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John 16

1“I have said these things to you so that you will not stumble. 2They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. 3They will do these things because they have not known the Father or me. 4But I have told you these things so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. 5But now I am going to the one who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6Rather, because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7Yet I tell you the truth: it is better for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will expose the world's error concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer see me; 11concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

12“I still have many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you in all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will announce to you the things to come. 14He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and announce it to you. 15Everything the Father has is mine. That is why I said that he takes from what is mine and will announce it to you. 16In a little while you will no longer see me, and again in a little while you will see me.”

17Some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this he is telling us: ‘In a little while you will not see me, and again in a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18They said, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is saying.” 19Jesus knew that they wanted to question him, and said to them, “Are you discussing among yourselves what I said: ‘In a little while you will not see me, and again in a little while you will see me’? 20Truly, truly, I tell you: you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your sorrow will become joy. 21When a woman gives birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come. But when she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the distress, because of the joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22So you too have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one takes your joy away from you. 23On that day you will ask me no questions. Truly, truly, I tell you: if you ask the Father for anything, he will give it to you in my name. 24Until now you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

25“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. An hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you openly about the Father. 26On that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

29His disciples said, “Look, now you are speaking openly and using no figure of speech. 30Now we know that you know all things and have no need for anyone to question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.” 31Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? 32Look, an hour is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33I have said these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have distress. But take courage: I have conquered the world.”

Translation notes 2

14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7 — Advocate. Paraklētos describes someone who aids or represents another. “Advocate” brings out the support and testimony prominent here; “Helper,” “Counselor,” and the traditional “Comforter” express parts of the sense. It is not limited to soothing distress or to a modern courtroom job. The Spirit also teaches, reminds, and guides. English “he” reflects this personal presentation; Greek grammatical gender alone does not establish personhood.

16:1, 5, 8–11, 23 — Stumbling, questions, and conviction. Stumbling here concerns faith under persecution. Verse 5 is not rewritten to remove its apparent tension with Peter's and Thomas' earlier questions. “Expose the world's error” renders a verb involving exposure, refutation, or conviction; “error” is an English expansion. The sentence does not say everyone becomes persuaded or converted. In verse 23 the draft attaches “in my name” to the Father's giving; attachment to the asking is also possible.