This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.
Parallel translations
- WEB “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.
- KJV Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
- NKJV By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
- NASB My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
- NLT When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Father is glorified when the disciples bear much fruit, proving themselves true disciples. Fruitfulness brings glory to God and authenticates discipleship.
Overview
The ultimate aim of bearing fruit is the Father's glory. Abundant fruit, produced through union with Christ, both honors God and gives evidence of genuine discipleship. This ties the whole vine discourse together: the Father's gardening, the Son's life-giving union, and the Spirit-empowered fruit all converge in glorifying God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Matt 5:16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
- John 8:31So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples.
- Phil 1:11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
- 2 Cor 9:10–15Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness.
- John 15:5I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.
- Ps 92:12–15The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
- 1 Pet 4:11If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
- John 13:35By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
- Isa 60:21Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever; they are the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, so that I may be glorified.
- 1 Cor 10:31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
- Isa 61:3to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
- Luke 6:35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
- 1 Pet 2:12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
- Hag 1:8Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified, says the LORD.
- 1 Cor 6:20you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.
- Titus 2:10not stealing from them, but showing all good faith, so that in every respect they will adorn the teaching about God our Savior.
- Titus 2:5to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.
- Matt 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 15:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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