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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_16:1-4
1"These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. 2They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. 3These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. 4But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you."
Joh_16:1
NASB "so that you may be kept from stumbling"
NKJV "that you should not be made to stumble"
NRSV "to keep you from stumbling"
TEV "so that you will not give up your faith"
NJB "so that you may not fall away"
This Greek term (aorist passive subjunctive of skandalizô, BAGD 752) was originally used of a baited trap for catching animals. It is often translated "fall away" (cf. Mat_13:21; Mat_24:10; Mar_4:17; Mar_14:27; Mar_14:29). Its metaphorical use in this context refers to believers not being caught unawares by the hateful actions of fellow Jews, even religious leaders.
Joh_16:2 "They will make you outcasts from the synagogue" This refers to excommunication from Judaism (cf. Joh_9:22; Joh_9:34; Joh_12:42).
There is so much that is unknown about Jewish dis-fellowshipping procedures. There was both a temporary and a permanent exclusion from synagogue services. Later, after the fall of Jerusalem in a.d. 70, at Jamnia in Palestine, the rabbis developed a "curse oath" related to Christ by which they desired to exclude Christians from synagogue services. This is what finally forced a split between the followers of Christ and local Jewish synagogues.
▣ "everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God" This is exactly what the Jewish leaders (cf. Isa_66:5; Mat_5:10-12; Mat_10:32) thought. Saul of Tarsus (Paul) is a good example of this misguided religious zeal (cf. Act_26:9-11; Gal_1:13-14).
Joh_16:3 "These things they will do" Sincerity and commitment to a Supreme Being are not enough. Evil, error, and fanaticism often occur in God's name.
▣ "because they have not known the Father or Me" The term "to know" refers to the OT connotation of intimate, personal relationship (cf. Gen_4:1; Jer_1:5). This is a strong assertion that rejection of Jesus is ultimately rejection of God (cf. Joh_8:19; Joh_15:21; 1Jn_5:9-12).
John often asserts the spiritual blindness and ignorance of the world (cf. Joh_1:10; Joh_8:19; Joh_8:55; Joh_15:21; Joh_16:3; Joh_17:25). However the purpose of the Son's coming was to save the world (cf. Joh_3:16) and reveal the Father so that the world might know Him (cf. Joh_17:23) through Christ.
Joh_16:4 Jesus' predictions were given as a means of encouraging the disciples faith/trust/belief in the midst of persecution and rejection (cf. Joh_13:19; Joh_14:29).
"From the beginning" refers to the beginning of Jesus' public ministry and the special call of the Twelve.