John 16:13

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Howbeit {G1161} when {G3752} he {G1565}, the Spirit {G4151} of truth {G225}, is come {G2064}, he will guide {G3594} you {G5209} into {G1519} all {G3956} truth {G225}: for {G1063} he shall {G2980} not {G3756} speak {G2980} of {G575} himself {G1438}; but {G235} whatsoever {G3745}{G302} he shall hear {G191}, that shall he speak {G2980}: and {G2532} he will shew {G312} you {G5213} things to come {G2064}.

However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own initiative but will say only what he hears. He will also announce to you the events of the future.

However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.

John 16:13 (KJV) stands as a profound promise from Jesus to His disciples, delivered during His final discourses before His crucifixion. It speaks directly to the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' "Farewell Discourse" (John chapters 13-17), where He prepares His disciples for His imminent departure. He reveals that He will send "another Comforter" or "Helper" (John 14:16), the Holy Spirit. In this particular passage, Jesus is explaining the Spirit's specific roles and functions after He is no longer physically present with them, emphasizing the Spirit's role in guiding them into a deeper understanding of divine truth and revealing future events.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Guidance into All Truth: The primary promise is that the "Spirit of truth" will guide believers into all truth. This is not merely intellectual understanding but a comprehensive spiritual discernment of God's will, character, and plan. It implies a progressive revelation and understanding, leading believers away from error and towards God's complete revelation.
  • Subordination and Unity within the Trinity: The phrase "he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak" highlights the Holy Spirit's role in glorifying the Father and the Son, rather than Himself. The Spirit's message is always consistent with and derived from the divine will, underscoring the perfect unity and cooperation within the Godhead. The Spirit's purpose is to glorify Christ and reveal His teachings.
  • Revelation of Future Events: The Spirit's role extends to showing "things to come." This includes prophetic insights, understanding of God's unfolding plan, and preparation for future challenges or blessings. It speaks to the Spirit's role in inspiring prophecy and providing foresight, offering comfort and direction even in uncertain times.

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "Spirit of truth" (Greek: Pneuma tēs alētheias) is used by Jesus multiple times in John's Gospel (John 14:17, John 15:26). It emphasizes the Spirit's nature as the embodiment and source of divine truth, contrasting with the world's falsehood and deception.
  • The word "guide" (Greek: hodēgēsei) means "to lead the way," often used of a guide on a journey. It suggests active, ongoing direction and protection from straying off the path of truth, ensuring believers remain aligned with God's perfect will.

Practical Application and Significance

For believers today, John 16:13 offers immense comfort and assurance:

  • Reliable Guidance: In a world filled with conflicting information and spiritual confusion, this verse assures us that the Holy Spirit provides infallible guidance into God's truth, enabling spiritual discernment. We can trust His leading in understanding Scripture, making decisions, and discerning God's will for our lives.
  • Understanding Prophecy: The Spirit's role in revealing "things to come" means that believers, through His illumination, can grasp aspects of God's prophetic word and His future plans, providing hope and a sense of purpose.
  • Focus on Christ: The Spirit's refusal to "speak of himself" reminds us that genuine spiritual experience always points to Christ, glorifies Him, and draws us closer to Him, rather than focusing on the Spirit's manifestations alone.

This promise underscores the Holy Spirit's indispensable role in the Christian life, empowering believers to live in accordance with God's truth and to anticipate His future work.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 14:26

    But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:10

    But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:13

    Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

  • John 14:17

    [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

  • John 15:26

    But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

  • 1 John 2:27

    But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

  • 1 John 2:20

    ¶ But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
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