John 16:8

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) And when he is come, he will reprove the world.—Better, as in margin, convince the world. (Comp. John 3:20; John 8:46.) The only other passages where it occurs in the Gospels are in Matthew 18:15, and Luke 3:19. It is not in the better reading of John 8:9; but it occurs not unfrequently in the Epistles. (See especially Note on 1Corinthians 14:24.) This conviction of the world is by witness concerning Christ (John 15:26). It is the revelation to the hearts of men of the character and work of Christ, and, therefore, a refutation of the evil in their hearts. The result of this conviction is two-fold, according as men embrace it, accept its chastening discipline, and are saved by it; or reject it, and in the rejection harden their hearts, and are thus condemned by it. (Comp. 2Corinthians 2:15-16.) The effect of St. Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost is the first great historical comment on this verse; but the comment is continued in the whole history of the Church’s work. The remainder of the verse enumerates the three steps in this conviction, which are more fully defined in the three following verses.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

16:7-15 Christ's departure was necessary to the Comforter's coming. Sending the Spirit was to be the fruit of Christ's death, which was his going away. His bodily presence could be only in one place at one time, but his Spirit is every where, in all places, at all times, wherever two or three are gathered together in his name. See here the office of the Spirit, first to reprove, or to convince. Convincing work is the Spirit's work; he can do it effectually, and none but he. It is the method the Holy Spirit takes, first to convince, and then to comfort. The Spirit shall convince the world, of sin; not merely tell them of it. The Spirit convinces of the fact of sin; of the fault of sin; of the folly of sin; of the filth of sin, that by it we are become hateful to God; of the fountain of sin, the corrupt nature; and lastly, of the fruit of sin, that the end thereof is death. The Holy Spirit proves that all the world is guilty before God. He convinces the world of righteousness; that Jesus of Nazareth was Christ the righteous. Also, of Christ's righteousness, imparted to us for justification and salvation. He will show them where it is to be had, and how they may be accepted as righteous in God's sight. Christ's ascension proves the ransom was accepted, and the righteousness finished, through which believers were to be justified. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. All will be well, when his power is broken, who made all the mischief. As Satan is subdued by Christ, this gives us confidence, for no other power can stand before him. And of the day of judgment. The coming of the Spirit would be of unspeakable advantage to the disciples. The Holy Spirit is our Guide, not only to show us the way, but to go with us by continued aids and influences. To be led into a truth is more than barely to know it; it is not only to have the notion of it in our heads, but the relish, and savour, and power of it in our hearts. He shall teach all truth, and keep back nothing profitable, for he will show things to come. All the gifts and graces of the Spirit, all the preaching, and all the writing of the apostles, under the influence of the Spirit, all the tongues, and miracles, were to glorify Christ. It behoves every one to ask, whether the Holy Spirit has begun a good work in his heart? Without clear discovery of our guilt and danger, we never shall understand the value of Christ's salvation; but when brought to know ourselves aright, we begin to see the value of the Redeemer. We should have fuller views of the Redeemer, and more lively affections to him, if we more prayed for, and depended on the Holy Spirit.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 of conviction always.

The world - Sinners. The men of the world. All men are by nature sinners, and the term the world may be applied to them all, John 1:10; John 12:31; 1 John 5:19.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

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 convict or convince is the thing intended; and as the one expresses the work of the Spirit on the unbelieving portion of mankind, and the other on the believing, it is better not to restrict it to either.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

When the Holy Spirit is come in the days of Pentecost, he, by his inward operation in men’s hearts, and by his gifts bestowed upon you that are his apostles,

will reprove the world.

By the world here, may be meant all men and women, as it is used in some texts; neither is the operation of the Spirit here mentioned to be restrained to carnal and wicked men.

The word translated

reprove:

1. Lets us know, that the Holy Ghost is here mentioned, not in the notion mentioned John 14:16, as a Comforter, but in the larger notion, (there mentioned), as an Advocate; which possibly had been a better translation of it, John 16:7, than Comforter, as we translate it; for it is not the proper work of the Spirit considered as a Comforter to reprove, but it is proper enough to the notion of an Advocate to do it.

2. The word here translated reprove doth often so signify, and is so translated, Luke 3:19 John 3:20 Ephesians 5:11,13. It signifieth real rebukes, Hebrews 12:5 Revelation 3:19. But it also signifieth to convince, John 8:9,46 1 Corinthians 14:24 2 Timothy 4:2 Titus 1:9; and in several other texts. Yet it is one thing to convince the understanding and judgment; another thing to prevail upon the will, by reason of the total corruption of our souls; so that we will not embrace what we confess is truth, nor do what we know is best; but, through the stubbornness of our will, we resist the light and conviction of our understandings.

The Holy Spirit is here promised, not only (as before) to lead men into truth, by a work of illumination, but to bow the hearts and wills of some in the world, to the embracing of it, and living up to it, while others yet remain without excuse. The things of which the Spirit is promised to convince the world, are

sin, righteousness, and judgment, which are further opened in the following verses.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when he is come,.... The coming of the Spirit here, chiefly designs his descent upon the apostles, at the day of "Pentecost": as the things ascribed to him, and which were then done by him, clearly show; though it may also include his coming along with, and by the ministration of the Gospel, into the hearts of his people at conversion, in all after ages of time:

he will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment: by "the world" is principally meant, the Jews; the world among whom Christ personally was, who knew him not, disbelieved him, rejected him as the Messiah, hated and persecuted him, even unto death; though not to the exclusion of the Gentiles, the whole world that lies in wickedness; since both joined, and were concerned in these things, and reproved of them; which "reproving", as it may respect different persons, may intend both such reproofs and convictions, as are not attended with conversion, and issue in salvation; and such as are powerful, spiritual, and to saving purposes: the several things the Spirit of God is said to reprove of, being repeated in the following verses, with reasons or specifications annexed to them, will be there considered.

Geneva Study Bible

{3} And when he is come, he will {a} reprove the {b} world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

(3) The Spirit of God works so mightily by the preaching of the word that he forces the world, whether or not it wants to, to confess its own unrighteousness and Christ's righteousness and almightiness.

(a) He will so reprove the world, that those of the world will not be able to give any excuse.

(b) He refers to the time that followed his ascension, when as all those opposed were manifestly reproved, through the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon the Church: so that the very enemies of Christ were reproved of sin, in that they were forced to confess that they were deceived, in that they believed not, and therefore they said to Peter in Ac 2:37, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

John 16:8.[171] The threefold ministry of the Paraclete towards the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles. Thus will He be your counsel against the κόσμος!

ἐλέγξει] convict, namely, through His testimony of me, John 15:26. This ἔλεγξις, of which the apostles were to be the bearers in their office, is the activity which convinces the person concerned (arguendi ratio exprobans), which reveals to him his unrighteousness, and puts him to shame (John 3:20, John 8:9; John 8:46; 1 Corinthians 14:24; Titus 1:9; Matthew 18:15; Luke 3:19, et al.), and the consequence of which may be in the different subjects either conversion (1 Corinthians 14:24), or hardening and condemnation (Acts 24:25; Romans 11:7 ff.). To apprehend it only of the latter side of the matter (Erasmus and many others, including De Wette, Brückner, and especially Wetzel, following the Fathers), is not justified by περὶ κρίσεως, since the κρίσις is intended, not of the κόσμος, but of the devil, and stands opposed to the Johannean view of the deliverance of the world through Christ; the unbelieving world (John 16:9) is to be convicted of the sin of unbelief; and this, to him who is not hardened, is the way to faith (comp. John 17:20-21), and therewith to separation from the world. Godet well designates the threefold ἔλεγξις as the moral victory of the Spirit through the preaching of the apostles. As the first prominent example, see the discourse of Peter, Acts 2, with its consequences.

περὶ ἁμαρτίας, κ.τ.λ.] The objective contents of the ἔλεγξις set forth separately in three parts (themata). See, respecting the individual points, on John 16:9-11.

[171] See Wetzel, üb. d. Elenchus des Parakl. John 16:8-13, in the Zeitschrift f. Luth. Theol. 1856, p. 624 ff.

Expositor's Greek Testament

John 16:8. καὶ ἐλθὼν ἐκεῖνος … “and when He” (with some emphasis, “that person”) “has come, He will reprove,” or as in R.V[89], “convict the world” “Reprove,” reprobare, to rebut or refute, as in Henry VI., iii., l. 40, “Reprove no allegation if you can,” is no longer used in this sense. The verb ἐλέγξει expresses the idea of pressing home a conviction. The object of this work of the Spirit is “the world” as opposed to Christ; and the subjects regarding which (περὶ) the convictions are to be wrought are “sin, righteousness and judgment”. Regarding these three great spiritual facts, new ideas are to be borne in upon the human mind by the spirit.

[89] Revised Version.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8. The threefold office of the Advocate towards those who do not believe but may yet be won over. And He when He is come will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment.

he will reprove] ‘Convince’ (as the margin) or convict is to be preferred (see on John 3:20). This rendering gives additional point to the rendering ‘Advocate’ for Paraclete. To convince and convict is a large part of the duty of an advocate. He must vindicate and prove the truth; and whoever, after such proof, rejects the truth, does so with responsibility in proportion to the interests involved. The word occurs once in S. Matthew (Matthew 18:15) and once in S. Luke (Luke 3:19); but is somewhat frequent in the Epistles. Comp. 1. Cor. John 14:24; Titus 1:9; Titus 1:13; Titus 2:15; James 2:9; Judges 15, [22], &c.

The conviction wrought by the Advocate may bring either salvation or condemnation, but it must bring one of the two. It is given to men ‘for their wealth;’ but it may ‘be unto them an occasion of falling,’ if it is wantonly set aside.

Bengel's Gnomen

John 16:8. Ἐκεῖνος ἐλέγξει, He will reprove or convict) through your preaching, and through works of conversions and healings: which reproof the world will partly submit itself to, partly resist, but its resistance will be but “a kicking against the pricks.” Appropriately after the verb μαρτυρήσει, He shall testify, ch. John 15:26, is put the verb ἐλέγξει, He shall reprove, here. Ammonius says, μάρτυς is taken in a good sense, ἔλεγχος in a bad sense. Christ is good, the world is bad.—τὸν κόσμον, the world) which is hostile to you, the whole of it universally, including those who are accounted the most holy and most powerful in the world, and who do not believe in Me: the Jews and the perverse Gentiles.—περὶ, concerning) Three remarkable heads are mentioned, concerning sin, concerning righteousness, concerning judgment. Righteousness is opposed to sin: righteousness belongs to Christ: Satan is condemned in judgment. He who is “convicted concerning sin,” subsequently either passes over to the righteousness of Christ, or has his share in judgment (condemnation) with Satan. The fulfilment of this passage is to be found in the Acts of the Apostles. See there an example of the Holy Spirit’s ‘reproving,’ concerning the sin of unbelief, ch. Acts 3:13-14, Peter in Solomon’s porch, “Ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you:” concerning righteousness, ch. Acts 13:39, Paul at Antioch, “By Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law,” which comp. with what goes before; concerning judgment, ch. Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God,” etc.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - And he, when he is come (ἐλθών). A right royal assurance. The Holy Spirit will come, as my grace and the result of my sending. He will convict the world. Little doubt is now entertained that this ἔλεγχος implies the refutation of error, the discovery of wrong-doing, the bringing it home to the person convinced, and thus convicted (John 3:20; John 8:9, 46; 1 Corinthians 14:24; Titus 1:9; James 2:9); making such a one see that he is open to the condemnation of conscience, or of men, or of the Law of God. This conviction may in some cases lead to conversion and deliverance, but is distinct from it, and sometimes also may issue after such a manifestation in hardness and impenitence. The patristic interpretation (Authorized Version and Hengstenberg), "He will reprove," might pass as a fair translation of the word, in its reference to sin, but would have small meaning as applied to righteousness or judgment. Meyer, Godet, Luthardt, Lange, Westcott, Stier, and Moulton agree that ἔλεγξει means more than "reprove," less than "convince." The world is spoken of, not Jews merely, or their leaders. Humanity itself, with its false standards of judgment, and its self-complacency, is to be convicted of being in the wrong; all kings, princes, potentates, priests, and publicans, who are out of harmony with God, wilt be convicted by the Paraclete. The conviction of the world is threefold - in respect of sin, in respect of righteousness, and in respect of judgment. The three great categories of thought, custom, and conduct; the three themes where the world is in infinite need of being compelled to see that it is altogether in the wrong. The disciples are to overcome the whole world by the intensity with which they will be instrumentally the occasion of this conviction. The world under the depressing and distracting influence of its own principles, as well as its passions, has misconceived the whole nature of "sin," the entire mystery of "righteousness," the certainty of retribution, and the things and principles on which condign "judgment" must fall. The Advocate, the Divine, indwelling Spirit of the truth, whom Christ will send into his disciples as compensation for his own absence, will through them do this strange and tremendous work. Our Lord does not here promise the conversion of mankind, but such a conviction that the blessed consequence may follow. The first great step will be taken. John 16:8

Vincent's Word Studies

Will reprove (ἐλέγξει)

See on John 3:20. Rev., convict.

Of sin - righteousness - judgment (περί)

Literally, concerning. Rev., in respect of. Of gives a wrong impression, viz., that He will convict the world of being sinful, unrighteous, and exposed to judgment. This is true, but the preposition implies more. He will convict the world as respects these three; that is, will convict it of ignorance of their real nature.

Righteousness (δικαιοσύνης)

Only here and John 16:10 in the Gospel. It occurs in the First Epistle and in Revelation.