John 16:8 kjv
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
John 16:8 nkjv
And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
John 16:8 niv
When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:
John 16:8 esv
And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
John 16:8 nlt
And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
John 16 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Holy Spirit's Conviction / Work | ||
| Jn 14:16-17 | And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper... Spirit of truth. | Spirit as Helper and source of truth. |
| Jn 15:26 | When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you... he will bear witness about me. | Spirit testifies about Jesus. |
| Acts 2:37 | When they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said... "What shall we do?" | Spirit's conviction leading to repentance. |
| Rom 3:20 | For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. | Law reveals sin; Spirit now convicts. |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword... discerning the thoughts... | God's word (applied by Spirit) exposes heart. |
| Concerning Sin | ||
| Jn 3:18-19 | Whoever believes in him is not condemned... condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son. | Unbelief is the primary condemning sin. |
| Rom 3:23 | for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. | Universal reality of sin. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Consequence of sin and alternative in Christ. |
| Ps 14:1-3 | The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."... no one does good, not even one. | Humanity's pervasive sin and rejection of God. |
| Gal 3:22 | But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given. | Scripture reveals all under sin, for salvation. |
| Concerning Righteousness | ||
| Jn 16:10 | concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer. | Specific clarification of Christ's righteousness. |
| Rom 1:17 | For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." | God's righteousness revealed through faith. |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. | Christ's righteousness imputed to believers. |
| Php 3:9 | and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ. | Righteousness by faith, not law. |
| Jer 23:6 | In his days Judah will be saved... he will be called: The LORD Is Our Righteousness. | Prophecy of Messiah as our righteousness. |
| Concerning Judgment | ||
| Jn 5:22, 27 | For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son... has given him authority to execute judgment. | All judgment committed to Jesus. |
| Acts 17:31 | because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed... | God's appointed day for judgment through Christ. |
| Heb 9:27 | And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. | Inescapable reality of future judgment. |
| Rev 20:11-15 | Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it... books were opened... the dead were judged. | The Great White Throne judgment. |
| Gen 3:15 | I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head. | Protoevangelium, judgment on serpent/Satan. |
| The "World" | ||
| Jn 1:10 | He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. | The world's rejection of its Creator. |
| 1 Jn 2:15-17 | Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. | World system is opposed to God. |
John 16 verses
John 16 8 Meaning
John 16:8 describes a crucial work of the Holy Spirit (the "Helper" or "Paraclete") once Jesus departs. Upon His arrival, the Spirit will profoundly engage with the "world"—humanity that is unregenerate and stands in opposition to God. This engagement is characterized by "conviction" (or exposing, proving guilty), revealing the world's true spiritual state regarding three fundamental aspects: the reality of its sin (specifically, unbelief in Jesus), the nature and standard of true righteousness (as embodied and proven by Jesus), and the certainty of divine judgment (already determined for the ruler of this world). This divine demonstration is meant to strip away the world's self-deception and bring it face-to-face with God's truth.
John 16 8 Context
John 16:8 is part of Jesus' profound farewell discourse, spanning chapters 13 through 17. These intimate words were spoken to His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion, designed to prepare them for His imminent departure, the challenges they would face, and the transformative coming of the Holy Spirit. Earlier in chapter 16, Jesus details the hostility the world would direct at His followers (v. 1-4) and explains that His departure is necessary for the "Helper" to come (v. 7). The Holy Spirit's primary work among believers is to comfort, guide into all truth, and empower. However, in John 16:8-11, Jesus shifts to describe the Spirit's external work specifically towards the "world"—those who reject Christ. This specific verse reveals that the Spirit's ministry to the unbelieving world is one of direct confrontation and exposure, laying bare their true spiritual condition regarding sin, righteousness, and judgment, thereby removing their illusions and preparing them for the message of the gospel.
John 16 8 Word analysis
- And (Καὶ - _Kai_): A simple conjunction connecting this verse to Jesus' previous statement about the Spirit's coming, indicating a further aspect of the Spirit's work.
- When He comes (ἐλθὼν ἐκεῖνος - _elthōn ekeinos_):
- ἐλθὼν (_elthōn_): Aorist active participle of ἔρχομαι (_erchomai_), meaning "having come." It emphasizes the specific act of the Spirit's arrival, marking a new phase in God's interaction with humanity after Christ's ascension.
- ἐκεῖνος (_ekeinos_): "that one," referring definitively to the Helper, the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus earlier (Jn 14:26, 15:26, 16:7). This pronoun provides emphatic identification.
- He will convict (ἐλέγξει - _elegxei_): Future indicative of ἐλέγχω (_elegchō_). This is a crucial term. It means more than merely informing or reproving; it signifies to "expose, bring to light, prove guilty, cross-examine, convince decisively." In a forensic or legal sense, it implies presenting irrefutable evidence that brings a person to an unavoidable conclusion about their guilt. It strips away pretense and brings self-knowledge before God. This conviction isn't solely for condemnation but a powerful act intended to bring awareness, paving the way for repentance.
- The world (τὸν κόσμον - _ton kosmon_): This term (from which we get "cosmos") here refers to humanity alienated from God, characterized by sin and hostility towards God and His Son. It signifies the organized system of unbelief that rejects God's rule and opposes His kingdom. This "world" stands under the influence of the "ruler of this world" (Jn 12:31, 14:30, 16:11).
- Concerning (περὶ - _peri_): This preposition indicates the subject or sphere "about" or "with regard to" which the Spirit will convict the world. It frames the specific areas of the Spirit's demonstration.
- Sin (ἁμαρτίας - _hamartias_): The state or act of missing the mark, falling short of God's holy standard. In this specific context (as explained in Jn 16:9), it refers preeminently to the sin of unbelief in Jesus Christ. All other sins flow from this foundational rejection of God's provision for salvation.
- And righteousness (καὶ περὶ δικαιοσύνης - _kai peri dikaiosynes_):
- δικαιοσύνης (_dikaiosynes_): Refers to God's perfect standard of justice, rectitude, and holiness. Here (as explained in Jn 16:10), it relates specifically to Jesus' vindicated righteousness. His ascension to the Father proved that He was indeed righteous and fully satisfied all of God's demands, in stark contrast to the world's unrighteousness.
- And judgment (καὶ περὶ κρίσεως - _kai peri kriseōs_):
- κρίσεως (_kriseōs_): Signifies a legal decision, a verdict, or the process of passing judgment. In this context (as explained in Jn 16:11), the Spirit convicts the world that judgment is real, inevitable, and has already begun with the defeat of Satan, the "ruler of this world," through Christ's work on the cross and resurrection. The world, by aligning with its defeated ruler, thus shares in his judgment.
- He will convict the world: This phrase signifies the Spirit's powerful role in confronting humanity's self-deception. It is a divine, supernatural action, not merely human argumentation, that exposes the depth of their spiritual fallenness.
- Concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: These three topics form the comprehensive scope of the Spirit's conviction. They systematically dismantle the world's false perspectives, laying the foundation for understanding the need for the gospel. Sin (unbelief) shows the problem, righteousness (Christ's perfection) shows the solution, and judgment shows the consequence of rejecting the solution.
John 16 8 Bonus section
The threefold conviction concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment serves a vital theological purpose. It systematically addresses the world's fallen state by
- Defining the primary sin: Not merely moral failings, but the rejection of God's ultimate revelation, Jesus Christ. This highlights humanity's rebellion against the offer of salvation.
- Establishing the absolute standard: The Spirit reveals God's uncompromised righteousness, fully met and demonstrated by Jesus' perfect life and work, verified by His ascension. This contrasts sharply with humanity's inability to achieve righteousness.
- Confirming divine accountability: Judgment is presented as a certain and active reality, with the defeat of Satan foreshadowing the ultimate destiny of those aligned with him. This dispels any illusion of impunity for unbelief.This ministry of conviction by the Holy Spirit is foundational to evangelism. Without the Spirit's work, the human heart remains hardened, unable or unwilling to perceive its spiritual bankruptcy or God's holiness. It transforms mere hearing of the Gospel into a profound encounter with God's truth, leading to an inner recognition of need and an opening for grace.
John 16 8 Commentary
John 16:8 encapsulates the Holy Spirit's mission to the unbelieving world, serving as the necessary prelude to repentance and faith. The core of this work is "conviction" (ἐλέγχω), an exposure of truth that is undeniable and profoundly piercing. The Spirit doesn't just present information; He illuminates the heart, revealing the true nature of sin, specifically the foundational sin of not believing in Jesus. He establishes God's righteous standard through the vindication of Christ's perfect life and work, demonstrated by His ascension to the Father. Finally, the Spirit convinces the world of impending judgment, not merely as a future event, but as an already unfolding reality exemplified by the defeat of Satan, the "ruler of this world," through Christ's victory. This tri-fold conviction breaks down the world's spiritual blindness and self-justification, compelling individuals to face their need for salvation, setting the stage for the proclamation of the Gospel. It is an act of divine mercy, creating the awareness necessary for an informed decision about Christ.