Section 16:25–33 Jesus had defeated the world

Jesus explained to the disciples that he would return to his Father in heaven. The disciples declared their belief that Jesus was from God, but Jesus questioned the strength of their belief. He told them that they would scatter, but he would still have the Father with him. He told them these things so that they would have peace. He said that even though they would face persecution in the world, he had defeated the world (system).

Here are some other possible section headings:

Jesus promised the disciples peace when they would be persecuted
-or-
The disciples can have courage when others will persecute them

Paragraph 16:25–28

Jesus continued to prepare his disciples for his return to his Father in heaven.

16:25a

I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech: This clause indicates that Jesus had been talking to his disciples using figurative language. He had not used plain or direct language. He had taught using examples, illustrations, and parables. For example, he used the illustration of the woman in labor (16:21), and the illustration of the vine and the branches (15:1–6). Here are other ways to translate this clause:

These things I have spoken to you in figurative language (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
I have been speaking figuratively (New International Version)
-or-
I have used examples to explain to you what I have been talking about. (Contemporary English Version)

these things: This phrase refers in a general way to what Jesus had told the disciples before. The Greek text emphasizes this phrase, probably to indicate a change in the subject.

in figures of speech: The Greek text emphasizes this phrase to contrast it with “plainly” in 16:25c. The Greek word the Berean Standard Bible has translated as figures of speech refers to nonliteral forms of speech. That is language that illustrates and compares, such as parables and illustrations. These forms of speech may be hard to understand, and Jesus’ listeners had to think about them before understanding them. See how you translated this word in 10:6. For example:

in parables
-or-
indirectly in stories (New Century Version)
-or-
by using illustrations

16:25b

An hour is coming: This clause means “in the future” and it refers to the time after Jesus’ resurrection. It includes the time after the Holy Spirit would come. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

a time is coming (NET Bible)
-or-
the time will come (New Century Version)
-or-
Soon

when I will no longer speak to you this way: This clause means that Jesus will talk in a way that is literal and easier to understand. He will not use language that is figurative and difficult to understand. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this way is the same word that it translates as “figures of speech” in 16:25a. The Greek text emphasizes this phrase as it did the similar phrase in 16:25a.Translate this word in a way that makes the connection clear. For example:

when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech (English Standard Version)
-or-
when I will speak to you plainly about the Father and will no longer use examples like these (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
when I will not use stories like that to tell you things (New Century Version)
-or-
when I will no longer use this kind of language (New International Version)

16:25c

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement (16:25b) to a positive statement (16:25c). 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.

a time is coming when I shall no longer use figures, but tell you of the Father in plain words (Revised English Bible)

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

The time is coming when I won’t use examples to speak to you. Rather, I will speak to you about the Father in plain words. (God’s Word)

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

the time will come when I will not use stories like that to tell you things; I will speak to you in plain words about the Father (New Century Version)

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

the time will come when I will speak to you plainly about the Father and will no longer use examples like these (Contemporary English Version)

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

will tell you plainly about the Father: This clause means “I will use language that is easy to understand to tell you about my Father.” The Greek text emphasizes the word plainly to contrast it with “in figures (of speech)” in the previous clauses. Avoid implying that earlier Jesus did not speak clearly but whispered or mumbled so the disciples could not understand what words he said. His language was difficult to understand but the sounds were perfectly clear. Now he would avoid difficult language and speak in a plain or literal way. For example:

tell you about the Father in plain words (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
will tell you about ⌊my⌋ Father in a way that you can understand

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