THE TRUE VINE (η αμπελος η αληθινη). "The vine the genuine." Assuming that the Lord's Supper had just been instituted by Jesus the metaphor of the vine is naturally suggested by "the fruit of the vine" (Mark 14:25; Matthew 26:29). Αμπελος in the papyri (Moulton and Milligan's _Vocabulary_) is some... [ Continue Reading ]
BRANCH (κλημα). Old word from κλαω, to break, common in LXX for offshoots of the vine, in N.T. only here (verses John 15:2-6), elsewhere in N.T. κλαδος (Mark 4:32, etc.), also from κλαω, both words meaning tender and easily broken parts.IN ME (εν εμο). Two kinds of connexion with Christ as the... [ Continue Reading ]
ALREADY YE ARE CLEAN (ηδη υμεις καθαρο εστε). Potentially cleansed (Westcott) as in John 13:10 which see and John 17:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
ABIDE IN ME (μεινατε εν εμο). Constative aorist active imperative of μενω. The only way to continue "clean" (pruned) and to bear fruit is to maintain vital spiritual connexion with Christ (the vine). Judas is gone and Satan will sift the rest of them like wheat (Luke 22:31). Blind complacency is... [ Continue Reading ]
YE THE BRANCHES (υμεις τα κληματα). Jesus repeats and applies the metaphor of verse John 15:1.APART FROM ME (χωρις εμου). See Ephesians 2:12 for χωρις Χριστου. There is nothing for a broken off branch to do but wither and die. For the cosmic relation of Christ see John 1:3 (χωρις αυτου).... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS CAST FORTH (εβληθη εξω). Timeless or gnomic use of the first aorist passive indicative of βαλλω as the conclusion of a third-class condition (see also verses John 15:4; John 15:7 for the same condition, only constative aorist subjunctive μεινητε and μεινη in verse John 15:7). The apostles a... [ Continue Reading ]
ASK WHATSOEVER YE WILL (ο εαν θελητε αιτησασθε). Indefinite relative with εαν and present active subjunctive of θελω, to wish, to will, and aorist middle imperative of αιτεω, to ask. This astounding command and promise (γενησετα, future middle of γινομα, it will come to pass) is not without condi... [ Continue Reading ]
HEREIN (εν τουτω). That is in the vital union and the much fruit bearing. It points here backwards and forwards.IS GLORIFIED (εδοξασθη). Another gnomic or timeless first aorist passive indicative.BEAR (φερετε). Present active subjunctive, "keep on bearing" much fruit.AND SO SHALL YE BE (κα... [ Continue Reading ]
ABIDE (μεινατε). Constative first aorist active imperative of μενω, summing up the whole.IN MY LOVE (εν τη αγαπη τη εμη). Subjunctive possessive pronoun, "in the love that I have for you." Our love for Christ is the result of Christ's love for us and is grounded at bottom in the Father's love f... [ Continue Reading ]
YE WILL ABIDE (μενειτε). Future tense of μενω, conclusion of the third-class condition (εαν and first aorist active subjunctive τηρησητε). The correlative of John 14:15. Each involves the other (love and keeping the commandments of Jesus).AND ABIDE (κα μενω). The high example of Jesus (the Son)... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU (ινα η χαρα η εμη εν υμιν η). Purpose clause with ινα and the present subjunctive η (some MSS. have μεινη, may remain), Christ's permanent absolute joy in the disciples.AND THAT YOUR JOY BE FULFILLED (Κα η χαρα υμων πληρωθη). Same construction with first aorist (effect... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE LOVE ONE ANOTHER (ινα αγαπατε αλληλους). Non-final use of ινα, introducing a subject clause in apposition with εντολη (commandment) and the present active subjunctive of αγαπαω, "that ye keep on loving one another." See John 13:34.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAN THIS (ταυτης). Ablative case after the comparative adjective μειζονα and feminine agreeing with της αγαπης (love) understood.THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE (ινα τις την ψυχην αυτου θη). Object clause (non-final use of ινα in apposition with the ablative pronoun ταυτης and the second aorist a... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE DO (εαν ποιητε). Condition of third class with εαν and the present active subjunctive, "if ye keep on doing," not just spasmodic obedience. Just a different way of saying what is in verse John 15:10. Obedience to Christ's commands is a prerequisite to discipleship and fellowship (spiritual... [ Continue Reading ]
NO LONGER (ουκετ). As he had done in John 13:16. He was their Rabbi (John 1:38; John 13:13) and Lord (John 13:13). Paul gloried in calling himself Christ's δουλος (bond-slave).SERVANTS (δουλους). Bond-servants, slaves.I HAVE CALLED YOU FRIENDS (υμας ειρηκα φιλους). Perfect active indicative,... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I CHOSE YOU (αλλ' εγω εξελεξαμην υμας). First aorist middle indicative of εκλεγω. See this same verb and tense used for the choice of the disciples by Christ (John 6:70; John 13:18; John 15:19). Jesus recognizes his own responsibility in the choice after a night of prayer (Luke 6:13). So Paul... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE MAY LOVE ONE ANOTHER (ινα αγαπατε αλληλους). Repetition of John 13:34; John 15:12. This very night the disciples had been guilty of jealousy and wrangling (Luke 22:24; John 13:5; John 13:15).... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE WORLD HATETH YOU (ε ο κοσμος υμας μισε). Condition of the first class. As it certainly does.YE KNOW (γινωσκετε). Present active second person plural indicative of γινωσκω or present active imperative (know), same form.HATH HATED (μεμισηκεν). Perfect active indicative, "has hated and st... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORLD WOULD LOVE ITS OWN (ο κοσμος αν το ιδιον εφιλε). Conclusion of second-class condition (determined as unfulfilled), regular idiom with αν and imperfect indicative in present time.BUT BECAUSE YE ARE NOT OF THE WORLD (οτ δε εκ του κοσμου ουκ εστε). Definite and specific reason for the wo... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER (μνημονευετε). Present active imperative of μνημονευω, old verb from μνημων, in John again in John 16:4; John 16:21. See John 13:16 for this word.IF THEY PERSECUTED ME (ε εμε εδιωξαν). Condition of first class. They certainly did persecute (first aorist active of διωκω, to chase like a... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO YOU (εις υμας). Like the dative υμιν (Textus Receptus) as in the papyri and modern Greek (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 594).FOR MY NAME'S SAKE (δια το ονομα μου). See verse John 15:20. See this same warning and language in Matthew 10:22; Mark 13:13; Matthew 24:9; Luke 21:17). There is little di... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAD NOT HAD SIN (αμαρτιαν ουκ ειχοσαν). Conclusion of condition of second class without αν because context makes it clear (νυν δε) without it (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1013). The imperfect active indicative with -οσαν instead of -ον (also in verse John 15:24) as common in the LXX, and occurs... [ Continue Reading ]
MY FATHER ALSO (κα τον πατερα μου). Because Christ reveals God (John 14:9) and to dishonour Christ is to dishonour God (John 5:23). The coming of Christ has revealed the weight of sin on those who reject him.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE BOTH SEEN AND HATED (κα εωρακασιν κα μεμισηκασιν). Perfect active indicative of οραω and μισεω, permanent attitude and responsibility. The "world" and the ecclesiastics (Sanhedrin) had united in this attitude of hostility to Christ and in reality to God.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THIS COMETH TO PASS (αλλ'). Ellipsis in the Greek (no verb), as in John 9:3; John 13:18.IN THEIR LAW (εν τω νομω αυτων). Cf. John 8:17; John 10:34 for this standpoint. "Law" (νομος) here is for the whole of Scripture as in John 12:34. The allusion is to Psalms 69:4 (or Psalms 35:19). The hat... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE COMFORTER IS COME (οταν ελθη ο παρακλητος). Indefinite temporal clause with οταν and the second aorist active subjunctive of ερχομα, "whenever the Comforter comes."WHOM I WILL SEND UNTO YOU FROM THE FATHER (ον εγω πεμψω υμιν παρα του πατρος). As in John 16:7, but in John 14:16; John 14... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE ALSO BEAR WITNESS (κα υμεις δε μαρτυρειτε). Present active indicative or imperative (do ye bear witness), same form of μαρτυρεω. "Ye also" as well as the Holy Spirit, ye also when filled with and taught by the Holy Spirit the things concerning Jesus. It is here that Christians fail most.HA... [ Continue Reading ]