THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
*JOHN

John 15

1Under the parable of a vine Christ setteth forth God's government of his church, and exhorteth his disciples to abide in his faith and doctrine: 12he commandeth them to love one another, according to the great love he had shewed for them: 18forewarneth them of the hatred and persecution of the world: 26and telleth them of the testimony which the Holy Ghost, and they also, shall bear to him.


1 I1 AM the true vine, and my Father is the 2husbandman.

1 That is, I may truly be compared to a vine, My Father to a husbandman, and you, My disciples, to branches, verse 5. It seems that Christ, in going forth, passing by or going through certain vineyards, took occasion from this to put forth this parable, as He did at other times upon similar occasions. See John 4:10, 32, 35.

2 That is, the Keeper of the vineyard, Who has ordained and as it were planted Me for this purpose and Who prunes the branches, and has regard thereunto.

23Everya branch in me that beareth not 4fruit he 5taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he 6purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Gr. Every branch in me bearing no fruit, that is, everyone who only professes Me outwardly, and notwithstanding believes not on Me from the heart.

a Mat. 15:13.

4 Namely, of faith, brings it not forth in his life.

5 That is, He cuts it off, and casts it out of His communion.

6 That is, He purifies it, namely, by His Word and Spirit, and also by a cross and suffering.

3Nowb ye are 7clean through the word which I have 8spoken unto you.

b John 13:10.

7 Or, clean because of the word, that is, cleansed.

8 Namely, and you have embraced by a true faith.

49Abide in me, and 10I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit 11of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

9 Namely, steadfastly adhering to Me by a true faith.

10 That is, I will abide in you, and consequently impart more and more unto you the sap of spiritual life to enable you to bring forth fruits.

11 That is, of its own power or nature.

5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for 12without me ye can do 13nothing.

12 That is, being separate from Me, or without My power.

13 Gr. not anything, that is, nothing at all, namely, that is required unto salvation.

6Ifc a man abide not in me, hed is 14cast forth as 15a branch, and 16is withered; and men 17gather them, and cast them into the 18fire, and they are burned.

c Ezek. 15:2, etc.

d Mat. 3:10; 7:19; Col. 1:23.

14 Namely, outside of the vineyard, that is, outside of the communion of true believers.

15 That is, an unfruitful branch.

16 That is, stripped more and more of spiritual gifts, 2 Peter 2:20.

17 This gathering shall be performed by the angels, Mat. 13:41, out of all corners of the world.

18 Whereby is figured hell fire.

7If ye abide in me, and my words abide 19in you, ye shall 20aske21what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

19 That is, if you do not only remember My commandments, but also continually keep the same, 1 John 3:21, 22.

20 Or, pray, namely, according to God’s will, 1 John 5:14.

e Jer. 29:12; Mat. 7:7; 21:22; Mark 11:24; Luke 11:9; John 14:13; 16:24; James 1:5; 1 John 3:22; 5:14.

21 Namely, necessary for your comfort and salvation.

8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much 22fruit; so shall ye 23be my disciples.

22 Namely, of faith, which are good works, whereby God is glorified, Mat. 5:16; Rom. 6:4.

23 That is, it shows indeed that you are as such, John 13:35.

9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in 24my love.

24 Namely, which I bear unto you.

10Iff ye 25keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

f John 14:15, 21, 23; 1 John 5:3.

25 That is, observe them.

11These things have I spoken unto you, that 26my joy might 27remain in you, and that 28your joy might be 29full.

26 That is, wherewith I rejoice over you.

27 That is, may not be lessened or changed, but that I may always rejoice over you.

28 That is, wherewith you rejoice in Me as in your Savior, John 17:13; 1 Peter 1:8, 9.

29 That is, increase more and more, and hereafter shall be perfect.

12Thisg is my 30commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

g Lev. 19:18; Mat. 22:39; John 13:34; Eph. 5:2; 1 Thes. 4:9; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 3:23; 4:21.

30 Namely, which I would especially commend unto you or have imprinted in you.

13Greaterh love hath no man than this, that a man 31lay down 32his life for his friends.

h Rom. 5:7; Eph. 5:2; 1 John 3:16.

31 That is, willingly give up.

32 Gr. his soul.

1433Yei are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

33 That is, you shall abide in My friendship.

i Mat. 12:50; 2 Cor. 5:16; Gal. 5:6; 6:15; Col. 3:11.

15Henceforth I 34call you not servants; for the servant 35knoweth not what his lord 36doeth: but I have called you friends; forj all things that I have 37heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

34 Gr. say; that is, from now on I reckon you not as servants only, but also as friends.

35 That is, would not know.

36 That is, intends to do; seeing lords do not use to reveal their secrets to their servants.

j John 8:26.

37 That is, all that the Father has commanded Me to teach and to reveal unto men for their salvation.

16Yek have not 38chosen me, but I have 39chosen you, and 40ordained you, thatl ye should 41go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that 42whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

k John 13:18; Eph. 1:4.

38 Namely, first, to be your Lord and Savior.

39 Namely, out of the world, to be My friends and to save you, verse 19.

40 That is, called you for this purpose.

l Mat. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Col. 1:6.

41 Namely, throughout the whole world, to convert men by teaching and good examples.

42 Namely, needful and beneficial to the bringing forth of these fruits.

17These things I command you, 43that ye love one another.

43 Or, in order that ye love one another.

18Ifm44the world hate you, 45ye know that it hated me 46before it hated you.

m 1 John 3:13.

44 That is, worldly people.

45 Or, know.

46 Or, the First, that is, the Chief of you.

19Ifn ye were 47of the world, the world would love 48his own: but because ye are not 49of the world, but I have 50chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

n John 17:14; Gal. 1:10.

47 Gr. out of.

48 Or, its own, that is, that which is in her, or like unto her.

49 Gr. out of.

50 That is, separated you to be like unto Me, and to follow Me, Rom. 8:29.

20Remember the word that I 51said unto you, Theo servant is not greater than his lord. Ifp they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

51 Namely, before, John 13:16.

o Mat. 10:24; Luke 6:40; John 13:16.

p Mat. 24:9; John 16:2.

21Butq all 52these things will they do unto you 53for my name's sake, because they know not him 54that sent me.

q Mat. 10:22; John 16:3.

52 That is, hate, persecute, despise the word.

53 That is, out of hatred of Me and My doctrine.

54 That is, the Father.

22Ifr I had not come and spoken unto them, they had 55not had sin: but now they have 56no cloke for their sin.

r Rom. 4:15; 5:20.

55 That is, not such a grievous sin as they have now, but might in some sort be able to excuse themselves because of their ignorance, John 9:41.

56 Or, no pretext.

23He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

24Ifs I had not done among them 57the works which 58none other man did, they had 59not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

s John 10:37.

57 That is, the wondrous works or miracles.

58 Namely, of these who pass themselves off for the Messiah, not even of the former prophets also.

59 As previous in verse 22.

25But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their 60law, Theyt hated me 61without a cause.

60 That is, in the writings of the Old Testament, as John 10:34, for, this is written in Psalm 35:19 and 69:4, which, being spoken of David as a type of Christ, is fulfilled in Christ.

t Psalm 35:19; 69:4.

61 Gr. for nothing.

26Butu when the Comforter is come, whomv62I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which 63proceedeth from the Father, he shall 64testify of me:

u John 14:26; 16:7; Acts 5:32.

v Luke 24:49.

62 Namely, as the only begotten Son of God, Whose Spirit He is also and is called, Rom. 8:9; Gal. 4:6.

63 Namely, in respect of His Person, Whose attribute it is to go forth from the Father and from the Son from everlasting, as well as in respect of His power and working.

64 Namely, by His admirable gifts and internal conviction that I am the true Savior.

27Andw ye also shall bear 65witness, because ye have been with me from the 66beginning.

w Acts 1:8, 21; 5:32.

65 Namely, with your doctrine and wondrous works, which you shall do in My Name.

66 Namely, from My office of preaching, Mat. 4:17, 18, you have heard My doctrine and seen My miracles.