John 15 16

John 15:16 kjv

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

John 15:16 nkjv

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

John 15:16 niv

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit?fruit that will last?and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

John 15:16 esv

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

John 15:16 nlt

You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

John 15 verses

John 15 16 Meaning

John 15:16 declares that discipleship is initiated by divine choice, not human decision. Jesus selected His followers and appointed them for a specific mission: to go forth, bear spiritual fruit, and ensure that this fruit endures. The ultimate purpose of this divine election and appointment is to empower the disciples so that their prayers, offered in the name of Jesus and aligned with His will, will be answered by God the Father. This verse establishes a clear link between God's sovereign calling, faithful obedience in ministry, and effective, fruitful prayer.

John 15 16 Context

John 15 is part of Jesus' Farewell Discourse (John 13-17), delivered to His disciples immediately before His crucifixion. Chapter 15 focuses on the metaphor of Jesus as "the true Vine" and the Father as "the Vinedresser," with the disciples as "branches." The central theme is "abiding in Christ" as essential for spiritual vitality and fruitfulness. Jesus emphasizes that apart from Him, the disciples can do nothing. Within this discourse, John 15:16 underscores the divine initiative behind the disciples' calling, contrasting with the typical rabbinic custom where disciples chose their master. Jesus chooses and appoints His followers for a specific purpose (bearing fruit) that extends beyond His physical presence, and this purpose is inextricably linked to answered prayer.

John 15 16 Word analysis

• "You did not choose me" (οὐχ ὑμεῖς με ἐξελέξασθε, ouch hymeis me exelḗxasate):

  • "ἐξελέξασθε" (exelḗxasate): Aorist active indicative of eklegomai, meaning "to pick out," "to choose." Here in the negative, it highlights that the initiative of selection did not come from the disciples. This directly counters the common practice in Jewish society where students chose their rabbis. Jesus overturns the expectation.
  • Significance: Emphasizes divine sovereignty and grace. Salvation and service originate from God's decision, not human merit or preference.

• "but I chose you" (ἀλλ' ἐγὼ ἐξελεξάμην ὑμᾶς, all' egō exelaxámēn hymás):

  • "ἐξελεξάμην" (exelaxámēn): Aorist middle indicative of eklegomai. The middle voice ("I chose for myself") conveys intensity and purpose, suggesting Jesus' personal, deliberate, and authoritative selection of His disciples.
  • Significance: Reaffirms Jesus' absolute authority and active role in selecting individuals for His kingdom and mission.

• "and appointed you" (καὶ ἔθηκα ὑμᾶς, kai ethēka hymás):

  • "ἔθηκα" (ethēka): Aorist active indicative of tithēmi, meaning "to place," "to set," "to establish," or "to appoint." It signifies placing someone in a definite position or for a specific task.
  • Significance: Indicates a clear commission, authority, and destiny conferred upon the chosen disciples. They are not merely chosen but commissioned.

• "that you should go" (ἵνα ὑμεῖς ὑπάγητε, hina hymeis hypagēte):

  • "ἵνα" (hina): Introduces a purpose clause, stating the reason for the chosenness and appointment.
  • "ὑπάγητε" (hypagēte): Present subjunctive of hypagō, meaning "to go away," "to depart," or "to go forth." It implies a dynamic, outward movement, signaling a mission beyond their immediate context.
  • Significance: Establishes the apostolic mission – the call to spread the Gospel and manifest God's kingdom beyond the original group.

• "and bear fruit" (καὶ καρπὸν φέρητε, kai karpon pherēte):

  • "καρπὸν" (karpon): Accusative of karpos, "fruit." In biblical context, it refers to spiritual produce: transformed character (Gal 5:22-23), righteous actions (Phil 1:11), and disciples made for God's glory (Matt 28:19).
  • "φέρητε" (pherēte): Present subjunctive of pherō, "to carry," "to bear," "to bring forth." Implies active production and visible manifestation.
  • Significance: The primary outcome and evidence of an authentic relationship with Christ is spiritual fruitfulness. This isn't optional but intrinsic to their calling.

• "and that your fruit should remain" (καὶ ὁ καρπὸς ὑμῶν μένῃ, kai ho karpos hymōn menē):

  • "μένῃ" (menē): Present subjunctive of menō, meaning "to abide," "to remain," "to endure." Connects to the theme of "abiding" in John 15.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the lasting impact, durability, and eternal significance of the fruit produced. It is not fleeting but brings enduring glory to God and leads to eternal life.

• "so that whatever you ask the Father in my name" (ἵνα ὅ τι ἂν αἰτήσητε τὸν Πατέρα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου, hina ho ti an aitēsēte ton Patera en tō onómati mou):

  • "ἵνα" (hina): Another purpose clause, indicating the result or aim of the preceding divine action and the disciples' obedience.
  • "αἰτήσητε" (aitēsēte): Aorist active subjunctive of aiteō, "to ask," "to request."
  • "ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου" (en tō onómati mou): "In my name." This phrase means acting by Jesus' authority, in His character, for His purposes, and aligning with His will. It's not a magical incantation but a deep identification with Christ.
  • Significance: Links effective prayer to divine election and the purpose of fruitfulness. When one lives out the purpose for which they were chosen, their prayers become aligned with God's will and are powerfully answered.

• "he may give it to you" (δῷ ὑμῖν, do hymīn):

  • "δῷ" (do): Aorist active subjunctive of didōmi, "to give."
  • Significance: Assures divine provision and responsiveness to prayer that is made in accordance with the divine will and purpose revealed in Christ.

Word Groups/Phrases Analysis:

• "You did not choose me, but I chose you": This antithesis is foundational. It highlights the reversal of traditional power dynamics and emphasizes the initiative and grace of God. It sets the stage for understanding all Christian service as divinely enabled.
• "chose you and appointed you": This is a twofold act: selection for a relationship, and commission for a task. Being chosen implies belonging and intimacy, while being appointed implies purpose and responsibility.
• "that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain": This chain defines the essence of the Christian mission. "Go" implies outreach and evangelism; "bear fruit" signifies inner transformation and outward impact; "fruit should remain" speaks to enduring spiritual legacy and eternal value. This isn't merely producing but producing something of lasting quality.
• "so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you": This outcome clause connects divine enablement for prayer to the fulfillment of God's redemptive purpose through the disciples. It is not a blank check for selfish desires but an assurance that when disciples align with God's mission, their prayers for the furtherance of that mission will be granted. Effective prayer is inextricably linked to a life lived out according to God's prior choosing and appointment.

John 15 16 Bonus section

The active choice of "I chose you" in Greek using the middle voice ("for myself") subtly communicates the intimate and possessive nature of Jesus' selection. These individuals were chosen specifically for His purposes and His glory. This choice is an act of sovereign love and intentional design. The chain of divine initiative (chose), human responsibility (go, bear fruit, remain), and divine provision (answered prayer) paints a holistic picture of discipleship where every aspect is under God's loving and powerful orchestration. The promise of answered prayer serves not as a means to personal gain, but as a supernatural enablement to fulfill the very mission for which they were chosen and appointed.

John 15 16 Commentary

John 15:16 is a pivotal verse, grounding the believer's existence and mission in God's sovereign initiative. Jesus clarifies that His disciples were not self-appointed; rather, He, as God incarnate, actively selected them. This choice underscores God's prior grace, nullifying any human boasting in their call or abilities. Furthermore, this divine election carries a specific commission: "appointed you that you should go and bear fruit." This "going" signifies an outward mission, while "bearing fruit" encapsulates spiritual transformation, Christ-like character, and the multiplication of disciples for the kingdom. The crucial qualifier "that your fruit should remain" emphasizes durability and eternal significance, contrasting fleeting efforts with enduring spiritual impact.

The climax of the verse connects this divine chosenness and purposeful fruitfulness to powerful prayer: "so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you." This isn't a transactional formula but an organic consequence. When a disciple lives in the purpose for which they were chosen—abiding in Christ, bearing lasting fruit—their desires and prayers become so aligned with the Father's will (expressed "in my name," meaning in unity with Christ's character and purpose) that God delightedly answers. The assurance of answered prayer here is directly linked to fulfilling the mission and glorifying God, not to personal ambition.

For instance, a Christian leader praying for boldness in sharing the Gospel, or for the healing of someone for the sake of Christ's kingdom, can pray with confidence because these prayers are in line with the fruitfulness and "going" they are appointed to. A prayer for greater financial gain merely for comfort, without connection to Kingdom work, would fall outside the "in my name" framework of this promise.