide (see on John 15:9). Comp. John 4:36.

whatsoever ye shall ask See on John 15:7 and John 14:13.

he may give it The Greek may also mean - Imay give it" (comp. John 14:13), the first and third persons being alike in this tense; and several ancient commentators take it as the first.