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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - John 16:13 - 16:13
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Howbeit (de). One of the most delicate and difficult particles to translate, varying from “and” to “but.”
When he, the Spirit of truth, is come (hotan elthēi ekeinos, to pneuma tēs alētheias). Indefinite relative clause (hotan and the second aorist active subjunctive of erchomai, no futurum exactum), “whenever he comes.” Note ekeinos (masculine demonstrative pronoun, though followed by neuter pneuma in apposition. See Joh 15:26 for this phrase about the Holy Spirit. He shall guide you (hodēgēsei humas). Future active of old verb hodēgeō (from hodēgos, from hodos, way, hēgeomai, to lead). See Psa 24:5 for “lead me into thy truth” (hodēgēson me eis tēn alētheian sou). Christ is both the Way and the Truth (Joh 14:6) and the Holy Spirit is the Guide who shows the way to the Truth (Joh 16:14). This he does gradually. We are still learning the truth in Christ.
From himself (aph' heautou). In this he is like Christ (Joh 1:26; Joh 12:49; Joh 14:10).
He shall declare (anaggelei). Future active of anaggellō, as in Joh 4:25. See it also repeated in Joh 16:14.
The things that are yet to come (ta erchomena). Neuter plural articular participle of erchomai, “the coming things.” This phrase only here in the N.T. The things already begun concerning the work of the Kingdom (Luk 7:19.; Luk 18:30) not a chart of future history. See Luk 7:20; Joh 6:14; Joh 11:27 for ho erchomenos (the coming one) used of the Messiah.