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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:22

Verse 22 22.Your joy no man shall take from you. The value of the joy is greatly enhanced by its perpetuity; for it follows that the afflictions are light, and ought to be patiently endured, because they are of short duration. By these words Christ reminds us what is the nature of true joy The world must unavoidably be soon deprived of its joys, which it seeks only in fading things; and, therefore, we must come to the resurrection of Christ, in which there is eternal solidity. But I will see... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:23

Verse 23 23.And in that day you will ask me nothing. After having promised to the disciples that they would derivejoy from their unshaken firmness and courage, he now speaks of another grace of the Spirit which would be given to them, that they would receive so great light of understanding as would raise them on high to heavenly mysteries. They were at that time so slow that the slightest difficulty of any kind made them hesitate; for as children who are learning the alphabet cannot read a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:24

Verse 24 24.Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name. It is probable that the apostles kept the rule of prayer which had been laid down in the Law. Now we know that the fathers were not accustomed to pray without a Mediator; for God had trained them, by so many exercises, to such a form of prayer. They saw the high priest enter into the holy place in the name of the whole people, and they saw sacrifices offered every day, that the prayers of the Church might be acceptable before God. It was,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:16-22

The departure of Jesus, with its experiences of sorrow and joy to the disciples. They were soon to stand in a new relation to Christ. I. THE DEPARTURE AND THE RETURN OF CHRIST . "A little while, and ye shall see me no more: then a little while more, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father? 1. Our " Lord foresees and declares his death as almost at hand . That would for the time sever him from the sight of his disciples. 2. He foresees and declares... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:16-24

(c) The sorrow turned into joy . In these verses he approaches the final farewell, in which the whole body of the disciples are introduced as inwardly or among themselves perturbed by the special difficulty of the words. Before the Spirit can do all this, a separation must be experienced. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:17

Then said (some) of his disciples one to another, not daring to utter it to him, What is this that he saith to us, A little while, and ye behold me not: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? This clause now aggravates their difficulty, whether they associate it with the idea already uttered, or whether they repeat the Lord's word. The program of the future—e.g. form a group of ideas very difficult even for us now to realize or "to know " ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:18

They said, What is this little while whereof he speaketh ? £ ( λέγει ; Vulgate, dicit ). (The R.T. and Westcott and Hort invert the τοῦτο and τί , and thus greatly increase the simplicity of the passage.) What are these two short periods of which he speaks, so full of mysterious significance? We know not what he saith ( λαλεῖ ; Vulgate, loquitur ). We do not apprehend the wonderful interchange of vision and blank darkness—of presence and absence and presence again! read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:19

Now £ Jesus knew (perceived by his Divine penetration of human thought here quickened by their anxious look and hurried whisperings) that they were wishing to question him, and he said to them, Are you inquiring among yourselves concerning this that I said, A little while, etc.? In his repetition he does not quote the clause which they had added— i.e. added if the clause, John 16:16 , is not genuine. He proceeded to meet their difficulties. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:20

There is no exact or categoric reply to the very inquiry which he has heard and cited, but there is more of prophecy and help than if he had said, "Tomorrow I die and shall be laid in the grave, and on the third day I shall rise again." He had often said this, and they refused to understand. It was not merely a resurrection of the body, but the glorification in the Father of his entire Personality, for which he wished them to be prepared. A simple restoration like that of Lazarus would not... read more

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