Conservative Friends Bible Study of The Gospel of John #26
John 15:11-16:4 We read John 15 in Greek and sit with Jesus’ “order” to love, the move from slaves to friends, and the promise of fruit that lasts. We also wrestle with persecution, conscience, and how translation choices like logos, paraclete, and “no cloak for sin” shape what we think the text is really saying.
- Reading John 15:12-17 and the meaning of love as self-giving
- “commandment” versus “order” and what obedience implies
- Logos as message and reasoning, not just “word”
- “slave” versus “servant” and why older English can mislead
- Why Friends may resonate with “I have called you friends”
- John’s persecution theme and being in the world not of it
- “no excuse” for sin and the role of conscience and refusal to listen
- Sowing seeds over time and how people change gradually
- Comparing Bible translations including “cloak”, “pretext” and amplified notes
- Paracletos as comforter, helper, advocate and how context guides meaning
- Trinity language developing later and how creeds reflect later debates
- Revelation as encouragement and hope under oppression