John 16 · Verse 1

John 16:1

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
John 16:1, King James Version

John 16:1 in other translations

BSB“I have told you these things so that you will not fall away.
WEB“I have said these things to you so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble.
ASVThese things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be caused to stumble.
YLT‘These things I have spoken to you, that ye may not be stumbled,
DARBYThese things I have spoken unto you that ye may not be offended.
BBEI have said these things to you so that you may not be in doubt.
WebsterThese things have I spoken to you, that ye should not be offended.

What does John 16:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 16:1-5

Joh 16:1-33. Discourse at the Supper Table Concluded.

1-5. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended--both the warnings and the encouragements just given.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 1. These things. The things spoken in the two previous chapters, promising them divine aid and directing them in the path of duty.

Be offended. For the meaning of the word offend, Mt 5:29. It means here the same as to stumble or fall --that is to apostatize. He proceeds immediately to tell them, what he had often apprised them of, that they would be subject to great persecutions and trials. He was also himself about to be removed by death. They were to go into an unfriendly world. All these things were in themselves greatly fitted to shake their faith, and to expose them to the danger of apostasy. Comp. Lk 24:21. If they had not been apprise of this, if they had not known why Jesus was about to die, and if they had not been encouraged with the promised aid of the Holy Ghost, they would have sunk under these trials, and forsaken him and his cause. And we may learn hence,

1st. That if Christians were left to themselves they would fall away and perish.

2nd. That God affords means and helps beforehand to keep them in the path of duty.

3rd. That the instructions of the Bible and the help of the Holy Spirit are all granted to keep them from apostasy.

4th. That Jesus beforehand secured the fidelity and made certain the continuance in faith of his apostles, seeing all their danger and knowing all their enemies. And, in like manner, we should be persuaded that "he is able to keep that which we commit to him against that day," 2Ti 1:2, 12.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

Christ warns his disciples, and foretells the persecutions they should receive from the Jews, Joh 16:1-4. Foretells his death, and promises them the Comforter, Joh 16:5-7. Points out his operations among the Jews, and in the world, Joh 16:8-11. His peculiar influences on the souls of the disciples, Joh 16:12-15. Speaks figuratively of his death and resurrection, at which his disciples are puzzled, Joh 16:16-18. He explains and illustrates the whole by a similitude, Joh 16:19-22. Shows himself to be the Mediator between God and man, and that all prayers must be put up in his name, Joh 16:23-28. The disciples clearly comprehend his meaning and express their strong faith in him, Joh 16:29, Joh 16:30. He again foretells their persecution, and promises them his peace and support, Joh 16:31-33. Verse 1 These things have I spoken - Particularly what is mentioned in the two last chapters. Be offended - Ἱνα μη σκανδαλισθητε, That ye should not be stumbled. May not fall away from the faith, nor receive any injury to your souls, as that man does to his body who stumbles, or falls over a stone, or block, in the way which he has not discovered.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 16:1-6
Our Lord Jesus, by giving his disciples notice of trouble, designed that the terror might not be a surprise to them. It is possible for those who are real enemies to God's service, to pretend zeal for it. This does not lessen the sin of the persecutors; villanies will never be changed by putting the name of God to them. As Jesus in his sufferings, so his followers in theirs, should look to the fulfilling of Scripture. He did not tell them sooner, because he was with them to teach, guide, and comfort them; they needed not then this promise of the Holy Spirit's presence. It will silence us to ask, Whence troubles come? It will satisfy us to ask, Whither go they? for we know they work for good. It is the common fault and folly of melancholy Christians to look only on the dark side of the cloud, and to turn a deaf ear to the voice of joy and gladness. That which filled the disciples' hearts with sorrow, was too great affection for this present life. Nothing more hinders our joy in God, than the love of the world, and the sorrow of the world which comes from it.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

John 16:1 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΤαῦταTautaThese thingsG3778
λελάληκαlelalēkaI have spokenG2980
ὑμῖν,huminto youG4771
ἵναinathatG2443
μὴmēnotG3361
σκανδαλισθῆτε.skandalisthēteyou may fall away.G4624

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 16:1

  • 1 Peter 2:8

    And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

  • Matthew 13:21

    Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

  • Matthew 26:31-33

    Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

  • John 15:18-27

    If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. …

  • Matthew 24:10

    And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

  • John 16:4

    But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

  • Romans 14:21

    It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

  • Matthew 11:6

    And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

  • Matthew 13:57

    And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

  • John 15:11

    These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

  • Philippians 1:10

    That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 Christ comforts his disciples by the promise of the Holy Ghost, and his ascension;
23 assures their prayers made in his name to be acceptable.
33 Peace in Christ, and in the world affliction.

4; 15:11; Mt 11:6; 13:21,57; 24:10; 26:31-33; Ro 14:21; Php 1:10
1Pe 2:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 16:1

    These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

  • John 16:2

    They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

Read all of John 16

John 16:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		ESTAS cosas os he hablado, para que no os escandalicéis.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je vous ai dit ces choses, afin que vous ne soyez pas scandalisés.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Dieses habe ich zu euch geredet, auf daß ihr euch nicht ärgert.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hæc locutus sum vobis, ut non scandalizemini.