John 15:1-27

After Jesus and the remaining learning-disciples went out from the house where they had eaten their last meal/supper together (Judas Iscariot had previously gone away from them as recorded in John 13:26-30), they went towards the Mount of Olives where the garden of Gethsemane is located at the west side.

During this walk - which spans Matthew 26:30-35, Mark 14:26-31, Luke 22:39, and John 15:1 to 17:26 - Jesus continued to speak with them regarding what was about to happen to himself, his death and resurrection, about the interval of time while he would be preparing a place for them after his resurrection (refer to John 14:2-4), and about other future events.

John 15:1-8:

^15:1"I am the vine, the true (vine), and my Father is the tiller. ^.2Every branch in me not carrying fruit - He lifts it; and every (branch) carrying fruit - He cleans it in order that it may carry more fruit. ^.3Already you are clean-people because-of the word which I uttered-forth² to you; ^.4you must remain in me and I in you; according as the branch is not able to carry fruit from itself except it may remain in the vine, thus neither you except you may remain in me. ^.5I am the vine - you (are) the branches; the (person) remaining in me and I in him, this-person carries much fruit because without me he is not able to make nothing. ^.6Except someone may remain in me, he was thrown outside as the branch and it was dried, and they gather them together and throw into the fire and they are burned. ^.7If-ever you may remain in me and my spoken-matters may remain in you, that-which if-ever you may intend you must ask and it will become to you; ^.8in this my Father was glorified - in order that you may carry much fruit and you may become learning-disciples to me.

Jesus uses figures of speech to teach regarding himself and God his Father by saying:

• "Emphatically I am the vine (in Greek there is a definite word for “I” plus the verb meaning “I am” giving emphasis – I myself am the vine),
  • emphatically and specifically the true vine (the vine that has the quality and essence of trueness, my consistency is truth, I am the actual, certain, real, genuine vine – as opposed to a copy such as the false, fictitious, unreal or fake vine),
• and my Father is the tiller (God my Father is the cultivator, husbandman, the One who tills the soil preparing the garden making it ready for the plants to bear fruit).
• Every branch in me not carrying fruit (all, every single vine shoot or sprout within my realm of operation that is not bearing produce, not bringing fruit, fruitless) -
  • He lifts it (my Father takes it up and carries it away, as described in verse 6 below);
• and all/every branch in me that is carrying fruit (bearing produce, bringing fruit, fruitful) -
  • He cleans it (my Father makes it free from all mixture, causes it not to be mixed with the branches not carrying fruit, cleans it from that-which would be contrary to my Father’s intention, as a tiller prunes a vine's branches)
  • for the purpose and result that the branch that is carrying fruit would carry more fruit (comparatively a bigger amount or quantity of produce).
• By this time emphatically you are clean-people (in Greek there is a definite word for “you” plus the verb meaning “you are” giving emphasis – you yourselves presently are free from any bad foreign mixture)
  • on account of the word (the spoken-account containing individual words constituting what is spoken)
  • which I uttered-forth (spoke) and continue to utter-forth to you;
• it is imperative that you remain in me and I in you (after my resurrection we must stay, continue within one-another's realm of operation, as the vine with its branches that carry fruit);
  • according as the branch is not able to carry fruit from itself (just as, according to how, in comparison to the way that the vine-shoot does not have the able-power, the capability, is not capable of bearing or bringing produce from itself as the source of what is needed to produce that fruit)
    • except/unless it would remain in the vine (if it should ever happen that the branch would not stay, not continue in the vine),
  • in this manner neither you (you do not have the ability to carry fruit from yourselves)
    • except/unless you would remain in me (if it should ever happen that you would not stay, not continue in me - the true vine).
• Emphatically I am the vine (again there is emphasis as verse 1 above – I myself am the vine) -
  • you are the branches (in this figurative illustration);
• the person who is remaining in me and I in him,
  • specifically this person (man, human-being)
  • carries a lot of fruit
    • because without me (apart from me, separated from me)
    • he is not able to make nothing (the usage of a double negative figuratively emphasizes that – definitely that person is not capable of producing anything, he does not have the ability to bring-about something, he cannot do the action of one thing in alignment with God and the things of God).
• Except/unless someone would remain in me (if it should ever happen that anyone would not stay, not be continuing in me),
  • then at that time he was thrown outside (cast external to the area where I am)
    • as the branch (which did not produce any fruit)
    • and it was dried (caused to dry, wither),
    • and the people working in the vineyard assemble the dried branches and cast them into the fire and the dried branches are burned (destroyed by fire).
• If it should happen at any time that you would remain in me
• and my spoken-matters would remain in you (the portions of the whole of God’s Word that I speak to you, each containing a specific discourse necessary for that particular situation or circumstance),
  • that-which if-ever you would intend (the thing which if it should ever happen that you would be willing with active volition and desire)
  • you must ask (it is imperative that you request for it to be given to you, as an inferior asking a superior)
  • and it will become to you (it will come to pass, come into being, happen, occur for you);
• in/by this my Father was glorified (at that future time when it will come to pass for you God my Father will be given the importance, splendor, renown) -
  • for the purpose and result that
  • you would carry (presently and actively bear, be bringing)
    • a lot of fruit (produce)
  • and you would become learning-disciples to me (at that future time after my resurrection you would come to pass to be students relative to me being evidenced).

Many of the verbs above are in the aorist tense in the Greek texts, which is why they may be translated as a past event – however, this tense can refer to any time past, present, or future emphasizing that once this event is accomplished it is done, finished, it will not need to be done a second time! These occurrences may be made-up of many single actions being carried-out at any time and once a specific action is completed then it becomes a past reality.

[Reference: Matthew 13:42 and 50; John 6:63, 13:10, 11, 26-30 and 35, 14:13, 14, 23 and 24; I Corinthians 3:9; James 5:7; Revelation 20:14 and 15, 21:8.]

Verses 9-17:

^.9According as the Father loved¹ me and I loved¹ you, you must remain in the love¹, my (love¹); ^.10if-ever you may keep my commandments, you will remain in my love¹; according as I kept² the commandments of my Father, also I remain in His love¹. ^.11These-things I uttered-forth² to you in order that the joy, my (joy) may be in you, and your joy may be fulfilled. ^.12This is the commandment, my (commandment) in order that you may love¹ one-another according as I loved¹ you. ^.13Not-one-person has love¹ greater of this - in order that someone may put his soul on behalf of his friends. ^.14You are my friends if-ever you may do the-things-which I command you. ^.15No-longer I say (as) you slaves because the slave did not know² what his lord does, but I said² (as) you friends because all-things which I heard from my Father I made-known to you. ^.16You did not select me for-yourselves but I selected you for-myself and I put you in order that you may go and may carry fruit and your fruit may remain, in order that which thing ever you may ask the Father in my name He may give to you. ^.17These-things I command you in order that you may love¹ one-another.

Jesus continues:

• According as the Father loved¹ me (just as, according to how, in comparison to the way that God my Father loved me with His kind of love)
• and emphatically I loved¹ you (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “I” – I myself Godly-loved you),
  • it is imperative that you remain in the love¹ (while I am preparing a place for you - you must stay, continue within the sphere of action of the Godly-love),
  • emphatically and specifically my love¹ (mine);
• if it should happen at any time that you would keep my commandments (as keeping an eye on them, have them in safekeeping, and therefore not neglecting or violating but watching-over, taking-care-of, maintaining, and being observant of the things that I enjoined, commanded, or directed with authority to/for you),
  • you will remain in my love¹ (at that time you will stay, continue behaving within the cause and sphere of action of my Godly-love, God's kind of love that proceeds-from me);
• just as emphatically I kept and continue to keep the commandments of my Father,
  • also I am presently and actively remaining in His love¹ (I am staying, continuing to behave within the cause and sphere of action of the love that proceeds-from my Father, God).
• These things I uttered-forth (spoke) and continue to utter-forth to you
  • for the purpose and result that the joy (rejoicing, the state of elation or enjoyment because of receiving something good ultimately from God),
    • emphatically and specifically my joy (mine) 
    • would be in you,
    • and your joy would be fulfilled (made-full, caused to be filled with the full-contents, filled-up, accomplished at a future time when I will see you again; refer to John 16:22 and 24).
• This is the commandment (what is enjoined, commanded),
  • emphatically and specifically my commandment (mine)
    • for the purpose and result that
    • you may love¹ one-another (be continuously loving each other with God’s kind of love; this is relative to the category of mankind)
    • according as I loved¹ you (just as, according to how, in comparison to the way that I Godly-loved all of you).
• Not-one-person has love¹ greater of this (none, nobody, no-one has/holds Godly-love that is comparatively more-great, larger in quantity and quality, magnitude and importance relative-to this) -
  • for the purpose and result that
  • someone would put his soul (place, set the life of his physical body - which is evidenced by breathing, his soul/breath life, and figuratively referring to his being, including his character and disposition as he is living his life, during his lifetime while he is alive, he does everything he can in the physical realm, gives it all he has available to him during the everyday living of his life until his death)
  • on behalf of his friends (in the interests of his friends).
• Emphatically you (you yourselves) are my friends
  • - how are you friends of me; when do I consider you to be my friends? -
  • if it should ever happen that you would do (be performing)
    • the things which emphatically I (I myself) command you.
• No-longer I say as you slaves (I am not any longer, not anymore, no more saying things to you as calling you bond-servants in the working or service relationship viewpoint, which I did during our meal together; refer to John 13:4-16)
  • because the slave did not know and continues not to know (perceive, see to the end of perceiving and knowing with his mind)
  • what his lord does (the thing that his master is performing),
• but I said and continue to say as you friends (as calling you friends in the working or service relationship viewpoint)
  • because all the things that I heard from my Father (God my Father is the source from Whom the things that I listen to proceed - everything I heard from Him)
  • I made personally known to you.
• Emphatically you did not select me for yourselves (you yourselves did not choose me, pick me out for yourselves)
• but on the contrary, emphatically I selected you for myself (I myself chose you, picked you out for myself)
  • and I put (placed, set) you for the purpose and result that
  • emphatically you would go (you yourselves would presently and actively lead yourselves under, in the sense of going without any argument, under cover, as animals go because they are under a yoke without going from side to side or intentionally stopping to do something else)
  • and would carry fruit (at a future time you would be bearing, bringing produce)
  • and your fruit would remain (your produce would be staying, continuing, abiding),
    • for the purpose and result that
    • whatever you would ask the Father in my name (at a future time anything that you would request the Father for something to be given to you, as an inferior asking a superior, within the cause and sphere of action of everything that my name represents and stands for - all the authoritative-power, ability, workings, etc, that God my Father will give to me when He will raise me up alive out-from the dead-people and will cause me to ascend into heaven towards Him, designating me being Lord and Christ; refer to John 16:23, 26 and 27)
    • He would give to you.
• These-things I command (charge, enjoin) you for the purpose and result that you would love¹ one-another (with Godly-love, as verse 12 above).

The noun "love¹" and the verb "to love¹" come from the Greek word agape which is God's kind of love. To love with His love means to love the same way as God loves, to manifest God's love towards another, whether it is towards God Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, yourself, your neighbor, or towards anyone else. Before the day of Pentecost (which is recorded in Acts 2:1-4), God told His people how to Godly-love in His revealed spoken and/or written words (and at times certain individuals among His people received holy spirit from God temporarily whereby they received information from Him regarding how to love in different specific situations). It is the carrying out of God's commandments, His Word, which is the correct usage or way to manifest God's kind of love according to His will. It is not the same as the brotherly or friendly kind of love, nor is it the same as the emotional/feelings/sexual kind of love.

[Reference: John 6:70, 10:10-17, 11:11, 13:4-18 and 34, 14:15, 16:22-27; Acts 10:40-43; Galatians 5:22; James 2:23; I John 3:16. Also refer to the articles Love in First Corinthians Chapter 13, and The Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.]

Verses 18-25:

^.18Since the world hates you, you know that it hated² me first of you. ^.19Since you were out-from the world, the world ever loved (its) own; but because you are not out-from the world but I selected you for-myself out-from the world, because-of-this the world hates you. ^.20Do you remember the word which I said to you, 'A slave is not greater of his lord'? - if they persecuted me, also they will persecute you; if they kept my word, also they will keep your (word); ^.21but they will do all these-things into you because-of my name, because they did not know² the (One) having sent me. ^.22Except I came and uttered-forth to them, they did not have sin; but now they do not have a pretense concerning their sin. ^.23The (person) hating me also hates my Father. ^.24Except I did the works among them which not-one other (person) did, they did not have sin; but now both they saw² and hated² both me and my Father; ^.25but in order that the word, the (word) having been written² in their law that, 'They hated Me free-giftly', may be fulfilled.

Jesus continues:

• If/since it is a fact that the world hates you (the word "world" is referring to the people who are limited to/by the cosmos, the ordered arrangement that God created but which has fallen from its original condition - if the inhabitants of the world who reject God and me, His son, have active ill-will towards you),
  • you personally know that it hated and continues to hate me first of you (first time-wise).
• If/since it is a fact that during a past time, historically, you were out-from the world (you used-to be originating from the present fallen world),
  • the world ever loved its own (during that time it used-to love those who belong to it, and it would have loved you who were part of it with the brotherly or friendly kind of love, the expressed love that close family members or friends evidence towards each other);
• but because at the present time you are not out-from the world,
• but contrary to you being part of the world - emphatically I selected you (I myself chose, picked you) for myself out-from the world (as verse 16 above),
  • on account of this the world presently and actively hates you.
• Do you remember (actively bring or call to your minds, have in your memory)
  • the word (spoken account) which emphatically I (I myself) said to you,
  • 'A slave is not greater of his lord' (a bond-servant is not larger in magnitude, rank, importance, depth, etc, relative-to his master; refer to John 13:16)? -
• if they persecuted me (the people belonging to the world pursued me as an enemy with hostility; refer to John 5:16),
  • also at a future time they will persecute you;
• if they kept my word (kept an eye on the spoken-account that I spoke to/for them, had it in safekeeping, and therefore not neglecting or violating it but watching-over, taking-care-of, maintaining, and being observant of what I said to/for them),
  • also at a future time they will keep emphatically your word (yours);
• but contrary to keeping my word and your word -
• at a future time they will do (perform) all the things relevant to hating and persecuting you directed to/against you
  • on account of my name (what my name represents and stands for, which includes Lord, Jesus, and Christ; as verse 16 above),
  • because they did not know and continue not to know (they do not perceive to the end of knowing in/with their minds)
    • the One (God) Who sent me.
• Except/unless I came and uttered-forth to them (if I did not come and speak to/with people),
  • during a past time, historically they were not having sin (the word "sin" is singular - the root-cause of all other sins against the only true God originated with respect to mankind with Adam's rejection of what God gave him to believe, and it resulted in Adam's loss of the holy spirit-life which God had given to him upon the condition of believing what God told him and then living accordingly - in this verse Jesus says that they were continuing not to have what was contrary to God’s intention for mankind in their behavior, they were not holding the state of sin, missing the mark of what God says to/for people, aberration from God's Word, God's will, God's law, God's precepts - why not? - because if Jesus had not come and uttered-forth to mankind, then what God promised in Genesis 3:15 would not have been true and they would be continuing as they were without any sin with its consequences!);
    • but at the present time
    • they do not have a pretense (they do not hold anything to put forth or cause something else to appear in order to cover up or disguise their real intent, the deeper co-existent cause as to why they did and continue to do things that are contrary to God's intention, they do not have a pretext)
    • about their sin
    • - the truth is that I came and uttered-forth to them - I am the Christ - what God promised is true.
• The person who is hating me (has active ill-will towards me)
  • also hates my Father (the only true God).
• Except/unless I did the works among them (if I did not perform the deeds, the things wrought, effected, or produced by my actions expending my energy)
• which not one other person did (no other human-being, nobody else performed these works - the works pertaining to the Christ),
  • during that past time, historically, they did not have sin (they were continuing not to have/hold sin - why not? - because if Jesus had not done the works among mankind, then what God promised in Genesis 3:15 would not have been true and they would be continuing as they were without sin with its consequences!; as verse 22 above);
    • but at the present time
    • both they saw and continue to see (they have physically perceived with their eyes; refer to John 14:7-11),
    • and they hated and continue to hate (they have active ill-will towards) 
    • both me and my Father
    • - the truth is that I did the works among them - I am the Christ - what God promised is true;
• but contrary to them not having sin - since it is true that I came and uttered-forth, and I did the works among them -
• for the purpose and result that the word (the spoken-account of God's inner thoughts),
  • emphatically and specifically the word that was written and continues written down in their law (the old covenant writing) that,
  • 'They hated Me free-giftly (gratuitously, without a cause, they had active ill-will towards Me unwarrantedly)',
• would be fulfilled (filled-up, made full, accomplished).

They had physically heard God's Word and seen the effects of God in action by means of Jesus the Christ speaking God's Word and doing God's works pertaining to the Christ. However, they hated God free-giftly, which had been prophesied and written down in Psalm 35:19 and 69:4. 

[Reference: Psalm 35:19, 69:4; Matthew 10:22, 24:9; John 5:16 and 36, 7:7, 8:23, 9:41, 13:16, 14:7-11, 24 and 30; I John 4:5. Also refer to the articles The Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, plus Adam and Eve.]

Verses 26 and 27:

^.26Whenever the encourager may come whom I will send to you from the Father - the spirit of the truth which journeys-out from the Father - that-one will witness concerning me; ^.27but also you bear-witness because you are with me from (the) beginning."

Jesus continues:

• At whatever time that the encourager would come (the word "encourager" in Greek is a masculine noun - the one who exhorts; refer to John 14:16)
• whom emphatically I will send (at a future time I myself will send him) to you
• from the Father (God my Father is the source from Whom the encourager proceeds) - this encourager is -
  • the spirit of the truth (the word "spirit" in Greek is a neuter noun - the spirit having the quality of truth and emanates God’s essential reality, inherent verity, the state of being true; refer to John 14:17)
  • which journeys out from the Father (makes its journey, proceeds, passes out from God my Father Who is the source) -
• specifically that encourager will witness concerning me (will attest with information about me, will give the declaration of knowledge that he/it personally has about me and therefore will state and confirm it on the strength of his/its own authority);
• but also emphatically you bear-witness (at the time when you will receive the spirit of the truth - you yourselves attest with information or knowledge that you have about me and therefore state and confirm it on the strength of your own authority)
  • because you are in company and association with me from the beginning (away-from the time of the start, since the commencement, the origin of my ministry, which officially began with my baptism by John the baptizer, baptist; refer to John chapter 1)."

[Reference: John 14:16, 17 and 26, 16:13 and 14; Acts 1:8 and 22; I John 4:6, 5:6 and 7. Also refer to the article Pentecost and holy spirit. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

John Chapter 16