John 15
John 15 is part of “Book of Glory: Farewell Discourse” (13–17) in the outline of John.
John 15 summary
It is generally agreed that Christ's discourse in this and the next chapter was at the close of the last supper, the night in which he was betrayed, and it is a continued discourse, not interrupted as that in the foregoing chapter was; and what he chooses to discourse of is very pertinent to the present sad occasion of a farewell sermon. Now that he was about to leave them, I. They would be tempted to leave him, and return to Moses again; and therefore he tells them how necessary it was that they should by faith adhere to him and abide in him. II.
Read the full introduction
It is generally agreed that Christ's discourse in this and the next chapter was at the close of the last supper, the night in which he was betrayed, and it is a continued discourse, not interrupted as that in the foregoing chapter was; and what he chooses to discourse of is very pertinent to the present sad occasion of a farewell sermon. Now that he was about to leave them, I. They would be tempted to leave him, and return to Moses again; and therefore he tells them how necessary it was that they should by faith adhere to him and abide in him. II. They would be tempted to grow strange one to another; and therefore he presses it upon them to love one another, and to keep up that communion when he was gone which had hitherto been their comfort. III. They would be tempted to shrink from their apostleship when they met with hardships; and therefore he prepared them to bear the shock of the world's ill will. There are four words to which his discourse in this chapter may be reduced; 1. Fruit (Joh 15:1-8). 2. Love (Joh 15:9-17). 3. Hatred (Joh 15:18-25). The Comforter (Joh 15:26, Joh 15:27).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Key verses in John 15
John 15 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
I Am the True Vine
1I Am that true vine, and my Father is that husband man. 2Euery branch that beareth not fruite in me, he taketh away: and euery one that beareth fruite, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruite. 3Nowe are ye cleane through the worde, which I haue spoken vnto you. 4Abide in me, and I in you: as the branche cannot beare fruite of it selfe, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am that vine: ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruite: for without me can ye doe nothing. 6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branche, and withereth: and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they burne. 7If ye abide in me, and my wordes abide in you, aske what ye wil, and it shalbe done to you. 8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye beare much fruite, and be made my disciples.
Abide in My Love
9As the father hath loued me, so haue I loued you: continue in that my loue. 10If ye shall keepe my commandements, ye shall abide in my loue, as I haue kept my Fathers commandements, and abide in his loue. 11These things haue I spoken vnto you, that my ioy might remaine in you, and that your ioy might be full. 12This is my commandement, that ye loue one another, as I haue loued you. 13Greater loue then this hath no man, when any man bestoweth his life for his friendes. 14Ye are my friendes, if ye doe whatsoeuer I commaund you. 15Henceforth call I you not seruants: for the seruant knoweth not what his master doeth: but I haue called you friends: for all things that I haue heard of my Father, haue I made knowen to you. 16Ye haue not chosen me, but I haue chosen you, and ordeined you, that ye goe and bring foorth fruite, and that your fruite remaine, that whatsoeuer ye shall aske of the Father in my Name, he may giue it you. 17These things commaund I you, that ye loue one another.
The World's Hatred
18If the worlde hate you, ye knowe that it hated me before you. 19If ye were of the worlde, the world woulde loue his owne: but because ye are not of ye world, but I haue chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20Remember the word that I said vnto you, The seruant is not greater then his master. If they haue persecuted me, they will persecute you also: if they haue kept my worde, they will also keepe yours. 21But all these things will they doe vnto you for my Names sake, because they haue not knowen him that sent me. 22If I had not come and spoken vnto them, they shoulde not haue had sinne: but nowe haue they no cloke for their sinne. 23He that hateth me, hateth my Father also. 24If I had not done workes among them which none other man did, they had not had sinne: but nowe haue they both seene, and haue hated both me, and my Father. 25But it is that the worde might be fulfilled, that is written in their Lawe, They hated me without a cause. 26But when that Comforter shall come, whom I will send vnto you from the Father, euen the Spirit of trueth, which proceedeth of the Father, he shall testifie of me. 27And ye shall witnesse also, because ye haue bene with me from the beginning.