John 15:1
Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος ἡ ἀληθινή, καὶ ὁ Πατήρ μου, ὁ γεωργός ἐστιν.
I am the the True Vine, and My Father is the Gardener.
Paraphrase: Jesus continued His farewell discourse. “Beloved, it is important that after I have left, you understand the real source of your strength. You all are very upset that I am leaving you. I understand this but let Me assure you that there is a union between us that does not depend on My physical presence. The union that exists between us is what provides you with the real power and strength for the mission I’ve assigned you. (Luke 22:29) Let me explain to you the real truth of this union. Here’s an analogy for you. I want you to think of Me as a vine, only I am the Real, True Vine. Furthermore, My Father is the Gardener. By that, I mean that He is the One who planned all this and is the One who sent me to this earth. You could say that He planted Me here. He is the One who supports Me and strengthens Me to My task. Now, the real issue here is that you receive that same life giving power from Me that I have received from My Father.
Comments:
Jesus is constantly speaking of the fact that He has come to earth on a mission from His Father. (Matthew 10:40; Luke 4:43; and almost every chapter of John)
John 15:2
πᾶν κλῆμα ἐν ἐμοὶ μὴ φέρον καρπὸν, αἴρει αὐτό· καὶ πᾶν τὸ καρπὸν φέρον, καθαίρει αὐτὸ, ἵνα καρπὸν πλείονα φέρῃ.
Every branch in Me not bearing fruit, He takes it away, and every [branch] bearing fruit, He prunes it in order that it might bear more fruit.
Paraphrase: Like a good gardener, My Father knows how to maximize the yields from each vine. Those branches which do not grow any grapes are cut off and thrown out. The branches which are growing grapes, He carefully prunes so that they will grow better grapes and more of them.
Comments:
There is no definition of fruit in this chapter. Paul speaks of “bearing fruit in every good work.” (Colossians 1:10) To Philemon, he speaks of being “filled with the fruit of [or which is] righteousness.” In Galatians 5, we have the fruits of the Spirit. Ephesians 5:9 speaks of the fruit of light being “goodness and righteousness and truth.” Bunyan (top right column p635):
Barren soul, how many showers of grace, how many dews from heaven, how many times have the silver streams of the city of God run gliding by thy roots, to cause thee to bring forth fruit! These showers and streams, and the drops that hang upon thy boughs, will all be accounted for; and will they not testify against thee that thou oughtest, of right, to be burned? Hear and tremble, O thou barren professor! Fruits that become thy profession of the gospel, the God of heaven expecteth. The gospel hath in it the forgiveness of sins, the kingdom of heaven, and eternal life; but what fruit hath thy profession of a belief of these things put forth in thy heart and life? Hast thou given thyself to the Lord? and is all that thou hast to be ventured for His Name in this world? Dost thou walk like one that is bought with a price, even with the price of precious blood?
Henry (very top left of p640):
We must be fruitful. From a vine we look for grapes (Isaiah 5:2), and from a Christian we look for Christianity; this is the fruit, a Christian temper and disposition, a Christian life and conversation, Christian devotions and Christian designs. We must honor God, and do good, and exemplify the purity and power of the religion we profess; and this is bearing fruit. The disciples here must be fruitful, as Christians, in all the fruits of righteousness, and as apostles, in diffusing the savor of the knowledge of Christ.
John 15:3
ἤδη ὑμεῖς καθαροί ἐστε διὰ τὸν λόγον ὃν λελάληκα ὑμῖν.
Already, you are cleansed on account of the word which I have spoken to you.
Paraphrase: Now you are already in a saving union with Me. You heard the good news of the kingdom of God; you confessed your sins, turned from them, and put your full trust in Me. As a result, all your sins are forgiven (Matthew 9:2), and you have passed from death to life. (John 5:24) My Father looks upon you with favor again.
Comments:
John 15:4
μείνατε ἐν ἐμοί, κἀγὼ ἐν ὑμῖν. καθὼς τὸ κλῆμα οὐ δύναται καρπὸν φέρειν ἀφ’ ἑαυτοῦ, ἐὰν μὴ μένῃ ἐν τῇ ἀμπέλῳ, οὕτως οὐδὲ ὑμεῖς, ἐὰν μὴ ἐν ἐμοὶ μένητε.
Remain in Me, and I in you. Even as the branch is not able to bear fruit from itself, when it might not remain in the vine, in this manner, neither are you when you might not remain in Me.
Paraphrase: Now having been cleansed from sin, it remains for you to push forward with the work of the kingdom as I have assigned it to you. (Luke 22:29) How will you do this? Listen carefully. The key to persevering in kingdom work is to have a firm and unshakeable resolve to live in the power of the union you have with Me. Think again of the analogy I have given above. You know that no branch can survive, much less bear fruit, unless it is attached to the vine. All the fruit bearing potential of that branch lies in its connection to the vine. Now the same reality is true for you. When you try to go it alone and to carve out your own path, you will fail just like a branch which has no connection to the vine.
Comments:
To be “in Christ” is different than “abiding in Christ.” The former is by a new birth; the latter is our own responsibility.
John 15:5
Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος· ὑμεῖς τὰ κλήματα. ὁ μένων ἐν ἐμοὶ, κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ, οὗτος φέρει καρπὸν πολύν. ὅτι χωρὶς ἐμοῦ οὐ δύνασθε ποιεῖν οὐδέν.
I am the vine; you are the branches. The one remaining in Me and I in him, this one bears much fruit because without Me, you are not able to do nothing.
Paraphrase: So this is the foundational truth of life in My kingdom. I am the Vine, and you are the branches. Any branch that is connected to the vine, receives life giving power from the vine. Such branches bear fruit and are the delight of the gardener. Let me say it very plainly; apart from Me, you cannot accomplish anything of value for My kingdom.
Comments:
John 15:6
ἐὰν μή τις μένῃ ἐν ἐμοί, ἐβλήθη ἔξω ὡς τὸ κλῆμα καὶ ἐξηράνθη, καὶ συνάγουσιν αὐτὰ καὶ εἰς τὸ πῦρ βάλλουσιν, καὶ καίεται.
If anyone does not remain in Me, He is cast outside as a branch and is dried up, and they gather them and into the fire they are cast and are set on fire.
Paraphrase: Then there is the flip side of this truth. Those branches which are not connected to the vine, do not receive the life giving power of the vine; and therefore, they wither, eventually fall off and dry up. The gardeners gather them all into a big pile and light them on fire.
Comments:
John 15:7
ἐὰν μείνητε ἐν ἐμοὶ καὶ τὰ ῥήματά μου ἐν ὑμῖν μείνῃ, ὃ ἐὰν θέλητε, αἰτήσασθε, καὶ γενήσεται ὑμῖν.
If you remain in Me and My word remains in you, whatever you might desire, you will ask and it will be to you.
Paraphrase: So let Me state it again. If you make a full surrender of yourself to Me, then you will hold everything I taught you to be true; every command which I have given you will be your willing choice; you will hang all your hopes on the promises I have given you. Such branches are connected to the vine and will bear fruit, you can be sure of that. In fact, you will be in such a place that, whatever you might desire, it will be given you merely for the asking.
Comments:
This article from the Westminster Confession is what Jesus means by “Abide in Me:”
By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God Himself speaking therein; and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come.
Abbott (§2536):
When John for the first time uses the middle, he seems, for the moment, to countenance the most reckless asking of favors—“ask for yourselves whatsoever ye will (ὃ ἐὰν θέλητε αἰτήσασθε)”: but this is preceded by “if ye abide in me and my words abide in you.” And how can the words of the disciples ask recklessly or selfishly “if” Christ’s own “words” abide in their hearts and on their lips? This is John’s way of saying “If ye steadfastly believe.” Only it is not subjective (“believe”) but objective: “If ye stand fast in me and I stand fast in you.” As regards this “asking of favours” or “asking what ye will,” he does not say “ye shall receive,” but “it shall be done for you,” resembling Mark’s tradition as distinct from Matthew’s. In the Epistle, this “asking of favors” is to be “according to the will of God,” and the result is, not, “it shall be done,” but “He heareth us.”
See also Oshausen (p556) on praying “in My Name.”
John 15:8
ἐν τούτῳ ἐδοξάσθη ὁ Πατήρ μου, ἵνα καρπὸν πολὺν φέρητε, καὶ γένησθε ἐμοὶ μαθηταί.
In this, My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and you will be disciples to Me.
Paraphrase: Now the Great Gardener, My Father in heaven, is so pleased with such branches. The fruit which you produce brings Him honor and glory. It is a pleasing aroma to YHWH. (Leviticus 2:2) YHWH takes pleasure in those who fear Him and in those who hope in His mercy. (Psalm 147:11) He takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. (Psalm 149:4) These branches are connected to Me and receive from Me all the power for living. Truly, they are My disciples.
Comments:
Robertson says (p992) that the appositional use of ινα is very frequent in John’s gospel; see also GGBB p474. Here the ινα clause is in apposition with τούτῳ.
John 15:9
Καθὼς ἠγάπησέν με ὁ Πατήρ, κἀγὼ ὑμᾶς ἠγάπησα. μείνατε ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ τῇ ἐμῇ.
Even as the Father loved Me, even I have loved you. Abide in My love.
Paraphrase: My Father takes great delight in Me, and now I take great delight in you. Understand this love and live in the power of it.
Comments:
John 15:10
ἐὰν τὰς ἐντολάς μου τηρήσητε, μενεῖτε ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ μου, καθὼς ἐγὼ, τοῦ Πατρός μου τὰς ἐντολὰς τετήρηκα, καὶ μένω αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ.
When My commands you might keep, you will remain in My love, even as I
Paraphrase:
Comments:
John 15:11
Ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑμῖν, ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ἡ ἐμὴ ἐν ὑμῖν ᾖ, καὶ ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν πληρωθῇ.
John 15:12
Αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἐντολὴ ἡ ἐμὴ, ἵνα ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους καθὼς ἠγάπησα ὑμᾶς.
John 15:13
μείζονα ταύτης ἀγάπην οὐδεὶς ἔχει, ἵνα τις τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ θῇ ὑπὲρ τῶν φίλων αὐτοῦ.
John 15:14
Ὑμεῖς φίλοι μού ἐστε ἐὰν ποιῆτε ἃ* ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαι ὑμῖν.
John 15:15
οὐκέτι λέγω ὑμᾶς δούλους, ὅτι ὁ δοῦλος οὐκ οἶδεν τί ποιεῖ αὐτοῦ ὁ κύριος. ὑμᾶς δὲ εἴρηκα φίλους, ὅτι πάντα ἃ ἤκουσα παρὰ τοῦ Πατρός μου, ἐγνώρισα ὑμῖν.
John 15:16
οὐχ ὑμεῖς με ἐξελέξασθε, ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ ἐξελεξάμην ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἔθηκα ὑμᾶς ἵνα ὑμεῖς ὑπάγητε καὶ καρπὸν φέρητε, καὶ ὁ καρπὸς ὑμῶν μένῃ· ἵνα ὅ¦τι ἂν αἰτήσητε τὸν
Πατέρα ἐν τῷ, ὀνόματί μου δῷ ὑμῖν
John 15:17
ταῦτα ἐντέλλομαι ὑμῖν, ἵνα ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους.
John 15:18
Εἰ ὁ κόσμος ὑμᾶς μισεῖ, γινώσκετε ὅτι ἐμὲ πρῶτον ὑμῶν μεμίσηκεν.
John 15:19
εἰ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου ἦτε, ὁ κόσμος ἂν τὸ ἴδιον ἐφίλει· ὅτι δὲ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου οὐκ ἐστέ, ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ ἐξελεξάμην ὑμᾶς ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου, διὰ τοῦτο μισεῖ ὑμᾶς ὁ κόσμος.
John 15:20
Μνημονεύετε τοῦ λόγου οὗ ἐγὼ εἶπον ὑμῖν· Οὐκ ἔστιν δοῦλος μείζων τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ. εἰ ἐμὲ ἐδίωξαν, καὶ ὑμᾶς διώξουσιν· εἰ τὸν λόγον μου ἐτήρησαν, καὶ τὸν ὑμέτερον τηρήσουσιν.
John 15:21
ἀλλὰ ταῦτα πάντα ποιήσουσιν εἰς ὑμᾶς διὰ τὸ ὄνομά μου, ὅτι οὐκ οἴδασιν τὸν πέμψαντά με.
John 15:22
εἰ μὴ ἦλθον καὶ ἐλάλησα αὐτοῖς, ἁμαρτίαν οὐκ εἴχοσαν· νῦν δὲ πρόφασιν οὐκ ἔχουσιν περὶ τῆς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν.
John 15:23
Ὁ ἐμὲ μισῶν, καὶ τὸν Πατέρα μου μισεῖ.
John 15:24
εἰ τὰ ἔργα μὴ ἐποίησα ἐν αὐτοῖς ἃ οὐδεὶς ἄλλος ἐποίησεν, ἁμαρτίαν οὐκ εἴχοσαν· νῦν δὲ καὶ ἑωράκασιν καὶ μεμισήκασιν καὶ ἐμὲ καὶ τὸν Πατέρα μου.
John 15:25
ἀλλ’ ἵνα πληρωθῇ ὁ λόγος ὁ ἐν τῷ νόμῳ αὐτῶν γεγραμμένος ὅτι· Ἐμίσησάν με δωρεάν.
John 15:26
Ὅταν ἔλθῃ ὁ Παράκλητος, ὃν ἐγὼ πέμψω ὑμῖν παρὰ τοῦ Πατρός, τὸ Πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας, ὃ παρὰ τοῦ Πατρὸς ἐκπορεύεται, ἐκεῖνος μαρτυρήσει περὶ ἐμοῦ.
John 15:27
καὶ ὑμεῖς δὲ μαρτυρεῖτε, ὅτι ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς μετ’ ἐμοῦ ἐστε.