John 16:8

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:8-10

Conviction of righteousness. In order to moral improvement there must be a sense of sin and its degradation and misery, and there must be some apprehension of righteousness and holiness accompanied by both admiration and aspiration. It is an evidence of the divinely wise provision of the gospel of Christ, that there is secured for man, in the influences of the Spirit of God, not only a power which dissatisfies men with sin, but a power which impels men to righteousness. I. THERE IS ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:8-11

Conviction of judgment. It is usually said that the sin of which the Spirit convicts is the sin of the world; that the righteousness is that of Christ; and that the judgment is the judgment of Satan. In this last reference our Lord's language must be regarded as anticipatory. Satan's power was never so awfully evinced as in the condemnation and crucifixion of the Son of God; yet the hour of his apparent triumph was in reality the hour of his fall. Translated into ordinary language, this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:8-11

The convicting work of the Spirit. Here surely is the true and abiding blessing for those who labor to look under the surface, and see Jesus dealing with the deep, ancient, and malignant causes of all human trouble. Jesus came teaching, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness. The blessing of his incarnate ministry was just as deep, just as shallow, as the recipient chose to make it. But when the incarnate Jesus departs to make... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 16:8

He will reprove - The word translated “reprove” means commonly to demonstrate by argument, to prove, to persuade anyone to do a thing by presenting reasons. It hence means also to convince of anything, and particularly to convince of crime. This is its meaning here. He will convince or convict the world of sin. That is, he will so apply the truths of God to men’s own minds as to convince them by fair and sufficient arguments that they are sinners, and cause them to feel this. This is the nature... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 16:7-8

John 16:7-8. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth I acquaint you with the case just as it is, and tell you the reasons of my going away, though you have not asked them. It is necessary even on your account that I should depart, because, if I go not away, and enter upon my mediatorial office, the Comforter By whose assistance, as I told you, you are to convert the world, will not visit you: whereas, if I depart And take possession of my kingdom; I will send him unto you As the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 16:1-15

146. Work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:1-15)As long as Jesus had been with his disciples, the full force of people’s opposition had been directed at him, not at them. Now that he was about to leave them, he warned them that this hatred would be turned on them (John 16:1-4). However, because of their grief concerning his coming departure, they scarcely understood his warning. Nor could they see the joy that lay before him in being reunited with his Father (John 16:5-6).When Jesus departed, the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - John 16:8

And , &c. These four verses exhibit the Figure of speech Prosapodosis, App-6 . when He is come = having come. he. Greek. ekeinos. See John 14:26 . reprove = convict, i.e. bring in guilty. Greek. elencho (Latin. convince). Elsewhere in John 3:20 , "reprove"; John 8:9 , "convict"; John 8:46 , "convince". Compare also Titus 1:9 . James 2:9 . world. Greek. kosmos. App-129 . of = concerning. App-104 . sin. App-128 . judgment. App-177 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 16:8

And he, when he is come, will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.Convict the world ... The means of the Spirit's convicting the world was explained thus by Lipscomb:He will convict the world, not by direct work upon their hearts, but as the event shows (Acts 2:37), through the life of the apostles, declaring the wonderful works of God. The Holy Spirit came not "unto the world" but "unto the apostles." The world could not receive the Spirit directly (John 14:17), and... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 16:8

John 16:8. And when he is come, he will reprove— He will convince, &c. "And he, coming from on high, by virtue of my death, and in consequence of my resurrection and exaltation, shall carry on my cause in this lower world by demonstratively convincing both Jews and Gentiles, wherever my gospel comes, of their guilt, depravity, and obnoxiousness to the wrath of God; of the righteousness which I bring in by my obedience and sufferings to the death of the cross, for the justification of such... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 16:8

8. And when he is come, he will, c.—This is one of the passages most pregnant with thought in the profound discourses of Christ with a few great strokes depicting all and every part of the ministry of the Holy Ghost in the world—His operation with reference to individuals as well as the mass, on believers and unbelievers alike [OLSHAUSEN]. he will reprove—This is too weak a word to express what is meant. Reproof is indeed implied in the term employed, and doubtless the word begins with it. But... read more

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