John 16 is the sixteenth chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records Jesus' continued Farewell Discourse to his disciples, set on the last night before his crucifixion. In this chapter, Jesus speaks about the work of the Holy Spirit, the joy of the believers and his victory over the world.[1] The book containing this chapter is anonymous, but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that John composed this Gospel.[2]
The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 33 verses.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
The setting for the discourse in this chapter and the following chapter appears to be in Jerusalem. The precise location is not specified, but states that afterwards, "Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley".
The evangelist's purpose in this section of his gospel is to support the early Church for whom he is writing, to ensure that they do not fall away (ινα μη σκανδαλισθητε, hina mē skandalisthēte) (John 16:1). Some commentators suggest he is writing for a specific group of believers called the Johannine Community.[4]
All this I have told you so that you will not fall away.[5] Heinrich Meyer relates "all this" to John 15:18-27, the section of this discourse which anticipates the world's hatred for the disciples.[6]
English translations vary widely in the way they treat the opening verse of this chapter:
Meyer observes that
They will put you out of the synagogues.[7] Jesus foretells the exclusion from the Jewish synagogues which the evangelist has already alluded to in 9:22 NKJV and 2-nb John.[8]
But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.
And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.[9] Lutheran writer Johann Bengel notes that while Jesus had not said these things before, he was previously aware of the hatred which would arise.[10]
Now I am going back to the One who sent me. But none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?[11] The King James Version adopted the wording "I go my way" for this verse.[12]
William Robertson Nicoll comments that the disciples' failure to ascertain clearly where Jesus was going reflected their absorption with "the thought of His departure and its consequences of bereavement [for] themselves".[13]
Commentator Henry Alford refers to three key words in this chapter, ἁμαρτία, δικαιοσύνη, κρίσις (sin, righteousness and judgment, 16:8-11 NKJV) which "comprehend the three great steps of advance in spiritual truth among men".[14]
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.[15] Alford advises that in the words all truth, "no promise of universal knowledge, nor of infallibility, is hereby conveyed; but a promise to them and us, that the Holy Spirit shall teach and lead us, not as children, under the tutors and governors of legal and imperfect knowledge, but as sons".
Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.[16] See also: and Luke 11:9-10.
New International Version
NKJV
KJV