John 16 1

John 16:1 kjv

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

John 16:1 nkjv

"These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.

John 16:1 niv

"All this I have told you so that you will not fall away.

John 16:1 esv

"I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.

John 16:1 nlt

"I have told you these things so that you won't abandon your faith.

John 16 verses

John 16 1 Meaning

John 16:1 conveys Jesus' profound pastoral concern for His disciples. He declares that His prior teachings, particularly those warning about future persecution and the world's hatred, have been communicated precisely so that His followers would not lose faith, falter, or abandon their commitment when confronted with these severe trials. It emphasizes the preventative nature of divine foresight, designed to strengthen belief rather than induce despair.

John 16 1 Context

John 16:1 acts as a pivotal transition within Jesus' Farewell Discourse (John 13-16), directly linking to the escalating warnings about persecution presented in John 15:18-27. Having spent significant time explaining the intimate union between Himself and His disciples through the analogy of the vine and branches, and detailing the coming of the Holy Spirit as their Helper, Jesus now directly addresses the stark reality of the "world's" inevitable hostility towards them. Historically and culturally, first-century Jewish followers of Jesus faced severe social ostracism, expulsion from synagogues – which constituted a major identity crisis – and potentially lethal threats from both Jewish religious authorities and later, the Roman Empire. By providing these difficult truths before His crucifixion and ascension, Jesus intends to inoculate His disciples against shock, disillusionment, and eventual apostasy, equipping them spiritually for the daunting task ahead as His witnesses.

John 16 1 Word analysis

• "These things" (ταῦτα, tauta): This pronoun points back to the immediate preceding instructions and warnings Jesus has just given, particularly the pronouncements concerning the world's hatred, the disciples' persecution, and the comfort of the coming Spirit in John 15:18-27. It serves as a comprehensive summary of His final, crucial teachings before His passion.
• "I have spoken" (λελάληκα, lelalēka): Derived from laleō, meaning "to speak." The Greek perfect active indicative verb signifies a completed action with continuing results and lasting validity. It underscores the divine authority and intentionality of Jesus' words, indicating that what He said is definitive and bears ongoing significance for His disciples.
• "to you" (ὑμῖν, hymin): This direct address confirms the personal and specific nature of Jesus' counsel, directed toward His faithful eleven disciples (Judas having departed earlier). It highlights His intimate pastoral concern for their welfare and spiritual perseverance.
• "that" (ἵνα, hina): This is a conjunction introducing a purpose clause, clearly stating the ultimate objective and intentionality behind Jesus' communication. It signifies that His words are not merely informational but teleological, aimed at a specific outcome for His disciples.
• "you may not stumble" (σκανδαλισθῆτε, skandalisthēte): An aorist passive subjunctive of skandalizō.
  • The root skandalon originally referred to the bait-stick of a trap, or an obstacle causing one to trip. In the New Testament, it denotes a moral pitfall, an offense, or something that causes one to fall away from faith or into sin.
  • The verb skandalizō thus means to cause to stumble, to cause to be offended, or to lead astray into apostasy.
  • In this context, it means Jesus desires that His disciples not be shocked, dismayed, or disheartened by the world's hostility to the point of abandoning their faith or becoming disloyal to Him. The forewarning acts as a preventative measure against such spiritual collapse.

• "These things I have spoken to you": This phrase underlines Jesus' divine omniscience and His profound love and foresight as a Shepherd preparing His flock. He actively and knowingly conveys challenging truths, not to dismay but to fortify, emphasizing His role in their spiritual equipping before the trials manifest.
• "that you may not stumble": This expresses Jesus' protective will. He recognizes that persecution and hatred could be a significant skandalon – a trap for their faith. His warnings serve as an spiritual immunization, helping them internalize the expectation of suffering so they can stand firm and maintain their fidelity, understanding that such opposition is part of God's sovereign plan.

John 16 1 Bonus section

• Preventative Prophecy: This verse beautifully illustrates one primary function of biblical prophecy concerning suffering: it isn't to terrify, but to prepare, providing foreknowledge that acts as spiritual armor against surprise attacks on faith. Jesus arms His disciples with truth so they can navigate the future not with fear of the unknown, but with grounded resolve.
• God's Sovereignty and Man's Responsibility: While Jesus foretells what will happen, His reason for telling them is rooted in His loving desire that they may not stumble, implying their continued choice and reliance on Him. Divine foreknowledge here underscores God's sovereignty over events, while simultaneously empowering human perseverance through informed choice and reliance on the Helper, the Holy Spirit.
• The Shepherd's Heart: This statement radiates Jesus' profound care as the Good Shepherd. Just as a shepherd guides his flock away from dangers, Jesus, through His warnings, guides His disciples away from potential spiritual pitfalls, preparing them for the cost of discipleship and ensuring their fidelity through foresight.

John 16 1 Commentary

John 16:1 serves as Jesus' direct statement of intent for His preceding teachings, encapsulating His profound pastoral care. By candidly revealing the harsh reality of coming persecution and hatred from the world, Jesus provided a crucial spiritual inoculation to His disciples. This foreknowledge was not meant to instill fear, but to fortify their faith, allowing them to anticipate and understand adversity when it arrived, rather than being surprised or disillusioned into apostasy. It positions His teachings as preventative grace, designed to anchor them securely in Christ amid inevitable external pressures and internal struggles. The verb "stumble" points to a loss of faith or commitment, underscoring Jesus' desire for their spiritual perseverance above all. His words thus served as both a warning and an empowering act of love.