John15
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit.
3Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you.
4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me.
5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.
6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and so shall ye be my disciples.
9Even as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you: abide ye in my love.
10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
12This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.
13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you.
15No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known unto you.
16Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17These things I command you, that ye may love one another.
18If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before it hated you.
19If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.
21But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin.
23He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24If I had not done among them the works which none other did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25But this cometh to pass, that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall bear witness of me:
27and ye also bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for John 15.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Christ the true Vine. (1–8). His love to his disciples. (9–17). foretold. (18–25). The Comforter promised. (26, 27).
vv1-8
Jesus Christ is the Vine, the true Vine. The union of the human and Divine natures, and the fulness of the Spirit that is in him, resemble the root of the vine made fruitful by the moisture from a rich soil. Believers are branches of this Vine. The root is unseen, and our life is hid with Christ; the root bears the tree, diffuses sap to it, and in Christ are all supports and supplies. The branches of the vine are many, yet, meeting in the root, are all but one vine; thus all true Christians, though in place and opinion distant from each other, meet in Christ. Believers, like the branches of the vine, are weak, and unable to stand but as they are borne up. The Father is the Husbandman. Never was any husbandman so wise, so watchful, about his vineyard, as God is about his church, which therefore must prosper. We must be fruitful. From a vine we look for grapes, and from a Christian we look for a Christian temper, disposition, and life. We must honour God, and do good; this is bearing fruit. The unfruitful are taken away. And even fruitful branches need pruning; for the best have notions, passions, and humours, that require to be taken away, which Christ has promised to forward the sanctification of believers, they will be thankful, for them. The word of Christ is spoken to all believers; and there is a cleansing virtue in that word, as it works grace, and works out corruption. And the more fruit we bring forth, the more we abound in what is good, the more our Lord is glorified. In order to fruitfulness, we must abide in Christ, must have union with him by faith. It is the great concern of all Christ's disciples, constantly to keep up dependence upon Christ, and communion with him. True Christians find by experience, that any interruption in the exercise of their faith, causes holy affections to decline, their corruptions to revive, and their comforts to droop. Those who abide not in Christ, though they may flourish for awhile in outward profession, yet come to nothing. The fire is the fittest place for withered branches; they are good for nothing else. Let us seek to live more simply on the fulness of Christ, and to grow more fruitful in every good word and work, so may our joy in Him and in his salvation be full.
vv9-17
Those whom God loves as a Father, may despise the hatred of all the world. As the Father loved Christ, who was most worthy, so he loved his disciples, who were unworthy. All that love the Saviour should continue in their love to him, and take all occasions to show it. The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment, but the joy of those who abide in Christ's love is a continual feast. They are to show their love to him by keeping his commandments. If the same power that first shed abroad the love of Christ's in our hearts, did not keep us in that love, we should not long abide in it. Christ's love to us should direct us to love each other. He speaks as about to give many things in charge, yet names this only; it includes many duties.
vv18-25
How little do many persons think, that in opposing the doctrine of Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, they prove themselves ignorant of the one living and true God, whom they profess to worship! The name into which Christ's disciples were baptized, is that which they will live and die by. It is a comfort to the greatest sufferers, if they suffer for Christ's name's sake. The world's ignorance is the true cause of its hatred to the disciples of Jesus. The clearer and fuller the discoveries of the grace and truth of Christ, the greater is our sin if we do not love him and believe in him.
Key Words
ἐγώ (egṓ): I, me
εἰμί (eimí): I exist (used only when emphatic)
ἀληθινός (alēthinós): truthful
ἄμπελος (ámpelos): a vine (as coiling about a support)
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
μοῦ (moû): of me
πατήρ (patḗr): a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
ἐστί (estí): he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
γεωργός (geōrgós): a land-worker, i.e. farmer
πᾶς (pâs): all, any, every, the whole
Cross References
John 15Old Testament background of Israel as God's disappointing vineyard, contrasted with Christ as the true vine.
Supported by Calvin, JFB
The prophetic description of useless, non-fruit-bearing vine wood fit only for the fire.
Supported by JFB
The command to love one another as Christ loved them, repeated from the Upper Room discourse.
Supported by JFB
The secret counsel and friendship that God shares with those who fear Him.
Supported by JFB
Parallel teaching on how spiritual light and the presence of Christ leave sin without excuse.
Supported by JFB
Crucial thematic link between loving Christ and keeping His commandments.
Pauline exposition of the supreme standard of love: laying down one's life for friends.
The ongoing tension between their high status as friends and their duties as servants of Christ.
Supported by JFB
Messianic vine imagery planted by the right hand of God, pointing to Christ.
Defines the spiritual 'fruit' expected from the branches as the fruit of the Spirit.