John 15:12-17

ADDITIONAL NOTES BY THE AMERICAN EDITOR.

Vv. 12-17.

1. The statement of John 15:13 is, of course, to be interpreted in view of the subject which is occupying the thought of Jesus. The love of enemies is not under contemplation.

2. The proof which Jesus gives, that He regards them as friends (John 15:15), is that He has made known to them all things which He has heard from God. This is not to be understood as inconsistent with what is said in John 16:12, but only as declaring that He had treated them with all openness and friendliness, concealing nothing for the purpose of concealment.

3. The word ἐξελεξάμην of John 15:16, from its connection with φίλους, seems to refer to the choice of the eleven as friends. In the relation of the thought to the bearing of fruit, the idea of the apostleship is no doubt before the mind, and not improbably the turn to this idea is to be found in the verb ἔθηκα.

4. The second ἵνα clause of John 15:16 is to be understood, with Meyer, Weiss, Godet and others, as co-ordinate with the first. This co-ordination, and the placing of the second ἵνα clause where it is, serve to show, once more, how completely the thought of answers to prayer is limited, in these Chapter s, to the matters of spiritual life and fruit-bearing.