John 16
1 “I have told you these things so that you won’t be tripped up. 2 Theya will make you banned from the synagogue.b Certainly, the time is coming that anyone who killed you would be intending to deliver a dutiful servicec to God, 3 and they will do these things because they don’t know the Father or me. 4 However,d I have told you about these things so that when the time for them comes, you can call to mind that I told you about them.
“I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning because I was with you, 5 but now I am going to the one who sent me, and none of you is asking me anymore,e ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Certainly, sadness has filled your hearts because I have told you these things. 7 However,f I’m telling you the truth: It’s helpful to you that I go away because if I didn’t go away, the Advocate wouldn’t come to you, but if I leave, I will send her to you.
8 “When that one comes, she will provide proof against the world system about deviation and living justlyg and assessment:h 9 about deviation, certainly, because they don’t trust me; 10 but also, about living justly because I’m leaving to the Father, and you aren’t going to see me anymore; 11 and also, about assessment because the leader of this world system has been assessed.
12 “I still have a lot to tell you, but you can’t bear them right now. 13 But when that one—the Life-breath of truth—comes, she will guide you regarding every truth. You see, she will not speak by herself; instead, she will speak whatever she hears, and she will announce the things coming to you. 14 That one will announce my praiseworthiness because she will receive what is mine and announce it to you. 15 Anything the Father has is mine. That’s why I said, ‘She will receive what is mine and announce it to you.’ 16 After a short time, you won’t see me anymore, and after another short time, you will see me again.”
17 Then some of his students said to each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘After a short time you won’t see me, and after another short time you will see me again’? and, ‘I’m leaving to the Father’?” 18 So they kept saying, “What does he mean when he says, ‘a short time’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
19 Jesus perceived that they were wanting to ask him, so he said, “Are you trying to figure this out with each other when I said, ‘After a short time, you won’t see me, and after another short time you will see me again’? 20 Truly, truly, I’m telling you, you will weep and mourn, but the world system will celebrate. You will experience grief, but your grief will become joy. 21 When a woman gives birth, she experiences grievous pain because her time has come, but when her child is born, she doesn’t call to mind the suffering anymore because of her joy that a person has been born into the world. 22 So even though you will certainly experience grief for now, also, I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.i 23 And on that day, you won’t ask me for anything. Truly, truly, I’m telling you, whatever you ask from the Father as my representatives,j he will give it to you. 24 Up to this point, you haven’t asked for anything as my representatives. Ask, and you’ll receive it, so that your joy can be made full.k
25 “I’ve been saying these things to you in figures of speech. A time is coming when I won’t talk to you in figures of speech anymore but will openly make an announcement to you about the Father. 26 On that day, you will ask as my representatives—which is not me saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 You see, the Father himself cares aboutl you, since you have cared about me and have trusted that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father, and I have spoken to the whole world. I’m leavingm the world again, and I’m going to the Father.”
29 His students said, “Look, you are speaking openly now and not talking in figures of speech anymore. 30 Now we understand that you’ve understood everything and don’t need anyone to ask for anything for you.”
31 “Do you trust me now?” Jesus asked them. 32 “Look, a time is coming—and has arrived—when each of you will be scattered to your own,n and you’ll leaveo me all alone. But I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I’ve told you these things so that you’ll have peace connection with me; you’ll have suffering connected with the world system. However, be encouraged: I have triumphed over the world system.
FOOTNOTES:
a There is not a specific group named as ‘they,’ but whoever is in view in the next verse, and those who have been adversarial to Jesus and his students throughout John are likely in view here.
b Or “make you ‘away from the gathering’” or “exclude you from the community”
c The word here for ‘dutiful service’ is latreia. It is often translated ‘service,’ which is correct, but it is a more specific word than any kind of service at all. It has to do with a formal service as a member of the military or the temple staff or an attendant to a priest or king. There is a ritual quality to it and a sense of working toward a higher purpose. The verb latreuo (see also Philippians 3:3) is the verb form of performing this kind of service. It is also connected with the noun that describes the concept of performing acts of this type of service (leitourgia—‘performance of ritual service’) in Philippians 2:17 and as a personal noun (leitourgos—'representative servant’) in Philippians 2:25.
d The structure of the Greek conjunctions, translated here as ‘Certainly… However…’ makes it clear that the two statements following those words are meant to be paired, to be two ideas held together in tension.
e The word ‘anymore’ is not in the Greek, but based on the context of John 14:5 where Thomas says they don’t know where he is going and expresses confusion, this seems to be indicating that they have understood what he means and don’t need to ask anymore.
f The structure of the Greek conjunctions, translated here as ‘Certainly… However…’ makes it clear that the two statements following those words are meant to be paired, to be two ideas held together in tension.
g The word dikaiosune is traditionally translated as ‘righteousness.’ Since that word has no meaning outside of religious context, another word would be more appropriate. The word ‘justness’ or ‘living justly’ or ‘justice’ or ‘living in line with the vision of all things well’ is usually a fair or better translation. The word dikaiosune has to do with a state of existence that is in alignment with God’s vision of all things well for all people and all creation, a state of everything in creation being ‘very good.’ It is focused on how people live, whether they live with love for God and their neighbors, whether they follow the path laid out in in Torah of treating each other who they would want to be treated, caring for the poor and orphans and widows and immigrants, and if everyone has what they need to be well. Living in a way that is ‘just’ nearly captures that concept from a biblical perspective. The word ‘rightness’ or ‘alignment’ would possibly be the best translation, but not in the meaning of ‘correct.’ In the meaning of “knowing the difference between right and wrong.” ‘Rightness’ is defined as living with love for all, seeking the benefit of all, seeking wellbeing for all, as God teaches in scripture. ‘Rightness’ also has the benefit of having a mathematical usage, of a ‘right’ angle. Dikaiosune seems to have a sense of being ‘aligned’ or ‘straight’ along the Path that God has set for the people, the Path taught in Torah, the course that leads to meeting the mark, as opposed to deviation (sin) being missing the mark or traveling off course, swerving from the Path.
h This list seems to be about ‘deviating from the Path’ and ‘alignment with the Path’ and ‘discerning between the two.’
i Reference to Isaiah 66:14
j Literally, ‘in my name’
k Parallel to John 16:6
l This word is phileo, not agape. It is about emotional bond, attachment and affection.
m This is the word for separation, not departure. It is the same word translated at times as ‘forgive,’ ‘let go,’ ‘abandon,’ ‘divorce,’ ‘send away,’ and ‘dismiss.’
n Most translations add the word ‘home’ here since the Greek doesn’t specify what of their own. It could be home or family or anything familiar, anything belonging to them. It seems to be contrasting it to remaining faithful to the calling that they share as a collective, as a group who follows him on his path rather than each to their own path. It seems to echo the book of Judges: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25 NRSV).
o This is the word for separation, not departure. It is the same word translated at times as ‘forgive,’ ‘let go,’ ‘abandon,’ ‘divorce,’ ‘send away,’ and ‘dismiss.’