John 16 13

John 16:13 kjv

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

John 16:13 nkjv

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

John 16:13 niv

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

John 16:13 esv

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

John 16:13 nlt

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

John 16 verses

John 16 13 Meaning

John 16:13 reveals the nature and work of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus designates as "the Spirit of truth." This verse emphasizes His post-ascension role in guiding believers. It details that when He comes, He will lead the disciples into a comprehensive understanding of truth. Crucially, His revelation does not originate from Himself but is conveyed directly from what He "hears," ensuring perfect unity and coherence with the Father and the Son. Furthermore, the Spirit's function includes foretelling "the things that are to come," encompassing both immediate future events and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan throughout history and into eternity.

John 16 13 Context

John 16:13 is part of Jesus' "Farewell Discourse" (John 13-17), delivered to His disciples on the night before His crucifixion. This crucial section prepares them for His imminent departure, suffering, and the subsequent period after His ascension. Jesus is deeply concerned about their understanding and ability to cope with His absence and the challenges they will face.

In chapter 14, Jesus promises "another Helper" (Paraclete), identifying Him as the "Spirit of truth." He assures them the Spirit will teach, comfort, and guide. Chapter 15 focuses on their union with Christ ("I am the vine, you are the branches") and the world's hatred for them. Chapter 16 continues by reiterating the disciples' impending persecution and the Spirit's comprehensive work: convicting the world (Jn 16:8-11) and empowering believers.

Specifically, verse 13 follows Jesus' statement in verse 12, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now." This establishes the need for a future revelation beyond what the disciples could currently grasp. The Spirit is thus presented as the essential divine agent who will complete their understanding of Christ's teaching, guide them in their ministry, and reveal the future plan of God. Historically and culturally, the Jewish people awaited prophetic guidance, and this verse indicates that such divine revelation would continue, primarily through the Holy Spirit, forming the basis of New Covenant understanding and the foundation for the New Testament writings. It stands against reliance solely on human understanding or inherited tradition for divine truth.

John 16 13 Word analysis

• When (ὅταν - hotan): This Greek term denotes a future event expected to occur. It indicates the Spirit's coming as a specific, appointed time in God's redemptive plan, post-Pentecost.

• the Spirit (τὸ Πνεῦμα - to Pneuma): Refers directly to the Holy Spirit, often rendered as "Breath" or "Wind," emphasizing His invisible yet powerful activity. The definite article "the" indicates a specific, known divine Person.

• of truth (τῆς ἀληθείας - tēs alētheias): Describes the Spirit's essence and function. He embodies truth, reveals truth, and guides into truth, acting as God's pure and authentic messenger. This also serves as a polemic against deceit and falsehood.

• comes (ἔλθῃ - elthē): Signifies the Spirit's arrival in a new, empowered way after Jesus' ascension (Acts 2), inaugurating the Church age.

• he will guide (ὁδηγήσει - hodēgēsei): The verb implies leading the way, like a shepherd leading his flock or a guide showing the path. This denotes active, practical direction and insight.

• you (ὑμᾶς - hymas): Plural, primarily referring to the apostles who were Jesus' direct audience, but by extension, it also applies to all believers in all ages as the Church is led by the apostolic teachings, inspired by the Spirit.

• into all (ἐν πάσῃ - en pasē): Denotes completeness or entirety. It's not some truth or partial truth, but a full understanding. The Spirit grants insight into the complete divine counsel.

• the truth (τῇ ἀληθείᾳ - tē alētheia): Refers to the whole scope of God's revelation concerning Christ, salvation, the Father's will, and the ethical implications for Christian living. This includes deepening the disciples' understanding of Jesus' already-spoken words.

• for he will not speak (οὐ γὰρ λαλήσει - ou gar lalēsei): "For" indicates the reason or explanation for His guidance. His speaking is not self-initiated but dependent, showcasing divine unity and subordination within the Trinity.

• on his own authority (ἀφ’ ἑαυτοῦ - aph’ heautou): Emphasizes that the Spirit does not invent or originate doctrine independently. His words perfectly align with the Father's and Son's will, ensuring theological consistency.

• but whatever (ἀλλ’ ὅσα ἂν - all’ hosa an): Indicates that His revelation is derived. His speaking is always responsive, transmitting, rather than originating, information.

• he hears (ἀκούσῃ - akousē): Implies an intimate, continuous communication and relationship within the Godhead, signifying the Father as the ultimate source of revelation and the Son mediating it to the Spirit.

• he will speak (λαλήσει - lalēsei): Reiterates the Spirit's function as the revealer, taking divine truths and making them intelligible to human beings.

• and he will declare to you (καὶ ἀναγγελεῖ ὑμῖν - kai anangelei hymin): The word "declare" means to announce, report, or make known. It implies conveying a message or intelligence.

• the things that are to come (τὰ ἐρχόμενα - ta erchomena): Refers to future events. This encompasses eschatological prophecies, the unfolding of the kingdom of God, the progress of the church, and divine guidance for individual future paths.

• "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth": This phrase underlines the essential nature of the Holy Spirit as the authoritative interpreter and revealer of divine truth. He perfects the disciples' understanding of Christ's person and work, transcending their present capacity. This is not about human speculative knowledge, but the revelatory truth of God.

• "for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak": This establishes the Spirit's role as an accurate conduit of divine communication, perfectly aligning with the Father and the Son. It signifies functional subordination within the Trinity, not an inferiority of essence, thereby ensuring that all His revelations are genuinely God-given and not self-conceived. His message is unified with that of the Father and Son, a continuous flow of divine revelation.

• "and he will declare to you the things that are to come": This highlights the prophetic aspect of the Spirit's ministry. He empowers the apostles to write inspired scripture foretelling future events (e.g., in the Revelation of John), and also provides guidance regarding future developments within the Church and in individual lives of believers. This isn't mere prediction, but revelation from God's eternal plan.

John 16 13 Bonus section

The Spirit's guidance "into all the truth" signifies progressive revelation. While Jesus taught everything necessary for salvation, the full implications, systematic understanding, and application across various contexts were unveiled through the Holy Spirit's ministry to the apostles, leading to the formation of the New Testament canon. Thus, the "all the truth" referred to includes the entire New Testament corpus.

This verse also has an implicitly corporate dimension. While initially addressed to the disciples (the future apostles), the guidance of the Spirit for "all the truth" extends through the Spirit-inspired Word to the entire church. This collective leading ensures doctrinal purity and understanding for the body of Christ throughout history. The Spirit equips leaders and gifts believers to uphold and propagate this truth, guarding against the "spirit of error" (1 Jn 4:6).

The concept of "hearing" within the Godhead highlights the dynamic, interpersonal relationship within the Trinity. The Father is the source, the Son mediates, and the Spirit reveals. This is not a human hearing by ear, but an eternal, intimate, and perfect knowledge and communication between divine Persons, where the Spirit eternally knows and reveals the mind of the Father and the Son.

John 16 13 Commentary

John 16:13 encapsulates the indispensable ministry of the Holy Spirit in bringing God's revelation to its complete and practical application. After Jesus' physical departure, the disciples would not be left without ultimate truth or direction. The "Spirit of truth" would pick up where Jesus left off, clarifying and deepening their understanding of Christ's teachings, which they were previously unable to fully bear. This guidance is not merely intellectual enlightenment but a profound, Spirit-empowered comprehension of "all the truth" concerning God's redemptive purpose and the Christian walk.

The emphasis on the Spirit not speaking "on his own authority" (ἀφ’ ἑαυτοῦ) but only what He "hears" underscores the unified witness of the Godhead. The Spirit does not introduce new doctrine contradictory to the Father or the Son; rather, He reveals and applies their truth. This establishes the authority and divine origin of all true Spirit-inspired teaching. His role is to glorify Christ (Jn 16:14), ensuring that the revelation points back to the Father's ultimate plan carried out through the Son. This Trinitarian unity provides an anchor for all biblical revelation.

Furthermore, the Spirit's role in declaring "the things that are to come" is multifaceted. It includes the inspiration of the apostolic writings (like Revelation, which unveil future events), guidance concerning the historical unfolding of the church, and insight into individual believers' paths. This ensures the Church possesses prophetic foresight and revelatory truth, both for canon formation and ongoing spiritual discernment. The Spirit's guidance guards believers against error and leads them continually into a richer, more accurate understanding of God's reality. Practically, this means listening for the Spirit's guidance through Scripture, discerning prophetic insights, and submitting to His leadership in our daily lives, trusting that He always speaks according to the will of the Father and the Son.