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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - John 14:15 - 14:17
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_14:15-17
15"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you."
Joh_14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" This is a third class conditional sentence which speaks of potential action. Love for God in Christ is expressed by obedience. "Keep" is a future active indicative used as a present imperative (Friberg, Analytical Greek New Testament, p. 337). Obedience is extremely important (cf. Joh_8:51; Joh_14:21; Joh_14:23-24; Joh_15:10; 1Jn_2:3-5; 1Jn_3:22; 1Jn_3:24; 1Jn_5:3; 2Jn_1:6; Luk_6:46). Joh_14:21; Joh_14:23-24 also emphasize this same truth. Obedience is evidence of true conversion (cf. James and 1 John).
The NKJV has the imperative "keep My commandments," which is supported by MSS A, D, W, the Vulgate, and many Church Fathers. The UBS4 gives the future active indicative a "C" rating (difficulty in deciding), which is supported by MSS B, L, and the Copitc Version, as well as several Church Fathers.
Joh_14:16 "He will give you" See note at Joh_14:26.
NASB, NKJV,
TEV "another Helper"
NRSV "another Advocate"
NJB "another Paraclete"
The term "another" translates a Greek term (allos) that means "another of the same kind." The Holy Spirit has been called "the other Jesus" (G. Campbell Morgan, see Special Topic below).
The second term is the Greek term "paraklçtos" which is used of Jesus in 1Jn_2:1 (as intercessor) and of the Holy Spirit in Joh_14:26; Joh_16:7-14. Its etymology is "one called alongside to help," in a legal sense. Therefore, the term "Advocate" accurately translates this word. A form of this same Greek root, "comfort" (parakalço), is used of the Father in 2Co_1:3-11.
The translation of the noun "advocate" (paraklçtos) comes from the Roman legal system. The translation "Comforter" was first used by Wycliffe and reflects the use of the verb form (parakaleô) in the Septuagint (i.e., 2Sa_10:4; 1Ch_19:3; Job_16:2; Psa_69:20;Ecc_4:1; Isa_35:4). It may be the antonym of Satan (the accuser).
Both Philo and Josephus used the word in the sense of "intercessor" or "advisor."
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▣ "that He may be with you forever" Three different prepositions are used in reference to the Holy Spirit.
1. "meta" (Joh_14:16), "with"
2. "para" (Joh_14:17), "by the side"
3. "en" (Joh_14:17), "in"
Notice the Holy Spirit is with us, by us, and within us. It is His job to manifest the life of Jesus in believers. He will stay with them until the end of the age (cf. Joh_14:18; Mat_28:20).
Notice the Spirit is called "He." This implies the Spirit is personal. Often in KJV the Spirit is addressed by "it," but this is because the term "spirit" in Greek is neuter (cf. Joh_14:17; Joh_14:26; Joh_15:26). He is the third person of the Trinity (see Special Topic at Joh_14:26). The term Trinity is not a biblical term, but if Jesus is divine and the Spirit is a person, then some kind of tri-unity is involved. God is one divine essence but three permanent, personal manifestations (see Special Topic at Joh_14:26, cf. Mat_3:16-17; Mat_28:19; Act_2:33-34; Rom_8:9-10; 1Co_12:4-6; 2Co_1:21-22; 2Co_13:14; Eph_1:3-14; Eph_2:18; Eph_4:4-6; Tit_3:4-6; 1Pe_1:2).
For "forever" see Special Topic at Joh_6:58.
Joh_14:17 "the Spirit of truth" "Truth" here has the same connotation as Joh_14:6 (cf. Joh_15:26; Joh_16:13; 1Jn_4:6). See Special Topic on Truth at Joh_6:55; Joh_17:3. He is the opposite of Satan, the father of lies (cf. Joh_8:44).
▣ "whom" "This" is neuter to agree with the term "spirit" (pneuma). However, elsewhere in Greek a masculine pronoun is used (cf. Joh_14:26; Joh_15:26; Joh_16:7-8; Joh_16:13-14). The Holy Spirit is really not male or female; He is spirit. It is important to remember that He is also a distinct personality (see Special Topic at Joh_14:26).
▣ "the world cannot receive" The Holy Spirit can only be appropriated by those who have faith in Christ (cf. Joh_1:10-12). He provides everything the believer needs (cf. Rom_8:1-11). The unbelieving world (kosmos see Special Topic below) cannot understand or appreciate spiritual things (cf. 1Co_2:14; 2Co_4:4).
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▣ "know. . .know" This is probably another double entendre of John. The Hebrew connotation would be intimate, personal relationship (cf. Gen_4:1; Jer_1:5). The Greek connotation would be knowledge. The gospel is both personal and cognitive.
▣ "He abides with you" Abiding is a key concept in John's writings (i.e., chapter 15, see Special Topic at 1Jn_2:10). The Father abides in the Son, the Spirit abides in believers, and believers abide in the Son. This abiding is present tense, not an isolated decision or emotional response.
▣ "and will be in you" This can be understood as "among you" (plural, cf. NRSV footnote) or "in you" (plural, cf. NASB, NKJV, NRSV, TEV & NJB). The indwelling of the believer by God is a wonderful promise. The NT asserts that all three Persons of the Trinity indwell believers.
1. Jesus (Mat_28:20; Joh_14:20; Joh_14:23; Joh_15:4-5; Rom_8:10; 2Co_13:5; Gal_2:20; Eph_3:17; Col_1:27)
2. Spirit (Joh_14:16-17; Rom_8:11; 1Co_3:16; 1Co_6:19; 2Ti_1:14)
3. Father (Joh_14:23; 2Co_6:16)