Paragraph 16:1–4b
Jesus continued to speak to his disciples to prepare them for his leaving them. In this paragraph he again warned them that unbelievers would persecute them.
16:1
I have told you these things so that you will not fall away: Jesus continued to speak. He indicated that he told his disciples what he did in order to help them. He wanted to protect them from stumbling. The word the Berean Standard Bible translates as fall away means “tripping,” as one might trip and fall over a rock. Here it is used figuratively and means “giving up (or “losing,” “falling away from”) their faith” in him. Here are other ways to translate this sentence:
I have said these things to you so that you won’t lose your faith. (God’s Word)
-or-
I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. (New Living Translation (2004))
I have told you these things: The phrase these things refers mainly to Jesus’ words in 15:18–27. Jesus had warned the disciples that unbelievers would persecute them because they follow him. See how you translated this same clause in 14:25.
you: This pronoun is plural and refers to the disciples whenever Jesus used it in this chapter.
so that you will not fall away: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible has translated as fall away means “tripping” and is a figure of speech. It compares losing one’s faith to tripping and falling. Jesus knew that the terrible persecution that his disciples would suffer could cause them to stop trusting him. He wanted to protect them, not from the persecution itself but from this loss of faith. For example:
in order that your faith in me will continue
-or-
so that you will not give up your faith (Good News Translation)
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