The Vine and the Command to Love
John 15:1-17
John.15.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- ειμι: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- αμπελος: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- αληθινη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- γεωργος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εστιν·: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 5:1-7 (allusion): Israel portrayed as God's vineyard/plantation; God as owner expecting fruit—background imagery Jesus invokes when calling himself the true vine.
- Psalm 80:8-16 (thematic): The nation described as a vine brought out of Egypt and planted by God; echoes of divine cultivation and the plea for restoration tie to the vine/vinedresser motif.
- Ezekiel 15:1-6 (thematic): The vine is judged as useless wood fit only for fire—provides a contrasting prophetic use of vine imagery that highlights Jesus' affirmation of life and fruitfulness in the true vine.
- John 10:11 (verbal): Another of Jesus' 'I am' sayings ('I am the good shepherd'); parallels in form and self-revelatory function with 'I am the true vine' (ego eimi) and the pastoral/organic care imagery.
- John 15:5 (structural): Immediate Johannine continuation ('I am the vine; you are the branches') that develops the vine metaphor—connects the identity claim of v.1 to the ethical and relational implications for disciples.
Alternative generated candidates
- I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
- I am the true vine, and the Father is the vinedresser.
John.15.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- παν: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- κλημα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- εν: PREP
- εμοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- μη: PART
- φερον: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,n
- καρπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αιρει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτο: PRON,acc,sg,neut
- και: CONJ
- παν: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- καρπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- φερον: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,n
- καθαιρει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτο: PRON,acc,sg,neut
- ινα: CONJ
- καρπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- πλειονα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- φερη: VERB,pres,act,subj,3,sg
Parallels
- John 15:1 (structural): Immediate context: Jesus introduces the vine/branches metaphor ('I am the true vine'), of which v.2 is the direct continuation explaining removal and pruning of branches.
- John 15:6 (structural): Close continuation of the same discourse: describes the fate of branches that do not abide (thrown out, wither, burnt), echoing v.2's theme of taking away unfruitful branches.
- Matthew 3:10 (verbal): John the Baptist warns that 'every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire'—a near-verbal parallel of judgment upon unfruitful trees/branches (see Luke 3:9 for the same saying).
- Matthew 7:17-19 (thematic): Jesus' teaching that a good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree is cut down and thrown into the fire parallels the moral/theological link between fruitfulness and being kept or removed.
- Romans 11:20-22 (verbal): Paul's olive‑tree imagery—branches broken off for unbelief and admonition to continue in faith—echoes the motif of branches removed for failure to bear fruit and the conditional relationship between faithfulness and remaining.
Alternative generated candidates
- Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that bears fruit he prunes so that it may bear more fruit.
- Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that bears fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
John.15.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ηδη: ADV
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- καθαροι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- εστε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- δια: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ον: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- λελαληκα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν·: PRON,dat,pl,2
Parallels
- John 15:1-2 (structural): Same discourse — the vine/branch teaching; v.2 describes the Father pruning to make branches bear more fruit, and v.3 follows as the statement of disciples' cleanliness within this pruning/discipleship framework.
- John 17:17 (thematic): Jesus' prayer that the disciples be sanctified by the truth, explicitly identifying God's word/truth as the means of sanctification, paralleling 'clean through the word' in John 15:3.
- Ephesians 5:26 (verbal): Paul speaks of Christ sanctifying and cleansing the church 'with the washing of water by the word,' a close verbal and theological parallel linking cleansing/sanctification with the word.
- John 8:31-32 (thematic): Jesus links continued adherence to his word with resulting spiritual fruit (knowledge/truth and freedom), reflecting the purifying/effecting power attributed to his spoken word in John 15:3.
- Hebrews 4:12 (verbal): Describes the word of God as living and active, able to judge thoughts and intents of the heart — supporting the notion that God's/Jesus' word has decisive purifying, discerning power as asserted in John 15:3.
Alternative generated candidates
- You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
- You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
John.15.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μεινατε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- εν: PREP
- εμοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- καγω: CONJ+PRON,nom,sg,1
- εν: PREP
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- καθως: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- κλημα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- ου: PART,neg
- δυναται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- καρπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- φερειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- αφ᾽εαυτου: PREP
- εαν: CONJ
- μη: PART
- μενη: VERB,pres,act,subj,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- αμπελω: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ουτως: ADV
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- εαν: CONJ
- μη: PART
- εν: PREP
- εμοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- μενητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
Parallels
- John 15:5 (verbal): Same vine/branch image and the explicit statement that branches cannot bear fruit apart from the vine—direct verbal and conceptual parallel about dependence on Christ.
- John 6:56 (verbal): Uses the same verb 'abide' (μένω) to describe mutual indwelling ('whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him'), reinforcing the theme of union with Christ.
- John 14:20 (thematic): Speaks of mutual indwelling ('I in my Father, and you in me, and I in you'), echoing the relational/ontological unity articulated in John 15:4.
- Romans 11:17-24 (thematic): Paul’s olive-tree/branches imagery about being grafted in and deriving life from the root parallels the vine-branch dependence motif and the necessity of connection for fruitfulness.
- Isaiah 5:1-7 (thematic): The prophetic 'song of the vineyard' uses vine/vineyard imagery and the expectation of fruit (and judgment for barrenness), providing an Old Testament background to the vine motif in John 15.
Alternative generated candidates
- Abide in me, and I in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.
- Abide in me, and I will abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me.
John.15.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- ειμι: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- αμπελος: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- κληματα: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- μενων: PTCP,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- εμοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- καγω: CONJ+PRON,nom,sg,1
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ουτος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- φερει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- καρπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- πολυν: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- χωρις: PREP,gen
- εμου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ου: PART,neg
- δυνασθε: VERB,pres,mid,ind,2,pl
- ποιειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- ουδεν: PRON,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- John 15:1 (verbal): Immediate context: Jesus' 'I am the true vine' statement establishes the vine/branch metaphor that John 15:5 continues.
- John 15:4 (verbal): Uses the same key verb 'abide' (μένω) and the mutual indwelling ('abide in me and I in you'), directly paralleling the dependence and fruit-bearing language of 15:5.
- Romans 11:17-24 (thematic): Paul's olive-tree metaphor (natural branches broken off, Gentile branches grafted in) parallels the dependence of branches on the tree and the consequences for fruitfulness in John 15.
- Isaiah 5:1-7 (thematic): The 'Song of the Vineyard' frames God as vineyard owner expecting fruit—an Old Testament background for prophetic vineyard/vine imagery and expectations of fruit-bearing.
- Matthew 7:16-20 (thematic): Jesus' saying about recognizing trees by their fruit connects to John 15:5's emphasis that genuine union with Christ results in abundant fruit.
Alternative generated candidates
- I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
- I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
John.15.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εαν: CONJ
- μη: PART
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- μενη: VERB,pres,act,subj,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- εμοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- εβληθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- εξω: ADV
- ως: ADV
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- κλημα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- εξηρανθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- συναγουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πυρ: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- βαλλουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- καιεται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- John 15:2 (structural): Same vine-and-branches discourse immediately before v.6: unfruitful branches are ‘taken away’—close structural and theological parallel about remaining and judgment.
- Matthew 3:10 (verbal): John the Baptist: 'Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.' Very similar wording and imagery of unfruitfulness leading to being cast into fire.
- Matthew 7:19 (verbal): Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount: unfruitful trees are cut down and thrown into the fire—same theme and nearly identical language about judgment by fire.
- Ezekiel 15:6-7 (allusion): Ezekiel depicts the vine’s wood as fit only for fuel and destined for burning—an Old Testament source that likely informs the vine/branch + fire imagery.
- Hebrews 6:7-8 (thematic): Contrast between fruitful land receiving blessing and land that bears thorns and briers being 'near to being cursed' and ending in fire—similar theme of unfruitfulness judged by burning.
Alternative generated candidates
- If anyone does not abide in me he is cast out like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
- If anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and withers; and they gather him, cast him into the fire, and he is burned.
John.15.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εαν: CONJ
- μεινητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- εν: PREP
- εμοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- ρηματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- εν: PREP
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- μεινη: VERB,pres,act,subj,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εαν: CONJ
- θελητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- αιτησασθε: VERB,aor,mid,subj,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- γενησεται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- υμιν·: PRON,dat,pl,2
Parallels
- John 14:13-14 (verbal): In the Johannine corpus Jesus promises that requests made in his name will be granted—closely parallels the assurance that asking (from union with Jesus) will result in answered prayer.
- John 15:16 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same discourse: links remaining in Christ, bearing lasting fruit, and the promise that whatever you ask the Father in Jesus' name he will give you.
- 1 John 3:22 (verbal): Same Johannine circle language—'and whatever we ask we receive' tied to obedience/remaining in God, echoing John 15's condition that Jesus' words remain in believers.
- 1 John 5:14-15 (thematic): Speaks of confidence in prayer when asking 'according to his will' and that God hears us—complements John 15:7's connection between abiding in Christ (alignment with his will) and effective prayer.
Alternative generated candidates
- If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
- If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
John.15.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- τουτω: DEM,dat,sg,m
- εδοξασθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ινα: CONJ
- καρπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- πολυν: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- φερητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- γενησθε: VERB,aor,mid,subj,2,pl
- εμοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- John 15:5 (verbal): Same vine-and-branches context: fruit-bearing as the outcome of remaining in Jesus ('I am the vine... you will bear much fruit').
- John 15:16 (structural): Continues the theme that Jesus chose disciples to bear lasting fruit—links purpose of election/mission to fruitfulness and discipleship ('that you should go and bear fruit').
- John 13:35 (thematic): Identifies observable evidence of true discipleship (love for one another), paralleling 15:8's statement that bearing fruit is the proof of being Jesus' disciples and glorifies the Father.
- Matthew 7:16-20 (thematic): Jesus' teaching that 'you will know them by their fruits' parallels the idea that genuine discipleship is authenticated by visible fruit, good or bad.
- Galatians 5:22-23 (thematic): Uses the metaphor of 'fruit' (the Spirit's fruit) to describe the character and results of life in Christ—fruit as evidence of spiritual reality, echoing 15:8's emphasis on fruit as proof of discipleship.
Alternative generated candidates
- By this my Father is glorified: that you bear much fruit and so prove yourselves to be my disciples.
- By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
John.15.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- καθως: CONJ
- ηγαπησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- καγω: CONJ+PRON,nom,sg,1
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- ηγαπησα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- μεινατε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- αγαπη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- εμη: PRON,poss,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- John 13:34-35 (thematic): Commands mutual love among Jesus' followers; connects the command to love in John 15:9 where Jesus grounds their love in his love from the Father.
- John 15:10 (structural): Immediate context: links 'abiding in my love' to keeping Jesus' commandments—develops the same theme of remaining in Christ's love.
- John 17:23 (allusion): Jesus' high-priestly prayer: asks that the Father's love for him be in the disciples, echoing 'as the Father has loved me... remain in my love'.
- John 14:21 (verbal): Promises that the one who keeps Jesus' commandments will be loved by the Father and by Jesus—parallels the reciprocity of love and obedience found in 15:9-10.
- 1 John 4:9-16 (thematic): Develops the Johannine theology of God's love and the imperative to abide in it—explicitly links 'God is love' and 'abiding in love' with mutual fellowship, resonating with John 15:9.
Alternative generated candidates
- As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love.
- As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love.
John.15.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εαν: CONJ
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- εντολας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- τηρησητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
- μενειτε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- αγαπη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- καθως: CONJ
- εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- εντολας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- τετηρηκα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- και: CONJ
- μενω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- αγαπη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- John 14:15 (verbal): Directly links love for Jesus with keeping his commandments (“If you love me, you will keep my commandments”), reinforcing the obedience–love correlation in 15:10.
- John 14:21 (verbal): Reiterates the identity of the one who loves Jesus as the one who keeps his commandments, a near-verbal parallel connecting love and obedience.
- John 15:9 (structural): Immediate context: Jesus commands disciples to 'abide in my love' and grounds his love in the Father's love, mirroring 15:10’s reciprocal abiding between Father, Son, and disciples.
- 1 John 2:3-5 (thematic): Links knowledge of God and perfected love with keeping his commandments—echoes the Johannine theme that true love is demonstrated by obedience.
- John 8:29 (allusion): Describes Jesus’ own faithfulness to the Father’s will ('I always do the things that are pleasing to him'), which 15:10 invokes as the model for disciples' obedience and abiding in love.
Alternative generated candidates
- If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
- If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept the Father's commandments and abide in his love.
John.15.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- λελαληκα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- ινα: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- χαρα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- εμη: PRON,poss,nom,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- χαρα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- πληρωθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- John 16:24 (verbal): Uses similar phrasing about petitioning so that 'your joy may be full' (ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν πεπληρωμένη ᾖ), linking prayer and the filling of joy.
- John 17:13 (thematic): Jesus speaks of his coming and prays that 'my joy may be in them,' closely echoing the purpose of his teaching in 15:11 (bringing Jesus' joy to believers).
- 1 John 1:4 (verbal): Almost identical language: 'we write these things so that our joy may be complete,' explicitly repeating the purpose-language of John 15:11.
- Philippians 2:2 (structural): Paul exhorts the community to 'complete my joy' through unity of mind—similar functional language of joy being 'completed' by the community's response.
Alternative generated candidates
- I have spoken these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
- I have spoken these things to you so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
John.15.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Αυτη: PRON,nom,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- εντολη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- εμη: PRON,poss,nom,sg,f
- ινα: CONJ
- αγαπατε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- αλληλους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- καθως: CONJ
- ηγαπησα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- υμας·: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- John 13:34-35 (quotation): Directly repeats the command to 'love one another' given at the Last Supper—same wording and rationale ('as I have loved you'), establishing the love-command as central to Jesus' teaching.
- John 15:17 (structural): A restatement within the Farewell Discourse: Jesus frames loving one another as a commanded consequence of his prior instruction—reinforces the imperative and communal purpose.
- 1 John 4:7-12 (thematic): Develops the Johannine theme that love originates in God and must be shown toward one another; echoes the Christological pattern of love (God's love made manifest) underlying the command to love.
- Leviticus 19:18 (allusion): The Torah injunction to 'love your neighbor as yourself' is the Israelite precedent for interpersonal love; John recasts this ethic by specifying Christ's love as the standard ('as I have loved you').
- Matthew 22:37-39 (thematic): Jesus' summary of the law—love God and love your neighbor—provides the wider ethical context for the New Testament command to love others, which John specifies and grounds in Jesus' own love.
Alternative generated candidates
- This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you.
- This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you.
John.15.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μειζονα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- ταυτης: DEM,gen,sg,f
- αγαπην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ινα: CONJ
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ψυχην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- θη: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- υπερ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- φιλων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- John 10:11 (verbal): Jesus as the good shepherd 'lays down his life for the sheep'—uses the same metaphor of laying down one’s life for others, closely paralleling the language and idea of sacrificial love in John 15:13.
- 1 John 3:16 (quotation): Explicitly echoes John 15:13: 'By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us,' and applies the pattern of Christ’s self-giving as the norm for believers’ love.
- Romans 5:8 (thematic): God’s love demonstrated in Christ dying for sinners—the theme of sacrificial love for others mirrors the supreme love described in John 15:13.
- Ephesians 5:2 (thematic): Calls believers to 'walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us,' reflecting the same sacrificial, giving nature of love central to John 15:13.
- Philippians 2:6-8 (structural): Describes Christ’s self‑emptying and obedience to death as the model of self‑sacrificial love, providing the theological foundation for the claim of greatest love in John 15:13.
Alternative generated candidates
- Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
- Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
John.15.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- φιλοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- εστε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- εαν: CONJ
- ποιητε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- α: PRON,nom,sg,n
- εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- εντελλομαι: VERB,pres,mid,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
Parallels
- John 15:15 (verbal): Immediate Johannine parallel where Jesus explicitly calls the disciples 'friends' and links that status to his disclosure of the Father's will—closely tied to 15:14's friend/obedience language.
- John 14:15 (verbal): 'If you love me, keep my commandments' parallels 15:14's conditional statement tying relationship with Jesus to doing his commands.
- John 14:23 (thematic): Affirms the same principle: love for Jesus results in keeping his word, thus demonstrating an abiding relationship (similar criterion for friendship in 15:14).
- Luke 6:46 (thematic): Jesus' rebuke—'Why call me Lord... and not do what I say?'—echoes the theme that verbal allegiance without obedience is inconsistent with true relationship.
- 1 John 2:3-5 (thematic): The Johannine epistle applies the same test: knowledge of Christ and love for him are evidenced by keeping his commandments, reflecting John 15:14's linkage of obedience and relationship.
Alternative generated candidates
- You are my friends if you do what I command you.
- You are my friends if you keep my commandments.
John.15.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουκετι: ADV
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- δουλους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δουλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- οιδεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- ποιει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος·υμας: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ειρηκα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- φιλους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- α: PRON,nom,sg,n
- ηκουσα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- παρα: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- εγνωρισα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
Parallels
- Exodus 33:11 (allusion): OT precedent for intimate divine communication: 'the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend,' which undergirds Jesus' claim to friendship with his disciples.
- James 2:23 (allusion): Uses the language 'he was called a friend of God' in reference to Abraham—paralleling the theme of believers being in a friendship relation with God.
- John 16:15 (verbal): Closely parallels the Johannine theme of revelation from Father to Son and then to the disciples: 'All that the Father has is mine...he will take what is mine and declare it to you.'
- Matthew 11:27 (verbal): Christ's exclusive reception of knowledge from the Father: 'All things have been delivered to me by my Father,' echoing Jesus' claim to have received and communicated the Father's words.
- Galatians 4:7 (thematic): Theme of changed status from bond-servant to a new relational standing (here 'son' and heir), paralleling John 15's shift from 'servants' to 'friends.'
Alternative generated candidates
- I no longer call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you.
- I no longer call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because everything I heard from the Father I have made known to you.
John.15.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουχ: PART,neg
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- εξελεξασθε: VERB,aor,mid,ind,2,pl
- αλλ᾽εγω: CONJ+PRON,nom,sg,1
- εξελεξαμην: VERB,aor,mid,ind,1,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- και: CONJ
- εθηκα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- ινα: CONJ
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- υπαγητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- καρπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- φερητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- καρπος: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- μενη: VERB,pres,act,subj,3,sg
- ινα: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- αν: PART
- αιτησητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- πατερα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ονοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- δω: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
Parallels
- John 15:5 (structural): Same discourse: Jesus’ vine/branches imagery links the commands to ‘bear fruit’ and ‘abide’—continues the theme of fruit-bearing as the result of union with him.
- John 6:44 (thematic): Affirms divine initiative in coming to Jesus—‘No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him,’ paralleling ‘you did not choose me, but I chose you.’
- John 14:13-14 (verbal): Promises answered prayer ‘in my name’—directly parallels John 15:16’s assurance that whatever you ask the Father in Jesus’ name he will give you.
- Ephesians 1:4-5 (thematic): Paul’s teaching that God ‘chose us in him before the foundation of the world’ resonates with Jesus’ claim about his choosing of the disciples and the basis of their vocation.
- Romans 8:29-30 (structural): The Pauline chain (foreknew → predestined → called) parallels the idea of being chosen/appointed with a purposeful end (conformity/fruitfulness) and divine provision.
Alternative generated candidates
- You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—and that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
- You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
John.15.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- εντελλομαι: VERB,pres,mid,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- ινα: CONJ
- αγαπατε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- αλληλους: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- John 15:12 (verbal): Nearly identical command earlier in the same discourse: 'This is my commandment, that you love one another,' linking love as Jesus' explicit charge.
- John 13:34-35 (verbal): Jesus calls it a 'new commandment' to love one another and links this love to discipleship and witness—close verbal and thematic parallel.
- 1 John 3:23 (verbal): The Johannine epistle echoes the Johannine command: 'And this is his commandment, that we believe and love one another,' repeating the directive to love.
- Leviticus 19:18 (allusion): The Old Testament legal stipulation 'love your neighbor as yourself' provides the ethical background and precedent for the New Testament command to love one another.
- Matthew 22:37-39 (thematic): Jesus' summary of the law—love God and love your neighbor—connects to the New Testament imperative that mutual love among followers fulfills God's commandments.
Alternative generated candidates
- This I command you: love one another.
- These things I command you: love one another.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it may bear more fruit.
Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it will be done for you.
By this my Father is glorified: that you bear much fruit and so prove yourselves to be my disciples.
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love; just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
I have spoken these things to you so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you.
No one has greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I heard from the Father.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
These things I command you: that you love one another.