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Joh_16:2-3. Of the ταῦτα , Joh_16:1, He now gives certain concrete manifestations, which might tend to their becoming offended.
ἀποσυναγ .] See on Joh_9:22, Joh_12:42.
ἀλλʼ ] At, i.e. nay, further! it introduces the antithesis of a yet far heavier, of a bloody fate. Comp. on 2Co_7:11. To take ἀποσυναγ . ποιήσ . ὑμ . interrogatively (Ewald), is unnecessarily artificial.
ἵνα ] That which will take place in the ὥρα is conceived as the object of its coming: there is coming an hour, in order that, etc. Comp. on Joh_12:23.
πᾶς ὁ ἀποκτ ., κ . τ . λ .] that every one, who shall have put you to death, may think that he offers a sacrificial service to God (namely, through the shedding of your blood). On λατρεία , cultus (Plat. Apol. p. 23 C, Phaedr. p. 224 E; Rom_9:4), here, by means of the προσφέρειν , the standing word used of sacrifices (see Mat_5:23; Mat_8:4; Act_7:32; Heb_5:1; Schleusner, Thes. IV. p. 504), in the special reference of sacrificial divine service, comp. Rom_13:1; Heb_9:1; Heb_9:6. The maxim of Jewish fanaticism is well known (and how often was the pagan enmity against the apostles no better!): “Omnis effundens sanguinem improborum, aequalis est illi, qui sacrificium facit,” Bammidbar Rabba, f. 329. 1. On this δοκεῖν , comp. Saul’s example, Act_26:9; Gal_1:13-14.
On Joh_16:3, comp. Joh_15:21. Jesus once more recalls with profound sadness this tragic source of such conduct, the inexcusableness of which, however, He had already decisively brought to light (Joh_15:22 ff.). The supposed purpose of making the adversaries contemptible in the eyes of the disciples (Calvin, Hengstenberg) must have been indicated had it existed.