Scofield Reference Bible Notes
John 15

Jhn 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

true

"True" in contrast with Israel. Isa 5:1-7.

Jhn 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

beareth fruit

Mat 13:12; Jhn 17:17; Rom 5:3-4; Heb 12:5-11.

he purgeth it

Three conditions of the fruitful life:

• Cleansing, Jhn 15:2-3; Scofield John 13:10, note;
• abiding, Scofield John 15:4, note;
• obedience, Scofield John 15:10, 12.

(See "Law of Christ," Gal 6:2; Scofield 2 John 1:5, note.)

Jhn 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

clean through the word

Lev 13:6; Jhn 13:10; Eph 5:26.

Jhn 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Abide in me

To abide in Christ is, on the one hand, to have no known sin unjudged and unconfessed, no interest into which He is not brought, no life which He cannot share. On the other hand, the abiding one takes all burdens to Him, and draws all wisdom, life and strength from Him. It is not unceasing consciousness of these things, and of Him, but that nothing is allowed in the life which separates from Him. See Scofield "Fellowship," Scofield 1 John 1:3; "Communion," Scofield 1 Corinthians 10:16.

Jhn 15:5-7; 17:23; Eph 3:17; 1Jo 2:28.

Jhn 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

fruit

The fruit. Gal 5:22-23.

without me ye can do nothing

Phl 1:11; 4:13.

Jhn 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

as a branch, and is withered

Jhn 15:2; Mat 25:30.

Jhn 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

my words abide in you

Jhn 14:13; Col 3:16; 1Jo 2:14.

Jhn 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

much fruit

Three degrees in fruit-bearing:

• "Fruit," John 15:2,
• "more fruit," John 15:2,
• "much fruit," John 15:5, 8.

As we bear "much fruit" the Father is glorified in us. The minor moralities and graces of Christianity are often imitated, but never the ninefold "fruit" of Gal 5:22-23. Where such fruit is the Father glorified. The Pharisees were moral and intensely "religious," but not one of them could say with Christ, "I have glorified thee on the earth" (Jhn 17:4).

Jhn 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

Father hath loved me

Jhn 5:20; 10:14-15; 17:26.

Jhn 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

keep my commandments

Jhn 14:21, 23.

Jhn 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

This is my commandment

Jhn 13:34.

Jhn 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

I call you not servants

Progressive intimacy in John:

• Servants, Jhn 13:13;
• Friends, Jhn 15:15;
• Brethren, Jhn 20:17.

Jhn 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

I have chosen you

Election (personal). Act 9:15. (Deu 7:6; 1Pe 1:2).

whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name

Jhn 14:13; 16:23-24.

Jhn 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

I command you

Law (of Christ). Jhn 15:12, 17; Rom 5:5. (Gal 6:2; 2Jo 1:5).

Jhn 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

world [See also Jhn 15:19.]

kosmos = world-system. John 16:11, 33. (Jhn 7:7; Rev 13:3).

Jhn 15:19 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.

were of the world

Separation. Jhn 17:6, 14-16. (Gen 12:1; 2 Cor 6:14-17.)

I have chosen you

Election (corporate). Rom 8:33. (Deu 7:6; 1Pe 1:2).

world

kosmos (Mat 4:8) = mankind.

Jhn 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

sin [See also Jhn 15:24.]

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

Jhn 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

without a cause

Psa 35:19; 69:4.

Jhn 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Spirit of truth

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Jhn 16:13. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

Jhn 15:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

shall bear witness

Inspiration. Jhn 16:12-13. (Exo 4:15; Rev 22:19.)