140. The Hatred of the World
18“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, the world hates you. I chose you out of the world. 20Remember the word that I said to you, 'The servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you. 21But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.a 23He who hates me hates my Father. 26But when the Comforter comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, he will bear witness to me.”b(Jn. 15:18–23, 26) (continued)
a “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.”—Evil is an unconscious or unintended transgression of God's will, but sin represents a conscious and knowing choice to do wrong.
b “But when the Comforter comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, he will bear witness to me.”—Before this time we have heard of the Father's Spirit of Love and the Holy Spirit, but this is the first mention of the Spirit of Truth. This is a new spiritual endowment that is to be sent into the world by Jesus. This Spirit of Truth is a joint bestowal of the Father and the Son, and it bears witness to Jesus and his teachings.
Jn. 15:19 world, the world hates you. I chose you out of the world. / world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (RSV)
Jn. 15:20 you, 'The servant (KJV) / you, 'A servant (RSV)
Jn. 15:23 Father. / Father also. (RSV)
Jn. 15:26 the Comforter comes, (KJV) / the Counselor comes, (RSV) • Truth, he / Truth, who proceeds from the Father, he (RSV) (180:3/1946–7)
