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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:13

Verse 13 13.But when he is come, the Spirit of truth. The Spirit, whom Christ promised to the apostles, is declared to be perfect Master or Teacher (96) of truth And why was he promised, but that they might deliver from hand to hand the wisdom which they had received from him? The Spirit was given to them, and under his guidance and direction they discharged the office to which they had been appointed. He will lead you into all truth. That very Spirit had lead them into all truth, when they... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:14

Verse 14 14.He will glorify me Christ now reminds them that the Spirit will not come to erect any new kingdom, but rather to confirm the glory which has been given to him by the Father. For many foolishly imagine that Christ taught only so as to lay down the first lessons, and then to send the disciples to a higher school. In this way they make the Gospel to be of no greater value than the Law, of which it is said that it was a schoolmaster of the ancient people, (Galatians 3:24.) This error... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:15

Verse 15 15.All things that the Father hath are mine. As it might be thought that Christ took away from the Father what he claimed for himself, he acknowledges that he has received from the Father all that he communicates to us by the Spirit. When he says that all things that the Father hath are his, he speaks in the person of the Mediator, for we must draw out of his fullness, (John 1:16.) He always keeps his eye on us, as we have said. We see, on the other hand, how the greater part of men... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:12

Notwithstanding the abundance of the revelations which Christ had given, still, said he, I have many things yet to tell you, but ye cannot bear them now ( ἄρτι ); i.e. at this epoch of your training. Christ ( John 14:18 , etc., in a passage which he proceeds to enlarge and deepen) has already said that the coming to them of the Paraclete would be one method of his own Divine approach to them for purposes of consolation and instruction; consequently he does not now allow them to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:12-15

(b) The power of the Paraclete on the disciples themselves . From the twelfth to the fifteenth verse the relation of the Paraclete to the disciples themselves makes yet more evident the expediency of the glorification of the Son of man, and demonstrates the authority of the apostolic teaching. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:12-15

The Spirit's office is not confined to the convection of the world. It has relation to the needs of the Church as well as the world. I. OUR LORD 'S CONSIDERATION FOR THE SPIRITUAL INCAPACITY OF HIS DISCIPLES . "I have yet many things to say to you, but ye cannot bear them now." 1. He had already told them many things which they could hardly understand . The communications of his truth were the marks of his loving confidence ( John 15:15 ). 2. Other... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:13

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come. This points to the definite promise already made (conditioned by his own departure, and so rendering that departure "expedient") when the Spirit of truth is come, having been sent by me from the Father. He will be your Guide into the truth in all its parts . £ As Godet says, "The reading εἰς suits ὁδηγήσει better than ἐν ." A most glorious promise this, for as days of darkness and perplexity draw on, fresh needs will arise. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:13

How to get at the fullness of truth. Jesus said, "I am the Truth." Hence it is just the thing to be expected that he should talk again and again concerning the blessing to men which is so bound up with his being. The truth as it is in Jesus must become truth in us. What glorious aims he has with respect to his friends! He wants us to master the whole truth of what every human being ought to experience. We cannot look ahead to the fullness, but Jesus can. He sees the end toward which we are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:13-14

The guidance of the Spirit. In the preceding verses our Lord has described the work of the Spirit in reference to the world; he here very fully, though succinctly, declares what is the work of the Spirit on behalf of the Church. I. IT IS NOT THE OFFICE OF THE SPIRIT TO ORIGINATE AND EMBODY TRUTH . This is an error into which Christians of different Churches and different tendencies have fallen—an error sometimes designated "mysticism." Good men have often... read more

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