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John 14:17

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

[Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 14:17 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on John 14:17

Theological / Devotional

Spirit of truth. This expression occurs again in chs. 15:26; 16:13. The emphasis seems to be upon the fact that the Spirit defines, imparts, and defends truth. For a definition of truth see on ch. 8:32. The Spirit would guide the disciples “into all truth” (ch. 16:13).

World. Gr. kosmos (see on Matt. 4:8).

Seeth him not. The pronoun “him” refers to the Spirit, as is clearly evident in the Greek. The world lacks spiritual perception. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:14).

Neither knoweth him. If the disciples at Ephesus baptized “unto John’s baptism” had “not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost” (Acts 19:1–3), much less would the world have any knowledge concerning Him. The world neither knew of His existence nor recognized His call to repentance (see Gen. 6:3; Rev. 22:17).

Ye. The pronoun is emphatic in the Greek. The disciples are strongly contrasted with the world.

With you. That is, with the church. The phrase “in you” emphasizes the indwelling of the Spirit in the hearts of individual Christians.

By SdaBc