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The World's Hatred and the Promise of the Paraclete

John 15:18–16:33 · Passion week in Jerusalem

Scripture

John 15:18–27

f the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. 23He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 26But 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: 27And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

King James Version · public domain

Joani 15:18–27

dë u ka mëri juve bota, di-e-ni se mua më ka pasurë mëri më përpara se juve. 19Të ishitë prej botësë, bota dotë donte të-sajnë; po me-qënë-që nukë jini nga bota, po un’ u sgjodha juve nga bota, përandaj u ka mëri juve bota. 20Mbani mënt fjalënë që u thashë unë juve, Nukë ka shërbëtuar më të-math se i zoti. Ndë ndoqnë mua, dot’u ndjekënë edhe juve; ndë ruajtnë fjalënë t’ime, dotë ruanjënë edhe t’uajnë. 21Po të-gjitha këto dot’u’a bënjënë juve për emërinë t’im, sepse nuk’ e dinë atë që më dërgoj. 22Të mos kishnjam ardhurë e të mos u kishnjam folur’ atyre, nukë dotë kishinë faj; po ndashti nukë kanë ç’të thonë për fajin’ e tyre. 23Ay që më ka mëri mua, e ka mëri edhe t’im Atë. 24Të mos kishnjam bërë ndër ata ato punë që s’i ka bërë asndonjë tjatërë, nukë dotë kishinë faj; po ndashti edhe panë, edhe na patnë mëri edhe mua edhe t’im Atë. 25Po këjo ubë, që të mbushetë fjala që është shkruarë ndë nomt t’atyreve, “Më patnë mëri pa ndonjë farë punë.” 26Po kur të vinjë Ngushullimtari, të-cilinë dot’u’a dërgonj unë juve prej Atit, Fryma e së-vërtetësë, që del nga Ati, ay dotë dëshmonjë për mua. 27Po edhe ju dëshmoni, sepse që ndë kryet jeni bashkë me mua.

Kristoforidhi, Dhiata e Re Toskërisht 1879 · zotërim publik

In their own words

For He, in bearing witness Himself, and inspiring such witnesses with invincible courage, divested Christ's friends of their fear, and transformed into love the hatred of His enemies.

Blessed Augustine of Hippo, Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 92 (on John 15:26–27)

The World's Hatred and the Promise of the Paraclete (John 15:18–16:33)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of St. John, Homilies 77–79 (on John 15:18–16:33) Source: trans. G. T. Stupart in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 14. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf114.iv.lxxix.html

On why the world's hatred makes the disciples imitators of their Lord:

He showed that in this point they would be most His imitators. For while Christ was in the flesh, men had war with Him, but when He was translated, the battle came in the next place upon them. Then because owing to their fewness they were terrified at being about to encounter the attack of so great a multitude, He raiseth their souls by telling them that it was an especial subject of joy that they were hated by them; "For so ye shall share My sufferings."

On the honour of the Spirit, that it is expedient the Master depart and the Comforter come:

What here say those who hold not the fitting opinion concerning the Spirit? Is it "expedient" that the master depart, and the servant come? Seest thou how great is the honor of the Spirit?

On why the disciples must not despond, since their Master has conquered:

But rouse your minds, for ye shall suffer nothing terrible. When the master hath gotten the better of his enemies, the disciples must not despond.

St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Books 10–11 (on John 16:7–22) Source: trans. T. Randell, Library of Fathers, 1885. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_john_10_book10.htm

On why Christ's departure is expedient, that we might partake of the Holy Spirit:

It was however surely necessary that we should become partakers and sharers of the Divine Nature of the Word ... But it was impossible to attain this in any other way except by fellowship in, and partaking of, the Holy Spirit.

On the woman in travail, whose sorrows must inevitably end in rejoicing:

For observe how earnestly He persuades them, by obvious illustration, of the necessity of endurance, and of not being over dismayed by troubles or sorrows, if they must surely and inevitably end in rejoicing.

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of John (on John 15:26–27) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on John, trans. J. H. Newman, 1845. Public domain. Full text: https://archive.org/details/CatenaAureaNewEdV6

On the difference between being sent and proceeding, and the Spirit's peculiar procession:

Elsewhere He says that the Father sends the Spirit; now He says He does: Whom I will send unto you; thus declaring the equality of the Father and the Son. ... When it is said that He proceeded, do not understand His procession to be an external mission, such as is given to ministering spirits, but a certain peculiar, and distinct procession, such as is true of the Holy Spirit alone. To proceed is not the same as being sent, but is the essential nature of the Holy Ghost, as coming from the Father.

Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractates 92 and 103 (on John 15:26–16:33) Source: trans. John Gibb and James Innes in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 7. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf107.iii.xciii.html

On how the Spirit's witness turned the enemies' hatred into love (Tractate 92):

For He, in bearing witness Himself, and inspiring such witnesses with invincible courage, divested Christ's friends of their fear, and transformed into love the hatred of His enemies.

On how the disciples overcame the world only in Him (Tractate 103):

For in receiving the Holy Spirit, there was wrought in them the very state described to them now in the words, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." They were of good cheer, and they conquered. But in whom, save in Him? For He had not overcome the world, were it still to overcome His members.

St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604)

Homilies on Ezekiel (on John 15:18–19) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on John, trans. J. H. Newman, 1845. Public domain. Full text: https://archive.org/details/CatenaAureaNewEdV6

On why the dispraise of the perverse is the Christian's praise:

For the dispraise of the perverse, is our praise. There is nothing wrong in not pleasing those, who do not please God. For no one can by one and the same act please God, and the enemies of God. He proves himself no friend to God, who pleases His enemy; and he whose soul is in subjection to the Truth, will have to contend with the enemies of that Truth.

Patristic sources

Read the sources: Chrysostom on John (CCEL) · Augustine, Tractates on John (CCEL) · Cyril of Alexandria on John, Book 10 (tertullian.org) · Catena Aurea on John, Oxford ed. (archive.org)