Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - John 15:16 - 15:16

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Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - John 15:16 - 15:16


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

16. οὐχ ὑμεῖς. Not ye chose Me, but I chose you. Ὑμεῖς and ἐγώ are emphatic. Ἐκλέγειν refers to their election to be Apostles (Joh 6:70, Joh 13:18; Act 1:2); therefore the aorist as referring to a definite act in the past should be preserved. So also ἔθηκα, I appointed you, i. e. assigned you to a definite post, as in 2Ti 1:11; Heb 1:2. This is better than ‘I ordained,’ as A. V. here and 1Ti 2:7, ‘ordain’ having become a technical term in ecclesiastical language. Comp. Act 13:47; Act 20:28; 1Co 12:28. The repetition of ὑμεῖς throughout the verse emphasizes the personal responsibility of the Apostles.

ὑπάγητε. see on Joh 1:7 : that ye should go and bear fruit. Ὑπάγητε must not be insisted on too strongly as if it referred to the missionary journeys of the Apostles. On the other hand it is more than a mere auxiliary or expletive: it implies the active carrying out of the idea expressed by the verb with which it is coupled (comp. Luk 10:37; Mat 13:44; Mat 18:15; Mat 19:21), and perhaps also separation from their Master (Mat 20:4; Mat 20:7). The missionary work of gathering in souls is not specially indicated here: the ‘fruit’ is rather the holiness of their own lives and good works of all kinds. The second ἵνα is partly coordinate with, partly dependent on, the first: comp. the double ἵνα Joh 13:34 and see on Joh 15:7. Several ancient commentators take δῶ as the first person in harmony with Joh 14:13. The three passages, Joh 14:13, Joh 15:7; Joh 15:16 should be compared.