John 16:27-30

16:27 For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 1  16:28 I came from the Father and entered into the world, but in turn, 2  I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” 3 

16:29 His disciples said, “Look, now you are speaking plainly 4  and not in obscure figures of speech! 5  16:30 Now we know that you know everything 6  and do not need anyone 7  to ask you anything. 8  Because of this 9  we believe that you have come from God.”

1 tc A number of early mss (א1 B C* D L pc co) read πατρός (patros, “Father”) here instead of θεοῦ (qeou, “God”; found in Ì5 א*,2 A C3 W Θ Ψ 33 Ë1,13 Ï). Although externally πατρός has relatively strong support, it is evidently an assimilation to “I came from the Father” at the beginning of v. 28, or more generally to the consistent mention of God as Father throughout this chapter (πατήρ [pathr, “Father”] occurs eleven times in this chapter, while θεός [qeos, “God”] occurs only two other times [16:2, 30]).

2 tn Or “into the world; again.” Here πάλιν (palin) functions as a marker of contrast, with the implication of a sequence.

3 sn The statement I am leaving the world and going to the Father is a summary of the entire Gospel of John. It summarizes the earthly career of the Word made flesh, Jesus of Nazareth, on his mission from the Father to be the Savior of the world, beginning with his entry into the world as he came forth from God and concluding with his departure from the world as he returned to the Father.

4 tn Or “openly.”

5 tn Or “not in parables.” or “not in metaphors.”

sn How is the disciples’ reply to Jesus now you are speaking plainly and not in obscure figures of speech to be understood? Their claim to understand seems a bit impulsive. It is difficult to believe that the disciples have really understood the full implications of Jesus’ words, although it is true that he spoke to them plainly and not figuratively in 16:26-28. The disciples will not fully understand all that Jesus has said to them until after his resurrection, when the Holy Spirit will give them insight and understanding (16:13).

6 tn Grk “all things.”

7 tn Grk “and have no need of anyone.”

8 tn The word “anything” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

9 tn Or “By this.”