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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
Yhn C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21
Yhn 15 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27
OET (OET-LV) You_all not chose me, but I chose you_all, and I_appointed you_all in_order_that you_all may_be_going and may_be_bearing fruit, and the fruit of_you_all may_be_remaining, in_order_that whatever anything wishfully you_all_may_request the father in the name of_me, he_may_give to_you_all.
OET (OET-RV) You didn’t choose me, but I chose you all, and I assigned you to go and produce fruit and for your fruit to be permanent so that whatever you request from the father in my name and authority, he will give it to you.
Jesus compared himself to a vine, his Father to a vine grower, and his followers to the vine’s branches. The Father would remove branches that did not produce fruit and prune (cut shorter) those branches that did. Jesus told his disciples to remain in him, the vine, and his love so that they could produce much fruit. Their prayers would also be answered. If they remained in his love, they would keep his commandments and Jesus and they would have joy.
Jesus’ commandment was that they should love one another as he had loved them. Then they would be his friends. Jesus already called them friends because he told them everything that the Father told him. They did not choose Jesus, but he chose them. He appointed them to produce fruit that would last so that the Father would give them whatever they asked for.
Here are some other possible section headings:
Jesus the true vine
The vine and the branches
Jesus told his disciples that he loved them very much. He encouraged them to love one another as much as the Father loved him and he loved them.
You did not choose Me,
You(plur) did not choose to be my followers.
It was not you(plur) who first decided to follow me.
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.
but I chose you.
No! It was I who chose you(plur) to follow me,
Rather, I was the one who chose you(plur) to follow me
but: The Greek conjunction that the BSB 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 BSB.
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…. (CEV)
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
And I appointed you
and I gave you the duty
and gave you the task
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 (NCV)
to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—
of going and producing enduring/permanent fruit.
of going on missions and producing fruit/results that will be permanent.
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 (CEV)
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 (CEV)
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 (JBP)
so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
That is so that whatever you(plur) pray for using my authority, my Father will give you.
That is so that my Father God will give you(plur) everything you pray for because you trust in me.
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 BSB translates as so that in this clause:
It means “so that” and indicates that the following clause is a purpose.Bible scholars disagree about whether it is a purpose of Jesus appointing them or a purpose of their bearing fruit. It is best to translate this clause in a way that people could understand either idea. For example:
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you (ESV) (BSB, NET, ESV, NASB, NIV, NLT, KJV, REB, RSV, NRSV, GW, NJB)
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. (GNT) (GNT, NCV, CEV)
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)
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.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
καρπὸν φέρητε
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὐχ Ὑμεῖς μέ ἐξελέξασθε ἀλλʼ ἐγώ ἐξελεξάμην ὑμᾶς καί ἔθηκα ὑμᾶς ἵνα ὑμεῖς ὑπάγητε καί καρπόν φέρητε καί ὁ καρπός ὑμῶν μένῃ ἵνα ὅ τὶ ἄν αἰτήσητε τόν Πατέρα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι μού δῷ ὑμῖν)
In this verse, bear fruit could mean: (1) preach the gospel to people who respond by trusting in Jesus, as suggested by the use of go before bear. Alternate translation: [would lead people to believe in me] (2) live in a manner that pleases God, as bear fruit is used in [15:2–8](../15/02.md). Alternate translation: [would do what pleases God]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
καὶ ὁ καρπὸς ὑμῶν μένῃ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὐχ Ὑμεῖς μέ ἐξελέξασθε ἀλλʼ ἐγώ ἐξελεξάμην ὑμᾶς καί ἔθηκα ὑμᾶς ἵνα ὑμεῖς ὑπάγητε καί καρπόν φέρητε καί ὁ καρπός ὑμῶν μένῃ ἵνα ὅ τὶ ἄν αἰτήσητε τόν Πατέρα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι μού δῷ ὑμῖν)
Here, remain means to last forever. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [and your fruit should last forever]
Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal
ἵνα ὅ τι ἂν αἰτήσητε
in_order_that in_order_that whatever (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὐχ Ὑμεῖς μέ ἐξελέξασθε ἀλλʼ ἐγώ ἐξελεξάμην ὑμᾶς καί ἔθηκα ὑμᾶς ἵνα ὑμεῖς ὑπάγητε καί καρπόν φέρητε καί ὁ καρπός ὑμῶν μένῃ ἵνα ὅ τὶ ἄν αἰτήσητε τόν Πατέρα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι μού δῷ ὑμῖν)
Here, so that introduces a purpose clause. It could mean: (1) the content of this clause is the purpose for Jesus choosing his disciples. Alternate translation: [and he chose you so that whatever you would ask] (2) the content of this clause is the purpose for the disciples’ fruit remaining. Alternate translation: [and this fruit would remain so that whatever you would ask]
Note 4 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples
τὸν Πατέρα
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὐχ Ὑμεῖς μέ ἐξελέξασθε ἀλλʼ ἐγώ ἐξελεξάμην ὑμᾶς καί ἔθηκα ὑμᾶς ἵνα ὑμεῖς ὑπάγητε καί καρπόν φέρητε καί ὁ καρπός ὑμῶν μένῃ ἵνα ὅ τὶ ἄν αἰτήσητε τόν Πατέρα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι μού δῷ ὑμῖν)
Father is an important title for God.
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου
in the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὐχ Ὑμεῖς μέ ἐξελέξασθε ἀλλʼ ἐγώ ἐξελεξάμην ὑμᾶς καί ἔθηκα ὑμᾶς ἵνα ὑμεῖς ὑπάγητε καί καρπόν φέρητε καί ὁ καρπός ὑμῶν μένῃ ἵνα ὅ τὶ ἄν αἰτήσητε τόν Πατέρα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι μού δῷ ὑμῖν)
See how you translated in my name in [14:13](../14/13.md).
15:1-27 Jesus prepared his disciples for his departure, instructing them to remain in close fellowship with him. The image of a grapevine illustrates both intimacy and fruitfulness. To sustain genuine spiritual life in the world, believers must remain intimately connected to Christ.
OET (OET-LV) You_all not chose me, but I chose you_all, and I_appointed you_all in_order_that you_all may_be_going and may_be_bearing fruit, and the fruit of_you_all may_be_remaining, in_order_that whatever anything wishfully you_all_may_request the father in the name of_me, he_may_give to_you_all.
OET (OET-RV) You didn’t choose me, but I chose you all, and I assigned you to go and produce fruit and for your fruit to be permanent so that whatever you request from the father in my name and authority, he will give it to you.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.