New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
John 16
2
You will be thrown out of the synagogue. In fact, a time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing God a favor.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 9:22
Matthew 10:28
John 12:42
Luke 6:22
Isaiah 66:5
1 Corinthians 4:13
Matthew 24:9
References God
Revelation 6:9
3
They will do things like that because they do not know the Father or me.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 15:21
John 17:25
John 8:19
John 8:55
2 Thessalonians 1:8
1 John 4:8
1 John 3:1
John 17:3
4
"Why have I told you this? So that when the time comes, you will remember that I warned you. I didn't tell you this at first because I was with you.
Reference
5
"Now I am going to the One who sent me. But none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'
Reference
Parallel theme
John 13:36
John 7:33
John 16:28
John 17:4
John 16:10
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 1:3
John 13:3
7
"But what I'm about to tell you is true. It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Friend will not come to help you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 14:26
Acts 2:33
John 7:39
Romans 8:28
Luke 24:49
John 14:3
John 14:28
Psalm 68:18
Truth
John 15:26
Acts 10:34
8
When he comes, he will prove that the world's people are guilty. He will prove their guilt concerning sin and godliness and judgment.
Reference
9
"The world is guilty as far as sin is concerned. That is because people do not believe in me.
Reference
10
The world is guilty as far as godliness is concerned. That is because I am going to the Father, where you can't see me anymore.
Reference
11
The world is guilty as far as judgment is concerned. That is because the devil, the prince of this world, has already been judged.
Reference
Judgment
John 12:31
Hebrews 6:2
Hebrews 9:27
Acts 10:42
Parallel theme
1 John 3:8
Hebrews 2:14
Colossians 2:15
John 14:30
2 Corinthians 4:4
Revelation 1:7
13
But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own. He will speak only what he hears. And he will tell you what is still going to happen.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 John 2:20
John 12:49
Revelation 1:19
John 8:38
Spirit
John 14:26
John 14:17
John 15:26
1 John 4:6
Truth
1 John 2:27
John 14:6
15
Everything that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Holy Spirit will receive something from me and show it to you.
Reference
16
"In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me."
Reference
17
Some of his disciples spoke to one another. They said, "What does he mean by saying, 'In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me'? And what does he mean by saying, 'I am going to the Father'?"
Reference
18
They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying."
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 24:25
19
Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about those things. So he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant? Didn't you understand when I said, 'In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me'?
Reference
20
What I'm about to tell you is true. You will cry and be full of sorrow while the world is full of joy. You will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy.
Reference
21
"A woman giving birth to a baby has pain. This is because her time to give birth has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain. She forgets because she is so happy that a baby has been born into the world.
Reference
22
"That's the way it is with you. Now it's your time to be sad. But I will see you again. Then you will be full of joy. And no one will take your joy away.
Reference
23
"When that day comes, you will no longer ask me for anything. What I'm about to tell you is true. My Father will give you anything you ask for in my name.
Reference
24
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive what you ask for. Then your joy will be complete.
Reference
25
"I have not been speaking to you plainly. But a time is coming when I will speak clearly. Then I will tell you plainly about my Father.
Reference
26
When that day comes, you will ask for things in my name. I am not saying I will ask the Father instead of you asking him.
Reference
Parallel theme
Romans 8:34
27
No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me. He also loves you because you have believed that I came from God.
Reference
28
"I came from the Father and entered the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."
Reference
29
Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking plainly. You are using examples that are clear.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 16:25
30
Now we can see that you know everything. You don't even need anyone to ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."
Reference
31
"At last you believe!" Jesus said.
32
"But a time is coming when you will be scattered and go to your own homes. In fact, that time is already here. You will leave me all alone. But I am not really alone. My Father is with me.
Reference
Summary of John 16
John 16 continues Jesus' final conversation with His disciples as He prepares them for His departure, persecution, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the sorrow that will surround His death.
Jesus begins by warning the disciples that following Him will bring opposition.
Some will be expelled from synagogues, and others will even believe that killing Jesus' followers is an act of service to God.
Jesus explains that this persecution will come because those who oppose His disciples do not truly know the Father or Jesus.
He gives this warning beforehand so that when these difficult experiences occur, the disciples will remember that Jesus had already told them what to expect.
Jesus then returns to the subject of His departure.
The disciples are deeply saddened because they are focused on losing His physical presence, but Jesus explains that His departure is actually for their benefit.
If He does not go away, the Helper will not come to them, but if He goes, He will send the Helper.
The Helper is the Holy Spirit, who will work in the world by exposing the truth concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Jesus explains that the Spirit will convict the world concerning sin because people do not believe in Him, concerning righteousness because Jesus is returning to the Father, and concerning judgment because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
This means that Jesus' departure will not end God's work among His followers.
Instead, the Holy Spirit will continue to guide, teach, and strengthen them.
Jesus acknowledges that there are many things He could tell His disciples, but they are not yet able to understand them fully.
When the Spirit of truth comes, however, He will guide them into truth, reveal what they need to know, and glorify Jesus by making His teaching and significance clear.
Jesus then explains that the Father, Son, and Spirit are completely connected in their work.
The Spirit will not draw attention away from Jesus but will glorify Jesus and make His truth known.
Jesus next prepares the disciples for the emotional shock of His death.
He tells them that soon they will not see Him, but afterward they will see Him again.
The disciples struggle to understand what He means, but Jesus explains that their experience will follow a pattern of sorrow followed by joy.
They will mourn while the world rejoices, but their grief will eventually become joy.
Jesus compares this transformation to childbirth, where intense pain is followed by joy when the child is born.
The comparison emphasizes that the suffering will be real but temporary, while the joy that follows will be lasting.
Jesus promises that their joy will become so complete that no one will be able to take it away.
He also teaches that after His departure, the disciples will have a new openness in their relationship with the Father and will pray in Jesus' name.
The Father Himself loves them because they have loved Jesus and believed that He came from God.
Jesus then gives a concise summary of His entire mission: He came from the Father into the world and is now leaving the world and returning to the Father.
The disciples respond with confidence, saying that they now understand and believe that Jesus came from God.
Jesus recognizes their growing faith but immediately warns them that their confidence will soon be tested.
He tells them that the hour is coming when they will scatter and leave Him alone.
This prediction points toward the events of His arrest, when the disciples will abandon Him.
Yet Jesus emphasizes that He will not ultimately be alone because the Father is with Him.
The chapter ends with one of the strongest statements of encouragement in John's Gospel.
Jesus tells His disciples that they will experience trouble in the world, but they can have peace in Him because He has overcome the world.
John 16 therefore brings together several major themes: persecution, the Holy Spirit, truth, sorrow, joy, prayer, faith, God's love, and Jesus' victory.
The chapter's central message is that Jesus' departure will not leave His followers helpless or abandoned because the Holy Spirit will come to guide them, the Father will remain with them, and Jesus' victory over the world will give them peace even in the middle of suffering.
The disciples will experience grief when Jesus is crucified, confusion when their expectations collapse, and fear when persecution begins, but their sorrow will not have the final word.
Their grief will be transformed into joy through the resurrection, their uncertainty will be answered through the Holy Spirit, and their fear can be replaced by confidence because Jesus has already overcome the world.
The chapter ultimately calls believers to remain faithful when circumstances are painful, trust God's presence when Jesus seems distant, depend on the Holy Spirit for truth and guidance, and maintain peace because Christ's ultimate victory is already secure.
Jesus begins by warning the disciples that following Him will bring opposition.
Some will be expelled from synagogues, and others will even believe that killing Jesus' followers is an act of service to God.
Jesus explains that this persecution will come because those who oppose His disciples do not truly know the Father or Jesus.
He gives this warning beforehand so that when these difficult experiences occur, the disciples will remember that Jesus had already told them what to expect.
Jesus then returns to the subject of His departure.
The disciples are deeply saddened because they are focused on losing His physical presence, but Jesus explains that His departure is actually for their benefit.
If He does not go away, the Helper will not come to them, but if He goes, He will send the Helper.
The Helper is the Holy Spirit, who will work in the world by exposing the truth concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Jesus explains that the Spirit will convict the world concerning sin because people do not believe in Him, concerning righteousness because Jesus is returning to the Father, and concerning judgment because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
This means that Jesus' departure will not end God's work among His followers.
Instead, the Holy Spirit will continue to guide, teach, and strengthen them.
Jesus acknowledges that there are many things He could tell His disciples, but they are not yet able to understand them fully.
When the Spirit of truth comes, however, He will guide them into truth, reveal what they need to know, and glorify Jesus by making His teaching and significance clear.
Jesus then explains that the Father, Son, and Spirit are completely connected in their work.
The Spirit will not draw attention away from Jesus but will glorify Jesus and make His truth known.
Jesus next prepares the disciples for the emotional shock of His death.
He tells them that soon they will not see Him, but afterward they will see Him again.
The disciples struggle to understand what He means, but Jesus explains that their experience will follow a pattern of sorrow followed by joy.
They will mourn while the world rejoices, but their grief will eventually become joy.
Jesus compares this transformation to childbirth, where intense pain is followed by joy when the child is born.
The comparison emphasizes that the suffering will be real but temporary, while the joy that follows will be lasting.
Jesus promises that their joy will become so complete that no one will be able to take it away.
He also teaches that after His departure, the disciples will have a new openness in their relationship with the Father and will pray in Jesus' name.
The Father Himself loves them because they have loved Jesus and believed that He came from God.
Jesus then gives a concise summary of His entire mission: He came from the Father into the world and is now leaving the world and returning to the Father.
The disciples respond with confidence, saying that they now understand and believe that Jesus came from God.
Jesus recognizes their growing faith but immediately warns them that their confidence will soon be tested.
He tells them that the hour is coming when they will scatter and leave Him alone.
This prediction points toward the events of His arrest, when the disciples will abandon Him.
Yet Jesus emphasizes that He will not ultimately be alone because the Father is with Him.
The chapter ends with one of the strongest statements of encouragement in John's Gospel.
Jesus tells His disciples that they will experience trouble in the world, but they can have peace in Him because He has overcome the world.
John 16 therefore brings together several major themes: persecution, the Holy Spirit, truth, sorrow, joy, prayer, faith, God's love, and Jesus' victory.
The chapter's central message is that Jesus' departure will not leave His followers helpless or abandoned because the Holy Spirit will come to guide them, the Father will remain with them, and Jesus' victory over the world will give them peace even in the middle of suffering.
The disciples will experience grief when Jesus is crucified, confusion when their expectations collapse, and fear when persecution begins, but their sorrow will not have the final word.
Their grief will be transformed into joy through the resurrection, their uncertainty will be answered through the Holy Spirit, and their fear can be replaced by confidence because Jesus has already overcome the world.
The chapter ultimately calls believers to remain faithful when circumstances are painful, trust God's presence when Jesus seems distant, depend on the Holy Spirit for truth and guidance, and maintain peace because Christ's ultimate victory is already secure.