World English Bible · Under Rome
John 16
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"I have said these things to you so that you wouldn't be caused to stumble. They will put you out of the . Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers to . They will do these things because they have not known nor me. But I have told you these things so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn't tell you these things , because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled . Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I don't go away, the won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. When he has come, he will convict the world about , about , and about ; about , because they don't in me; about , because I am going to , and you won't see me any more; about , because the prince of this world has been judged. "I still have many things to tell you, but you can't bear them now. However, when he, of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming. He will me, for he will take from what is mine and will declare it to you. All things that has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine and will declare it to you. "A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me." Some of his therefore said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you won't see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;' and, 'Because I go to '?" They said therefore, "What is this that he says, 'A little while'? We don't know what he is saying." Therefore perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, "Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, 'A little while, and you won't see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'? Most certainly I tell you that you will weep and , but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow because her time has come. But when she has the child, she doesn't remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. "In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of in my name, he will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full. "I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about . In that day you will ask in my name; and I don't say to you that I will to for you, for himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have that I came from . I came from and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to ." His said to him, "Behold, now you are speaking plainly, and using no figures of speech. Now we know that you know all things, and don't need for anyone to question you. By this we that you came from ." answered them, "Do you now ? Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because is with me. I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world."
A public domain modern English translation, free to read and share. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
Christians read this chapter differently
- Does God promise us good things in this life? · John 16:33
Every view at its strongest, with who holds it and what it has to answer for.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.