And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
And {G2532} when he is come {G2064}, he {G1565} will reprove {G1651} the world {G2889} of {G4012} sin {G266}, and {G2532} of {G4012} righteousness {G1343}, and {G2532} of {G4012} judgment {G2920}:
“When he comes, he will show that the world is wrong about sin, about righteousness and about judgment —
And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
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Jude 1:15
¶ To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. -
Acts 2:37
¶ Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men [and] brethren, what shall we do? -
Zechariah 12:10
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn. -
Acts 16:29
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, -
Acts 16:30
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? -
John 8:9
And they which heard [it], being convicted by [their own] conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, [even] unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. -
1 Corinthians 14:24
But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or [one] unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
In John 16:8, Jesus continues His intimate farewell discourse with His disciples, revealing the crucial role of the Holy Spirit after His departure. This verse describes a primary function of the Holy Spirit: to bring conviction to the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Context
This verse is part of Jesus's extended "Farewell Discourse" (John chapters 13-17), delivered to His disciples just before His arrest and crucifixion. The disciples were troubled by Jesus's impending departure, and He sought to comfort them by promising the coming of the Holy Spirit, whom He often referred to as the Comforter, Helper, or Advocate. The Spirit's arrival would not only guide the disciples into all truth but also actively engage with the unbelieving world, confronting it with divine truth.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The key word in this verse is "reprove" (KJV), which comes from the Greek word elegchō (ἐλέγχω). This term is stronger than simply 'to scold' or 'to rebuke.' It carries the meaning of:
Thus, the Holy Spirit's work is to powerfully and undeniably reveal to the world its spiritual condition, making plain the truth about sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Significance of the Threefold Conviction
The Spirit's conviction targets three distinct, yet interconnected, areas:
Of Sin
The Holy Spirit convicts the world "of sin." Jesus clarifies this in the very next verse: "Of sin, because they believe not on me" (John 16:9). While the world is full of sins, the foundational sin that the Spirit exposes is the rejection of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Unbelief is the root of all other sins, as it signifies a refusal to acknowledge God's ultimate revelation and offer of salvation.
Of Righteousness
The Spirit also convicts the world "of righteousness." This refers to Jesus's perfect righteousness, which was vindicated by His ascension to the Father ("Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more" - John 16:10). His return to the Father proved that He was indeed the Son of God, perfectly righteous. By contrast, the world is convicted of its own lack of righteousness and its inability to achieve it apart from Christ. This conviction highlights the need for God's imputed righteousness, available through faith.
Of Judgment
Finally, the Spirit convicts the world "of judgment." This conviction points to the fact that "the prince of this world is judged" (John 16:11). Satan, who influences the world system, was decisively defeated by Christ's death and resurrection (see John 12:31). This established the certainty of ultimate judgment for all who remain aligned with the defeated enemy, and it underscores God's justice and sovereignty.
Practical Application
The Holy Spirit continues this work of conviction today. For those who are not yet believers, the Spirit brings a profound sense of their spiritual need, drawing them towards repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. For believers, this verse is a reminder of the Spirit's ongoing power to reveal truth and the importance of prayer for the Spirit's work in the world. It also assures us that God's justice will prevail, and that the truth about sin, righteousness, and judgment will ultimately be made plain to all.