John 16:7-8 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 16:7-15

As it was usual with the Old Testament prophets to comfort the church in its calamities with the promise of the Messiah (Isa. 9:6; Mic. 5:6; Zech. 3:8); so, the Messiah being come, the promise of the Spirit was the great cordial, and is still. Three things we have here concerning the Comforter's coming:-- I. That Christ's departure was absolutely necessary to the Comforter's coming, John 16:7. The disciples were so loth to believe this that Christ saw cause to assert it with a more than... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 16:5-11

16:5-11 "I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going away to him who sent me, and none of you asks me: 'Where are you going?' But grief has filled your hearts because I have spoken these things to you. But it is the truth I am telling you--it is to your interest that I should go away, for If I do not go away the Helper will not come to you. But when he has come, he will convict the world of sin, and convince it of righteousness and judgment;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 16:7

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth ,.... Christ was truth itself, and could say nothing else; but he makes use of this way of speaking, to raise the attention of his disciples, and to engage their belief of what he was about to say, and of which they were not easily persuaded; which was, that however overwhelmed they were with grief and sorrow, because of his going away from them, a greater truth he could not tell them, than that this would be to their real good and advantage: it is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 16:8

And when he is come ,.... The coming of the Spirit here, chiefly designs his descent upon the apostles, at the day of "Pentecost": as the things ascribed to him, and which were then done by him, clearly show; though it may also include his coming along with, and by the ministration of the Gospel, into the hearts of his people at conversion, in all after ages of time: he will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment : by "the world" is principally meant, the Jews; the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:7

It is expedient - that I go away - In other places he had showed them the absolute necessity of his death for the salvation of men: see Matthew 20:19 ; Matthew 26:2 ; Mark 9:31 ; Mark 10:33 , Luke 9:44 ; Luke 18:32 . This he does not repeat here, but shows them that, by the order of God, the Holy Spirit cannot come to them, nor to the world, unless he first die; and consequently men cannot be saved but in this way. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:8

He will reprove - Ελεγξει , He will demonstrate these matters so clearly as to leave no doubt on the minds of those who are simple of heart; and so fully as to confound and shut the mouths of those who are gainsayers. See Acts 2:1 , etc. The world - The Jewish nation first, and afterwards the Gentile world; for his influences shall not be confined to one people, place, or time. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:7

Verse 7 7.Yet I tell you the truth. That they may no longer wish to have him present before their eyes, he testifies that his absence will be advantageous, and makes use of a sort of oath; for we are carnal, and consequently nothing is more difficult than to tear from our minds this foolish inclination, by which we attempt to draw down Christ from heaven to us. He explains where the advantage lies, by saying that the Holy Spirit could not be given to them, if he did not leave the world. But far... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:8

Verse 8 8.And when he is come. Passing by the diversity of expositions, which we have received in consequence of the obscurity of the passage, I shall only state what appears to me to be in accordance with Christ’s true meaning. He had promised his Spirit to the disciples; and now he praises the excellence of the gift from its effect, because this Spirit will not only guide, support, and protect them in private, but will extend more widely his power and efficacy. He will convince the world;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:5-11

The rectory of the disciples. Jesus now describes the power which will gain their victory over the world. I. THE POWER WHICH WILL GIVE THE VICTORY . 1. The disciples were too absorbed by the sorrows of the approaching separation to think of anything but themselves . "But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? Bat because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart." 2. The expediency of his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:7

Though you are crushed with a sense of your approaching bereavement, and so imperfectly apprehend the conditions of your future power and the method which it is incumbent upon me to adopt for your consolation and the completion of my earthly work, nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is wonderful that he who is the Truth itself should have needed, in such various forms, to have reiterated and affirmed the supreme right he possessed to claim their acceptance of his veracity. The truth, then,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 16:7-15

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 16:5-11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 16:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 16:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:8

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:5-11

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:7

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