John 16

Updated on Nov 11, 2023

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Book Gospel of John Order in the Bible part 4		Bible part New Testament Category Gospel

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. Jesus speaks about the work of the Holy Spirit, the joy of the believers and His victory over the world. The book containing this chapter is anonymous, but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that John composed this Gospel.

Text

The original text is written in Koine Greek.

Some most ancient manuscripts containing this chapter are:

Papyrus 75 (AD 175-225)

Papyrus 5 (c. 250).

Papyrus 22 (c. 250).

Codex Vaticanus (325-350)

Codex Sinaiticus (330-360)

Codex Bezae (c. 400)

Codex Alexandrinus (400-440)

Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (c. 450; extant: verses 22-33)

Papyrus 60 (c. 700; extant: verses 29-33)

This chapter is divided into 33 verses.

Places

The setting for the discourse in this chapter and the following chapter appears to be in Jerusalem. The precise location is not specified, but John 18:1 states that afterwards, "Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley".

Structure

The New King James Version organizes this chapter as follows:

John 16:1-4 = The Coming Rejection

John 16:5-15 = The Work of the Holy Spirit

John 16:16-24 = Sorrow Will Turn to Joy

John 16:25-33 = Jesus Christ Has Overcome the World

Analysis

The evangelist's purpose in this section of his gospel is to support the Church for whom he is writing, to ensure that they do not fall away (Greek: ινα μη σκανδαλισθητε, hina mē skandalisthēte) (John 16:1). Translations vary widely in the way they treat these words:

that ye should not be caused to stumble (American Standard Version)

that ye should not lose faith (21st Century King James Version)

that ye should not be offended. (Geneva Bible)

that you should not be offended (taken unawares and falter, or be caused to stumble and fall away (Amplified Bible)

so that you will not fall away (New International Version)

so that you won’t be caught by surprise (Complete Jewish Bible)

to keep you from being afraid (Contemporary English Version)

that you may not be scandalized (Douay–Rheims Bible)

so that you won’t lose your faith when you face troubles (Easy-to-Read Version)

to keep you from stumbling (NRSV)

that you may avoid the offenses that are coming (The Voice)

so that your faith may not be shaken (Jerusalem Bible)

so that you may not be tripped (note on 'literal' translation in Jerusalem Bible)

so that you will not turn back (Bible in Worldwide English)

Verse 13

New King James Version

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.

Verse 24

King James Version

Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

References

John 16 Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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