The Spirit would also convict the world of righteousness. Normally righteousness (Gr. dikaiosyne, which occurs only here in John"s Gospel) refers to truly righteous conduct and standing before God. The world does not have that. It also refers to the righteousness that people profess to have that is far inferior to the righteousness that they need for acceptance with God ( Matthew 5:20; Romans 10:3; Philippians 3:6-9; Titus 3:5). This self-righteousness, which Isaiah compared to a filthy menstrual cloth ( Isaiah 64:6), is apparently the negative side of what Jesus had in mind. The Spirit would convict the world of the inadequacy of its righteousness and move the unsaved to seek the true righteousness that only Jesus Christ provides. [source][source][source]
The Spirit would convict the world of its lack of righteousness because Jesus was going to the Father with the result that His disciples would see Him no longer. Jesus had convicted those He contacted of their inadequate righteousness during His earthly ministry, but that source of conviction was about to depart. The Spirit would continue this ministry. [source][source][source]
Jesus" reference to the disciples" inability to see Him implies the need for them to become the instruments through whom the Spirit would exercise this ministry. Moreover Jesus" ascension testified that His righteousness is the standard for divine acceptance (cf. Acts 3:14-15; 1 John 3:5). [source][source][source]
Context Summary
John 16:1-11 - The Work Of The Spirit
We gain by our losses. It was expedient for the disciples that the Lord should go, because the Spirit's presence was contingent upon His absence. The text needed to be completed before the great sermon could be preached. Christ's work must be finished before the Spirit could apply it. Every phase of human experience centers in Him whom the Holy Spirit reveals. Whether it be conviction of sin, or faith, or hope, all begin and end with Jesus. The chief sin of the present age is its rejection of Christ, and it is for this that men are condemned. The assertions of Jesus as to Himself are vindicated, and His righteousness is established. His divine mission was proved by His resurrection and ascension. The Cross was the scene of Satan's judgment. There the prince of this world was condemned and cast out. His power is broken, though he still does his utmost to intimidate and hinder the followers of Jesus.
The world comes to us first with her fascinations and delights. She comes next with her frowns and tortures. Behind her is her prince. He, however, exists only by sufferance. Meet him as a discredited foe. He has been judged and condemned. For the Church there awaits victory and freedom; for the world, the flesh, and the devil, hopeless defeat-the bottomless pit and the lake of fire. See Judges 1:7-8. [source]
Chapter Summary: John 16
1Jesus comforts his disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit, and his ascension; 23assures their prayers made in his name to be acceptable 33Peace in Jesus, and in the world affliction
Greek Commentary for John 16:10
And ye behold me no more [και ουκετι τεωρειτε με] With the bodily eyes and without the Holy Spirit they are unable to behold Jesus with the spiritual vision (John 14:19). Without Christ they lose the sense of righteousness as is seen in the “new morals” (immorality, loose views of marriage, etc.). [source]
I go [ὑπάγω] Withdraw from their sight and earthly fellowship. See on John 8:21, and footnote. [source]
John 16:8Righteousness [δικαιοσύνης] Only here and John 16:10in the Gospel. It occurs in the First Epistle and in Revelation. [source]
John 16:7Go away [ἀπέλθω] The different words for go should be noted in this verse, and John 16:10. Here, expressing simple departure from a point. [source]
John 13:1Now before the feast of the passover [προ δε της εορτης του πασχα] Just before, John means, not twenty-four hours before, that is our Thursday evening (beginning of 15th of Nisan, sunset to sunset Jewish day), since Jesus was crucified on Friday 15th of Nisan. Hence Jesus ate the regular passover meal at the usual time. The whole feast, including the feast of unleavened bread, lasted eight days. For a discussion of the objections to this interpretation of John in connexion with the Synoptic Gospels one may consult my Harmony of the Gospels, pp. 279-84, and David Smith‘s In the Days of His Flesh, Appendix VIII. The passover feast began on the 15th Nisan at sunset, the passover lamb being slain the afternoon of 14th Nisan. There seems no real doubt that this meal in John 13:1-30 is the real passover meal described by the Synoptics also (Mark 14:18-21; Matthew 26:21-25; Luke 22:21-23), followed by the institution of the Lord‘s Supper. Thus understood John 13:1 here serves as an introduction to the great esoteric teaching of Christ to the apostles (John 13:2-17:26), called by Barnas Sears The Heart of Christ. This phrase goes with the principal verb ηγαπησεν ēgapēsen (loved). Knowing Second perfect active participle, emphasizing the full consciousness of Christ. He was not stumbling into the dark as he faced “his hour” See John 18:4; John 19:28 for other examples of the insight and foresight (Bernard) of Jesus concerning his death. See on John 12:23 for use before by Jesus. That he should depart Sub-final use of ινα hina with second aorist active subjunctive of μεταβαινω metabainō old word, to go from one place to another, here (John 5:24; 1 John 3:14) to go from this world (John 8:23) back to the Father from whom he had come (John 14:12,John 14:28; John 16:10,John 16:28; John 17:5). His own which were in the world His own disciples (John 17:6,John 17:9,John 17:11), those left in the world when he goes to the Father, not the Jews as in John 1:11. See Acts 4:23; 1 Timothy 5:8 for the idiom. John pictures here the outgoing of Christ‘s very heart‘s love (chs. John 13-17) towards these men whom he had chosen and whom he loved “unto the end” (εις τελος eis telos) as in Matthew 10:22; Luke 18:15, but here as in 1 Thessalonians 2:16 rather “to the uttermost.” The culmination of the crisis (“his hour”) naturally drew out the fulness of Christ‘s love for them as is shown in these great chapters (John 13-17). [source]
John 14:19But ye behold me [υμεις δε τεωρειτε με] Emphatic position of υμεις humeis (ye) in contrast to the blind, unseeing world. Cf. John 13:33; John 16:10,John 16:16. Because I live, ye shall live also This is our blessed guarantee of immortal, eternal life, the continued living of Jesus. He is the surety of a better covenant (Hebrews 7:22), the Risen Christ Jesus. He had said it before (John 6:57). [source]
Galatians 4:6The Spirit of his Son [] The Holy Spirit which animated Jesus in his human life, and which, in the risen Christ, is the life-principle of believers. See 1 Corinthians 15:45, and comp. Romans 8:9-11. The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Christ, Romans 8:9,Romans 8:10, where Paul uses Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ and Christ as convertible terms. The phrase Spirit of Jesus Christ only Philemon 1:19. In John 3:34Christ is represented as dispensing the Spirit. He is fully endowed with the Spirit (Mark 1:10; John 1:32): he sends the Spirit from the Father to the disciples, and he is the burden of the Spirit's testimony (John 15:26; John 16:7,John 16:9,John 16:10,John 16:15). The Paraclete is given in answer to Christ's prayer (John 14:16). Christ identifies his own coming and presence with those of the Spirit (John 14:17,John 14:18). Paul identifies him personally with the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17). [source]
What do the individual words in John 16:10 mean?
concerningrighteousnessnowbecausetotheFatherI go awayandno moreyou beholdMe
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: δικαιοσύνη
Sense: in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God.
Greek Commentary for John 16:10
With the bodily eyes and without the Holy Spirit they are unable to behold Jesus with the spiritual vision (John 14:19). Without Christ they lose the sense of righteousness as is seen in the “new morals” (immorality, loose views of marriage, etc.). [source]
Withdraw from their sight and earthly fellowship. See on John 8:21, and footnote. [source]
Rev., behold. See on John 1:18. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 16:10
Only here and John 16:10in the Gospel. It occurs in the First Epistle and in Revelation. [source]
The different words for go should be noted in this verse, and John 16:10. Here, expressing simple departure from a point. [source]
Just before, John means, not twenty-four hours before, that is our Thursday evening (beginning of 15th of Nisan, sunset to sunset Jewish day), since Jesus was crucified on Friday 15th of Nisan. Hence Jesus ate the regular passover meal at the usual time. The whole feast, including the feast of unleavened bread, lasted eight days. For a discussion of the objections to this interpretation of John in connexion with the Synoptic Gospels one may consult my Harmony of the Gospels, pp. 279-84, and David Smith‘s In the Days of His Flesh, Appendix VIII. The passover feast began on the 15th Nisan at sunset, the passover lamb being slain the afternoon of 14th Nisan. There seems no real doubt that this meal in John 13:1-30 is the real passover meal described by the Synoptics also (Mark 14:18-21; Matthew 26:21-25; Luke 22:21-23), followed by the institution of the Lord‘s Supper. Thus understood John 13:1 here serves as an introduction to the great esoteric teaching of Christ to the apostles (John 13:2-17:26), called by Barnas Sears The Heart of Christ. This phrase goes with the principal verb ηγαπησεν ēgapēsen (loved). Knowing Second perfect active participle, emphasizing the full consciousness of Christ. He was not stumbling into the dark as he faced “his hour” See John 18:4; John 19:28 for other examples of the insight and foresight (Bernard) of Jesus concerning his death. See on John 12:23 for use before by Jesus. That he should depart Sub-final use of ινα hina with second aorist active subjunctive of μεταβαινω metabainō old word, to go from one place to another, here (John 5:24; 1 John 3:14) to go from this world (John 8:23) back to the Father from whom he had come (John 14:12, John 14:28; John 16:10, John 16:28; John 17:5). His own which were in the world His own disciples (John 17:6, John 17:9, John 17:11), those left in the world when he goes to the Father, not the Jews as in John 1:11. See Acts 4:23; 1 Timothy 5:8 for the idiom. John pictures here the outgoing of Christ‘s very heart‘s love (chs. John 13-17) towards these men whom he had chosen and whom he loved “unto the end” (εις τελος eis telos) as in Matthew 10:22; Luke 18:15, but here as in 1 Thessalonians 2:16 rather “to the uttermost.” The culmination of the crisis (“his hour”) naturally drew out the fulness of Christ‘s love for them as is shown in these great chapters (John 13-17). [source]
Emphatic position of υμεις humeis (ye) in contrast to the blind, unseeing world. Cf. John 13:33; John 16:10, John 16:16. Because I live, ye shall live also This is our blessed guarantee of immortal, eternal life, the continued living of Jesus. He is the surety of a better covenant (Hebrews 7:22), the Risen Christ Jesus. He had said it before (John 6:57). [source]
Accusative of extent of time. It was only six months to the last passover of Christ‘s ministry and he knew that the end was near. I go unto him that sent me See the same words in John 16:5. υπαγω Hupagō old compound See John 16:7-10 for three words for going common in John (απερχομαι poreuomai go for a purpose, υπαγω aperchomai to go away, υπαγω hupagō to withdraw personally). Hupagō often in John of going to the Father or God (John 8:14, John 8:21; John 13:3, John 13:33, John 13:36; John 14:4, John 14:5, John 14:28; John 15:16; John 16:4, John 16:7, John 16:10, John 16:17). See John 6:21. It was enigmatic language to the hearers. [source]
See the same words in John 16:5. υπαγω Hupagō old compound See John 16:7-10 for three words for going common in John (απερχομαι poreuomai go for a purpose, υπαγω aperchomai to go away, υπαγω hupagō to withdraw personally). Hupagō often in John of going to the Father or God (John 8:14, John 8:21; John 13:3, John 13:33, John 13:36; John 14:4, John 14:5, John 14:28; John 15:16; John 16:4, John 16:7, John 16:10, John 16:17). See John 6:21. It was enigmatic language to the hearers. [source]
The Holy Spirit which animated Jesus in his human life, and which, in the risen Christ, is the life-principle of believers. See 1 Corinthians 15:45, and comp. Romans 8:9-11. The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Christ, Romans 8:9, Romans 8:10, where Paul uses Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ and Christ as convertible terms. The phrase Spirit of Jesus Christ only Philemon 1:19. In John 3:34Christ is represented as dispensing the Spirit. He is fully endowed with the Spirit (Mark 1:10; John 1:32): he sends the Spirit from the Father to the disciples, and he is the burden of the Spirit's testimony (John 15:26; John 16:7, John 16:9, John 16:10, John 16:15). The Paraclete is given in answer to Christ's prayer (John 14:16). Christ identifies his own coming and presence with those of the Spirit (John 14:17, John 14:18). Paul identifies him personally with the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17). [source]