The Gospels · New Testament
John 16
John 16: sorrow turned to joy and the Spirit of truth promised
General context
Jesus tells the disciples he has said these things so they will not be offended, and warns that they will be put out of the synagogues and that those who kill them will think they are serving God. He says he is going to the one who sent him and that sorrow has filled their hearts, then says it is better for them that he goes, since otherwise the Comforter will not come. The Comforter will reprove the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, will guide them into all truth, will not speak of himself, and will show them things to come. He speaks of a little while in which they will not see him and a little while after which they will, and the disciples say among themselves that they cannot tell what he means. He compares their sorrow to a woman in travail whose anguish is forgotten after the birth, and says their joy will not be taken from them. He speaks of asking the Father in his name, and of speaking plainly instead of in proverbs. The disciples say he now speaks plainly and that they believe; he answers that they will be scattered and leave him alone.
Cited passages: John 16:1, John 16:2, John 16:5, John 16:6, John 16:7, John 16:8, John 16:13, John 16:16, John 16:18, John 16:20, John 16:21, John 16:22, John 16:23, John 16:25, John 16:29, John 16:30, John 16:31, John 16:32, John 16:33
John 16 (KJV)
1These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4But 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.
5But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7Nevertheless 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.
8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13Howbeit 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.
14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
16A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
17Then 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?
18They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
19Now 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?
20Verily, 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.
21A 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.
22And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
23And 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.
24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
25These 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.
26At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
27For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
28I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
29His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
30Now 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.
31Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32Behold, 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.
33These 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.
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Historical context
The speech continues from the previous chapters with no narrative break and no change of setting stated. The warnings name two specific things, expulsion from synagogues and killing by people who believe they are serving God, and the reason given is that they have not known the Father or him. The three items the Comforter will reprove are each explained in the text itself, sin because they do not believe, righteousness because he goes to the Father, judgment because the prince of this world is judged. Jesus says he had not told them these things at the beginning because he was with them. The disciples' claim to believe is met with a question and with a statement that they will scatter, and the chapter does not report their answer.
Cited passages: John 16:4, John 16:2, John 16:3, John 16:9, John 16:10, John 16:11, John 16:31, John 16:32
Literary context
The chapter works by pairs that reverse: going away and sending, sorrow and joy, a little while and a little while, proverbs and plain speech. The disciples' confusion is reported in their own words before it is addressed, and the speaker repeats their question back to them almost word for word. The one image, a woman in travail, holds the reversal in a single body, where the same hour brings anguish and its forgetting. Asking recurs as a measure of the change, first that none of them asks where he goes, then that they will ask the Father in his name, then that they will ask nothing. The last exchange undercuts a confident statement without withdrawing the peace offered with it.
Cited passages: John 16:7, John 16:20, John 16:16, John 16:17, John 16:19, John 16:21, John 16:5, John 16:23, John 16:24, John 16:25, John 16:29, John 16:33
Key moments
- A warning about killing (John 16:2). He tells them people will think killing them is service to God.
- Better that he goes (John 16:7). He says the Comforter will not come unless he departs.
- The Spirit will guide (John 16:13). The Spirit of truth will guide them into all truth and not speak of himself.
- A little while (John 16:16). He speaks of a short time without seeing him and a short time after which they will.
- They cannot tell (John 16:18). The disciples say among themselves that they do not understand him.
- A woman in travail (John 16:21). He compares their sorrow to childbirth whose anguish is forgotten.
- Scattered, every man (John 16:32). After they claim belief, he says they will be scattered and leave him alone.
For reflection
The disciples say they now believe, and the reply is that they will scatter and leave him alone. What does the chapter do by putting that answer immediately after their confidence?
