Translation commentary on John 15:16

The pronouns you … I are emphatic. This verse emphasizes the fact that discipleship is ultimately due to the divine choice, not to the decision of the individual alone. The disciples are Jesus’ friends, not because they took the initiative in choosing him, but because he chose them.

Appointed is the rendering of most translations; Jerusalem Bible has “commissioned.” The verb is literally “to place” or “to lay down” (the same verb used in verse 13 in the phrase “to lay down one’s life”). New American Bible apparently takes it to be redundant (“… it was I who chose you to go forth and bear fruit”), but in the present context it probably has the meaning “to appoint” or “to set aside for a special task.” The verb appears to be used in a technical sense in such passages as Acts 20.28; 1 Corinthians 12.28; and 2 Timothy 1.11. In some languages appointed may be best rendered “gave a work to do” or “assigned to a task.”

Bear much fruit is literally “bear fruit.” As in similar contexts, bear much fruit must be rendered “accomplish much,” since the figurative meaning of fruit, as related to accomplishment of a task or producing results, is impossible in some languages.

The kind of fruit that endures is literally “and (that) your fruit may remain.” Moffatt translates “fruit that lasts”; New English Bible “fruit that shall last”; Goodspeed “fruit that shall be lasting.” This reference to bearing fruit looks back to the metaphor of the vine with which the chapter began.

It is possible to take the last sentence in this verse (And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name) either as co-ordinate with the clause to go and bear much fruit or as dependent upon it. Most translators understand And so … my name to be dependent upon to go … much fruit. That is, if the disciples go out and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures, then the Father will give them whatever they ask in Jesus’ name. This last sentence is somewhat restructured in Good News Translation; it literally reads “in order that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give to you.” Good News Translation inverts the order of the Greek clauses, introducing the Father as the subject at the beginning, and using the pronoun him as a reference to the Father in the second half of the sentence.

Since the final sentence of verse 16 is also in a sense a condition, it may be proper to render it “If you do that, then the Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name” or “… because you are my followers.”

Again the phrase in my name causes translational difficulty (see comments at 14.13). The meaning here is perhaps best taken as “because you are my followers.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 15:16

15:16a

You did not choose Me: This clause is short for “It was not you who chose me ⌊to follow⌋ .” Jesus’ disciples did agree to be his disciples, but their decision was not the most important reason that they became disciples. The main reason that Jesus’ disciples followed him was because Jesus chose them to follow him.

You: The Greek text emphasizes this word, which is plural.

15:16b

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement (15:16a) to a positive statement (15:16b). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

• Use the conjunction but as in the Berean Standard Bible.

• Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

It was not you who chose me but rather it was I who chose you

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit…. (Contemporary English Version)

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

I chose you. You did not choose me.

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

I chose you: This clause is short for “I chose you ⌊to follow me⌋ .” See 6:70, which uses the same verb.

I: The Greek text emphasizes the pronoun I. Emphasize this pronoun in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

it was I who chose you

15:16c

I appointed you: This clause here means “I gave you a task (specific work to do)” or “I chose you for a purpose.” The purpose or task is in the following clause (15:16d). Here is another way to translate this clause:

I gave you this work (New Century Version)

15:16d

to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain: The work that Jesus gave his disciples was to go out and bear (produce) fruit. The word fruit here probably includes the idea of new believers, the results of preaching the gospel. It could also include the idea of the fruit of the Spirit. See the note at 15:2a, although here the idea of new believers is more likely included. However, it is recommended that you translate the word fruit the same in verses 15:2, 4, 5, 8, and here. Here is another way to translate this expression:

sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last (Contemporary English Version)

to go: The Greek does not tell where they should go. Probably Jesus referred to preaching the gospel everywhere. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

I…sent you out (Contemporary English Version)

bear fruit—fruit that will remain: The phrase fruit that will remain describes the kind of fruit the believers’ lives will produce. It will not rot, meaning that it will be permanent. The lives of Jesus’ followers will have results that will last and produce permanent good. In some languages it may be natural to use the word fruit only once. For example:

bear fruit that will be lasting (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

15:16e

so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that in this clause:

(1) It means “so that” and indicates that the following clause is a purpose. For example:

so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you (English Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, NET Bible, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, New Living Translation (2004), King James Version, Revised English Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It means “so” or “then” and indicates that the following clause is a result of their being fruit. For example:

And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name. (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New Century Version, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and most English translations and Bible experts. However, the two interpretations’ meanings are very close, so you may follow interpretation (2) if that suits your language better.

whatever you ask the Father in My name: The phrase in My name means “in my authority” or “because you are my followers.” See the note and how you translated these words in 14:13a. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

whatever you ask my Father because you trust in me (Yakan Back Translation)
-or-
anything that you request from my Father because you are united with me

He will give you: This phrase indicates that God will respond and answer the disciples’ prayers. It refers to answering requests that agree with the will and character of Jesus. It does not mainly refer to giving material objects.

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