John 15

This article is about the chapter of the Bible. For Pope John 15, see Pope John XV.

John 15
← chapter 14 chapter 16 →
John 15:25-16:22 on the recto side of Papyrus 22, written about AD 250.
Book	Gospel of John
Bible part	New Testament
Order in the Bible part	4
Category	Gospel

Gospel of John
Chapters John 1 John 2 John 3 John 4 John 5 John 6 John 7 John 8 John 9 John 10 John 11 John 12 John 13 John 14 John 15 John 16 John 17 John 18 John 19 John 20 John 21

John 15 is the fifteenth chapter in the Gospel of John in the New Testament section of the Christian Bible. It is part of what New Testament scholars have called the 'farewell discourse' of Jesus. It has historically been a source of Christian teaching, Christological debate and reflection, and its images (particularly of Jesus as the vine) have been influential in Christian art and iconography. The chapter implies one of the highest and most developed Christologies to be found in the New Testament.

Analysis

The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia is typical of thousands of war memorials in using the words of John 15:13 'no greater love' in its tribute to the fallen.

The chapter presents Jesus speaking in the first person. Although ostensibly addressing his disciples, most scholars conclude the chapter is written with events concerning the later church in mind. Jesus is presented as explaining the relationship between himself and his followers - seeking to model this relationship on his own relationship with his Father.

The chapter introduces the extended metaphor of Christ as The Vine. The Father is the vine tender. His disciples are said to be branches - which must 'abide' in him if they are to 'bear fruit'. The disciples are warned that barren branches are pruned by the vinedresser. (Please see John 15:2. Every branch that does bear fruit is pruned so that it will bear more fruit--not barren branches.)

The chapter proceeds by comparing the close relationship of Jesus and his disciples ('abiding') to that of himself and his Father. Disciples are reminded of the love of the Father and the Son - the love of the Son for the disciples, and then indicted to 'love one another' in the same manner. Verse 13 speaks of the 'greater love' as being the willingness to 'lay down' life for friends. This text, which primarily refers to Jesus’ impending death, has since been widely used to affirm the sacrifice of martyrs and soldiers in war, and is thus often seen on war memorials and graves.

The chapter concludes by warning disciples to expect persecution and promises the gift of the parakletos (paraclete or Holy Spirit). The reference to the Spirit in verse 26, speaks of it as sent by the Son from the Father. This verse has been particularly influential in debates concerning the nature of the Trinity and in the filioque disputes between Eastern and Western Christianity.

References

Bultmann, Rudolf The Gospel of John Blackwell 1971
Linders, Barnabas The Gospel of John Marshall Morgan and Scott 1972

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gospel of John - Chapter 15.

Preceded by John 14	Chapters of the Bible Gospel of John	Succeeded by John 16

Gospel of John

Bible	John 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Places	Ænon Bethabara Bethany Bethsaida Cana Capernaum Galilee Jacob's Well Jerusalem Jordan River Judea Kidron Samaria Sea of Galilee Solomon's Porch Sychar

People	Andrew Annas Caiaphas Herod Antipas Jesus Christ John the Baptist Joseph of Arimathea Judas Iscariot Mother of Jesus Lazarus Malchus Martha Mary Magdalene Mary, sister of Martha Nathanael Nicodemus Philip Pontius Pilate Simon of Cyrene Simon Peter Simon the Leper That they all may be one Thomas Zebedee Groups: Angels Pharisees Sadducees Samaritans Sanhedrin

Other Events	Bread of Life Crucifixion of Jesus Ecce homo Farewell Discourse Feast of Dedication Feeding the 5000 Foot washing Good Shepherd Healing a blind man Healing a paralytic Healing a sick son Jesus wept Last Supper Marriage at Cana Noli me tangere Raising of Lazarus Seven signs Ut unum sint Walking on water

Sources	Greek Text Latin Vulgate Wycliffe Version King James Version American Standard Version World English Version

Gospel of Luke (chapter 24) ← → Acts of the Apostles (chapter 1)

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