John 15 2

John 15:2 kjv

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

John 15:2 nkjv

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

John 15:2 niv

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

John 15:2 esv

Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

John 15:2 nlt

He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.

John 15 verses

John 15 2 Meaning

John 15:2 presents two distinct actions of God the Father, the Vinedresser, towards branches connected to Christ, the True Vine. Firstly, any branch claiming connection to Christ but failing to bear spiritual fruit is removed. Secondly, any branch that does bear fruit, signifying genuine believers, is pruned or cleansed by the Father to enhance its fruitfulness and yield an even greater harvest of righteous character and deeds. It highlights God's active involvement in nurturing and judging spiritual life.

John 15 2 Context

John chapter 15, known as the "Discourse of the True Vine," immediately follows Jesus' Last Supper discourse and precedes His high priestly prayer in chapter 17. Jesus is preparing His disciples for His imminent departure, teaching them about their relationship with Him, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. He uses the vivid and familiar agricultural metaphor of a vine and its branches, common in Jewish literature (e.g., Isa 5:1-7, Ps 80:8-16), to illustrate spiritual union, dependency, and productivity. This verse, along with the first, establishes the Father as the Vinedresser, Jesus as the True Vine, and the disciples as the branches, setting the stage for the crucial command to "abide" in Him for fruitful living. The passage serves to comfort and instruct, revealing both the divine demand for fruit and the divine enablement for it.

John 15 2 Word analysis

• Every branch: (Greek: πᾶν κλῆμα, pan klēma). Refers to individuals outwardly connected to Christ, either genuinely or superficially. This universal address implies God's scrutiny applies to all professing followers.

• in me: (Greek: ἐν ἐμοί, en emoi). This phrase is critical. It denotes a positional relationship, being within Christ. It could refer to a superficial attachment (like an unfruitful branch externally on the vine) or a vital, organic union (like a fruitful branch drawing life directly). The context clarifies this by the presence or absence of "fruit."

• that beareth not fruit: (Greek: μὴ φέρον καρπόν, mē pheron karpon). Lack of "fruit" (which can signify righteous character, obedience, good works, or multiplication of disciples) is the criterion for the first action. This is not about a temporary barren season, but a persistent lack, indicating no true life-giving connection.

• he taketh away: (Greek: αἴρει αὐτό, airei auto). The Greek verb airō has a semantic range including "to lift up" (e.g., in Jn 5:8, Lk 17:13) and "to take away, remove" (e.g., Jn 1:29, 10:18). In the context of an unfruitful branch, the predominant and most logical meaning here is "to remove" or "to cut off." This implies judgment and separation for those who bear no spiritual fruit, demonstrating they never truly had vital union. It does not speak to genuine believers losing salvation but rather exposes false profession.

• and every branch that beareth fruit: (Greek: πᾶν τὸ καρπὸν φέρον, pan to karpon pheron). Contrasts sharply with the unfruitful. These are true believers whose lives show the outward evidence of the Spirit's work.

• he purgeth it: (Greek: καθαίρει αὐτό, kathaírei auto). From kathaírō, which specifically means "to cleanse," "to prune," "to purify." This is the Vinedresser's meticulous care, removing anything hindering further growth, such as dead wood, weak shoots, or excess foliage. It’s an act of refinement and spiritual discipline.

• that it may bring forth more fruit: (Greek: ἵνα καρπὸν πλείονά φέρῃ, hina karpon pleiona pherē). The ultimate purpose of the pruning process is not punishment but an intentional divine act to promote deeper spiritual maturity and greater productivity in the life of the true believer. It reflects God's desire for overflowing abundance in His children.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away": This phrase distinguishes between an external, visible connection (being "in me") and an internal, life-giving union that produces fruit. The absence of fruit reveals the superficiality of the connection, leading to divine removal, which speaks to judgment upon unproductivity.
  • "every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit": This highlights the Father's ongoing, active, and beneficial work in the lives of His true children. Pruning, though sometimes painful, is a loving, necessary, and purposeful act to foster deeper growth and exponential fruitfulness. It's a testament to God's desire for our spiritual excellence.

John 15 2 Bonus section

The concept of "fruit" in John 15 extends beyond specific good deeds to encompass the entire outflow of a Christ-like life. It includes character qualities (Gal 5:22-23), righteousness (Phil 1:11), good works (Col 1:10), and ultimately, the bringing of others to Christ. The removal of unfruitful branches, while interpreted by some as a loss of salvation, is more consistently understood in Reformed theology as evidence that such individuals never truly possessed saving faith. They were "in" Christ in a nominal or positional sense, but not organically. The act of "pruning" by the Father, kathairō, implies a separation of spiritual deadness from living growth within a genuinely fruitful branch. This is distinct from cutting off a wholly dead branch. It suggests an ongoing process of God lovingly addressing our imperfections, purifying our motives, and refining our faith, much like a gardener carefully tends a thriving plant to ensure its maximum yield. The painful aspects of life are often the Vinedresser's sharpest tools.

John 15 2 Commentary

John 15:2 reveals God the Father as an intentional and sovereign Vinedresser, deeply invested in the spiritual health and productivity of those connected to Christ. He categorizes "branches" not by their claim, but by their fruit. Those outwardly connected but spiritually barren are subject to divine removal, signifying a lack of genuine, transformative life from the Vine. Conversely, true believers, who manifest the life of Christ through fruit, experience God's active, though sometimes difficult, purification and refinement. This "pruning" is not punishment but an indispensable part of their spiritual journey, aimed at enhancing their capacity for producing even greater fruit of righteousness and godliness. The verse emphasizes that God desires not just fruit, but more fruit, pointing to progressive sanctification.

Examples for practical usage:

• Removal of unfruitful branches: A person professing faith for years shows no change in character, no love for God's word, and no good works, eventually drifting away from the church or explicitly renouncing faith. This illustrates the "taking away."
• Pruning for more fruit: A committed believer faces a difficult season (e.g., loss of a loved one, job struggles, illness) which, through reliance on God, strips away worldly dependencies and cultivates deeper faith, patience, and compassion, leading to greater ministry or personal spiritual growth.