John 15:17

Ver. 17. “ I give you these precepts, that you may love one another. ”

The pronoun ταῦτα cannot refer to the ἵνα which follows: “I command you this, that you love one another.” For the plural proves that this expression includes all the preceding instructions and suggestions since John 15:1, particularly the words of John 15:12-16. The ἱνα must therefore be translated by in order that; it indicates, in conformity with the idea of John 15:12, the purpose of these injunctions.

This work is all love; love in its first origin, the love of the Father; love in its great manifestation, the love of Christ; finally, love in its end, the full flowering of mutual love among believers. Love is its root, its trunk and its fruit. This is the essential characteristic of the new kingdom, whose power and conquests are due only to the contagion of love. This is the reason why Jesus leaves no other law than that of love to those who, through faith, have become members of His body.

Luthardt observes that in the first seventeen verses of this chapter, there is found only one particle of connection. This long asyndeton has an especial solemnity. Here is the last wish of Jesus speaking to His own (see John 17:24).

Such a style could not belong to a Greek author; these words came forth from Hebrew thought.