Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
What does John 16:13 mean?
Christ's departure was necessary to the Comforter's coming. Sending the Spirit was to be the fruit of Christ's death, which was his going away.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside John 16:12-13 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on John 16:13
The Spirit of truth - So called because he would teach them all necessary truth. Will guide you into all truth - That is, truth which pertained to the establishment of the Christian system, which they were not then prepared to hear. We may here remark that this is a full promise that they would be inspired and guided in founding the new church; and we may observe that the plan of the Saviour was replete with wisdom.
Key words
- Howbeit
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Howbeit, when the Spirit of truth is come,.
- Spirit
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Howbeit, when the Spirit of truth is come,.
- truth
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Howbeit, when the Spirit of truth is come,.
Context in John 16
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John 16 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as passion, resurrection, and epilogue. John presents Jesus in contemplative, symbolic, and theological richness as the Word, Lamb, Light, Bread, Shepherd, Resurrection, Way, Vine, and Son. Read this chapter with the wider themes of incarnation, life, and light in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
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