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Joh_16:33. “That is the last word given, and struck into their hand by way of good-night. But He concludes very forcibly with this, and therefore has He finished the entire discourse,” Luther.
ταῦτα ] pointing back, at the close of the whole discourses again resumed from Joh_14:31, to chap. Joh_15:16.
ἐν ἐμοὶ εἰρήνην … ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ θλῖψιν ] exact correlates: in me (living and moving), i.e. in vital fellowship with me: Peace, rest of soul, peace of heart (comp. Joh_14:27); in the world, i.e. in your intercourse with the unbelieving; affliction (Joh_16:21, and see Joh_15:18 ff.).
ἐγώ ] Luther aptly remarks: “He does not say: Be comforted, you have overcome the world, but this is your consolation, that I, I have overcome the world; my victory is your salvation.” And upon this victor rests the imperishability of the church.
νενίκ . τ . κόσμ .] The perfect states the victory immediately impending, which is to be gained through His glorification by means of death, as already completed. Prolepsis of the certain conqueror on the boundary of His work. Comp. Joh_12:31, Joh_13:31. But if He has overcome the anti-Messianic power of the world, how could His own, in spite of all θλῖψις , become dispirited, as though He would give up His work, which was to be continued by their means, and suffer His victory to fall to the ground? Comp. rather 1Jn_5:4-5; 1Jn_4:4. Therefore θαρσεῖτε . Paul especially is a living commentary on this θαρσεῖν . See e.g. Rom_8:37; 2Co_2:14; 2Co_4:7 ff; 2Co_6:4 ff; 2Co_12:9, his discourse before Felix and Festus, etc. Comp. Luther’s triumphant exposition.