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Joh_15:16. Along with this dignity, however, of being Jesus’ friends, they were not to forget their dependence on Him, and their destiny therewith appointed.
ἐξελέξασθε … ἐξελεζάμην ] as Master … as disciples, which is understood of itself from the historical relation, and is also to be gathered from the word chosen (Joh_6:70, Joh_13:18; Act_1:2). Each of them was a σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς of Christ (Act_9:15); in each the initiative of this peculiar relation lay not on his but on Christ’s side. Hence not to be taken merely in a general sense of the selection for the fellowship of love (Euth. Zigabenus, Luther, and several others, including Luthardt, Lange).
ἔθηκα ὑμᾶς ] have appointed you, as my disciples, consequence of the ἐξελεξάμην . The “dotation spirituelle” (Godet) goes beyond the meaning of the word, although it was historically connected with it (Mar_3:14-15). Comp. on τιθέναι , instituere, appoint (not merely destine, as Ebrard thinks), 1Co_12:28; 1Ti_1:12; 2Ti_1:11; Heb_1:2; Act_20:28, et al.; Hom. Od. xv. 253, Il. vi. 300; Dem. 322. 11, et al. The rendering of Chrysostom, Theophylact, Euth. Zigabenus, is incorrect: I have planted you (Xen. Occ. xix. 7, 9). The figure of the vine has in truth been dropped, and finds only an echo in the καρπὸν φέρειν , which, however, must not be extended to ἔθηκα , since the disciples appear not as planted, but as branches, which have grown and remain on the vine. Quite arbitrarily, Bengel and Olshausen see here a new figure of a fruit-tree.
ἵνα ὑμεῖς ὑπάγ .] that you on your side may go away, etc., is by Chrysostom, Theophylact, Euth. Zigabenus, in consequence of their interpretation of ἔθηκα , erroneously explained by ἵνα ἐκτείνησθε αὐξανόμενοι . Nor does it merely denote “independent and vital action” (De Wette, Lücke, Baumgarten-Crusius, Luthardt, Godet; comp. Luther: “that you sit not still without fruit or work”), or “continual movement” (Hengstenberg), with which sufficient justice is not done to the peculiarity of this point, which, in truth, belonged in the most proper sense to the disciples’ calling. According to Ebrard, it is said to be simply an auxiliary verb, like ire with the supine. It signifies rather the execution of the ἀποστολή , in which they were to go away into all the world, etc. Comp. Luk_10:3; Mat_28:19.
μένῃ ] comp. Joh_4:36. The results of their ministry are not again to decline and be brought to naught, but are to be continuous and enduring even into the αἰὼν μέλλων .
The second ἵνα is co-ordinated with the first. See on Joh_15:7-8. It is in truth precisely the granting of prayer here designated which brings about the fruit and its duration in all given cases. Comp. the prayers of Paul, as in Col_1:9 ff.; Eph_3:14 ff.
ἐν τῷ ὀνόμ . μ .] See on Joh_14:13.