GO ASTRAY: Gr "skandalizo" = to be tripped up,
surprised, "offended" (AV).
Joh 16:2
WILL THINK HE IS OFFERING A SERVICE TO GOD: As though
he were offering sacrifice to God: "Everyone who sheds the blood of the impious
is as if he offered sacrifice" (Midrash on Num 25:7,8,13) (cp Rom 8:36; Act
26:9-11).
Joh 16:4
THAT I WARNED YOU: Joh 13:19; 14:29.
AT FIRST: Or, "from the beginning".
Joh 16:7
A basic truth: A believer can only grow into mature
discipleship away from Christ -- through struggle and trial.
COUNSELOR: Paraklete: Used 5 times, all in John's
writings: Joh 14:16,26; 15:26; here; 1Jo 2:1. The one who is called alongside,
as a legal counselor ("Advocate") or personal "Comforter". Personified as "him"
because an Angel is the agent by which the Holy Spirit of truth (v 13) is
conveyed to apostles.
Joh 16:8
WORLD: "Kosmos", esp the Jewish "world" (Joh
15:18,19).
Joh 16:9
All sin originates from a lack of faith. Unbelief invalidates
every other virtue. In apostles' subsequent preaching, "belief" and repentance
were all-important (Act 2:37,38; 3:14,15,19).
Joh 16:10
WHERE YOU CAN SEE ME NO LONGER: Positively: Christ as
the Mediator, by which men may come into presence of God, and obtain the
righteousness which is forgiveness of sins. Negatively: Christ's death and
resurrection sealed the fate of the nation of Israel, with its Temple
worship.
Joh 16:11
THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD: Ref Caiaphas and religious
leaders of Israel -- "archon" in Joh 3:1; 7:26,48; 12:31,42; 14:30; 16:11 --
whose offices would be effectively ended by the sacrifice/resur of Christ (Joh
12:32). He and his lieutenants were responsible for crucifixion (1Co 2:8). But
the death of Christ put an end to this whole system (Col 2:14).
ALL TRUTH: Not the truth about all subjects. But
instead, all the (saving) truth about Jesus.
TELL: Anangellein: to declare again, as in interpreting
dreams and visions already seen. A ref to the Apocalypse declaring again, or
interpreting, the Olivet Prophecy?
WHAT IS YET TO COME: The Holy Spirit "Counselor" is the
agent of inspiration (cp Joh 15:26), and also of prophetic interpretation ("what
is yet to come": Rev 1:1).
Examples of personification: riches (Mat 6:24); sin (Joh 8:34;
Rom 5:21; 6:16); spirit (Joh 16:13); wisdom (Pro 3:13-15; 9:1); Israel (Jer
31:4,18); people of Christ (Eph 4:4,13; 5:23; Rev 19:7; 1Co 12:27; 2Co 11:2; Col
1:18,24).
Poss: 'For a little while (death, burial) you will not see me.
Then for a little while (only 40 days) you will see me. Then I will go to the
Father (in heaven).' Or... 'because I go to the Father (in sacrifice)...' as in
Joh 14.
Joh 16:20
Loud wailing and lamentation were customary reactions to death
in Middle East: Jer 22:10; Mar 16:10; Luk 23:27.
Joh 16:21
PAIN: Cp Peter's use of "birthpangs of death" in Act
2:24. Also see Col 1:15,18; Isa 66:5,7,8,10,14. (This "world" is the
"womb"!)
JOY: "Weeping may remain for A night, but rejoicing
comes in THE morning" (Psa 30:5).
Joh 16:23
YOU WILL NO LONGER ASK ME ANYTHING: Have we not all had
the pestering little thoughts, of the right or wrong of some complex moral
tangle, or perhaps of some puzzling verse that seems to defy exposition? Or
perhaps spent countless hours with some of those favorite Christadelphian
time-killers: as, for example, who were the angels that sinned? is Elijah dead,
or alive? or who, if anyone, was the tempter in the wilderness? Then we tell
ourselves, "Someday, when Christ comes, we'll know all those things!"
But what does Jesus say? "In that day (when the glorified
Jesus reveals himself to his disciples)... your hearts shall rejoice... and ye
shall ask me nothing." There is a profound reassurance in his words: not that
our perplexing questions will be answered, but that they will disappear. Nothing
else will matter when that day comes. At that time we might have anything we
desire from the Father, but no matter! We will already have everything we need:
we will have Christ!
A question in AV: "Do you NOW believe?" Expressing skepticism:
'Can you poss believe so soon? Your present "belief" will surely prove to be
superficial!'
Joh 16:32
See Zec 13:7; Mar 14:27: like sheep without a
shepherd.
Joh 16:33
TROUBLE: As in Joh 15:19-21.
I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD: Which is accomplished by
faith (1Jo 5:4; cp 1Jo 4:4), and finalized in his crucifixion (Gal 6:14). Such
an amazing thing to be spoken by a man who is about to die!
THE WORLD: Or the prince of this world (Joh 12:31;
16:11n). Or all the trials of the world which threaten to turn us away from God
(Rom 8:35-39).