Yohanes 12:49

12:49 For I have not spoken from my own authority, ¹  but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me ²  what I should say and what I should speak.

Yohanes 13:34

13:34 “I give you a new commandment – to love ³  one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ⁴ 

Yohanes 16:25

16:25 “I have told you these things in obscure figures of speech; ⁵  a time ⁶  is coming when I will no longer speak to you in obscure figures, but will tell you ⁷  plainly ⁸  about the Father.

[12:49]  ¹ tn Grk “I have not spoken from myself.”

[12:49]  ² tn Grk “has given me commandment.”

[13:34]  ³ tn The ἵνα (Jina) clause gives the content of the commandment. This is indicated by a dash in the translation.

[13:34]  ⁴ sn The idea that love is a commandment is interesting. In the OT the ten commandments have a setting in the covenant between God and Israel at Sinai; they were the stipulations that Israel had to observe if the nation were to be God’s chosen people. In speaking of love as the new commandment for those whom Jesus had chosen as his own (John 13:1, 15:16) and as a mark by which they could be distinguished from others (13:35), John shows that he is thinking of this scene in covenant terminology. But note that the disciples are to love “Just as I have loved you” (13:34). The love Jesus has for his followers cannot be duplicated by them in one sense, because it effects their salvation, since he lays down his life for them: It is an act of love that gives life to people. But in another sense, they can follow his example (recall to the end, 13:1; also 1 John 3:16, 4:16 and the interpretation of Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet). In this way Jesus’ disciples are to love one another: They are to follow his example of sacrificial service to one another, to death if necessary.

[16:25]  ⁵ tn Or “in parables”; or “in metaphors.” There is some difficulty in defining παροιμίαις (paroimiai") precisely: A translation like “parables” does not convey accurately the meaning. BDAG 779-80 s.v. παροιμία suggests in general “proverb, saw, maxim,” but for Johannine usage “veiled saying, figure of speech, in which esp. lofty ideas are concealed.” In the preceding context of the Farewell Discourse, Jesus has certainly used obscure language and imagery at times: John 13:8-11; 13:16; 15:1-17; and 16:21 could all be given as examples. In the LXX this word is used to translate the Hebrew mashal which covers a wide range of figurative speech, often containing obscure or enigmatic elements.

[16:25]  ⁶ tn Grk “an hour.”

[16:25]  ⁷ tn Or “inform you.”

[16:25]  ⁸ tn Or “openly.”