John 16 - Holman KJV Study Bible

16:2 The phrase the time cometh is reminiscent of prophetic or apocalyptic expressions such as "the days come" (ZeJer. 7:32; 9:25; 16:14; 31:31,38; Amos 9:13; ch. 14:1). On expulsion from the synagogues, see note at 9:34. Whosoever killeth you most likely refers to Jewish rather than Roman persecution. Some rabbis believed that killing heretics was an act of divine worship.

16:7 Reference to the Comforter (see notes at 14:16-17 and 14:26) harks back to the anticipated coming of the Spirit and the inauguration of the age of the kingdom in OT prophetic literature (Isa. 11:1-10; 32:14-18; 42:1-4; 44:1-5; Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 11:17-20; 36:24-27; 37:1-14; Joel 2:28-32).

16:8-11 The Holy Spirit will judge the world's sin of unbelief on the basis of His righteousness. On the prince of this world, see note at 12:31.

16:13 On the Spirit of truth, see note at 14:16-17. The Spirit's ministry of guiding ­Jesus' followers into all truth will fulfill the psalmists' longing for divine guidance (Ps. 25:4-5; 43:3; 86:11; 143:10). Isaiah recounted how God led His people in the wilderness by the Holy Spirit (Isa. 63:14) and predicted God's renewed guidance in the future (Isa. 43:19). The word shew (Gk anangello, lit "declare") occurs over 40 times in the book of Isaiah, where declaring things to come is said to be the exclusive domain of God (Isa. 48:14) and where God challenges pretenders to declare the things to come (Isa. 42:9; 44:7; 46:10; cp. Isa. 41:21-29, esp. v v. 22-23; 45:19).

16:16-19 A little while harks back to 7:33; 12:35; 13:33; and 14:19. Similar terms were used by OT prophets for announcing God's judgment (Isa. 10:25; Jer. 51:33; Hos. 1:4; Hag. 2:6) and salvation (Isa. 29:17). Here the reference is to the brief period between ­Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.

16:20 Sorrow . . . turned into joy echoes the experiences of God's people in OT times (Esther 9:22) and marks the fulfillment of OT prophecies (Isa. 61:2-3; Jer. 31:13).

16:21 While the labor preceding birth is intense, all anguish is forgotten the moment the new child is born. ­Jesus elsewhere spoke of the end-times as "the beginning" of birth pains and times of "great tribulation" (Matt. 24:8,21,29).

16:23-24 On Jesus' name, see note at 14:13-14.

16:28 The depiction of ­Jesus as having come from the Father . . . into the world and as leaving the world and going to the Father is patterned after the portrayal of the Word of God which is sent, accomplishes its purpose, and returns to the One who sent it (Isa. 55:11; see note at John 1:1).

16:32 ­Jesus' prediction of a coming hour at which His followers will be scattered (cp. 19:27) may allude to Zech. 13:7 (quoted in Matt. 26:31; cp. Matt. 26:56; 1 Kings 22:17).

16:33 ­Jesus' farewell discourse ends on a note of triumph (1 2:13-14; 4:4; 5:4-5).