“I have told you these things so that you will not fall away.
Parallel translations
- WEB “I have said these things to you so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble.
- KJV These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
- NKJV “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.
- NASB “These things I have spoken to you so that you will not be led into sin.
- NLT “I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith.
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
Jesus has spoken these things so the disciples will not be caused to stumble. Forewarning is meant to guard their faith.
Overview
Jesus tells the disciples about coming opposition in advance to keep them from falling away when trials come. Forewarned, they will recognize persecution as part of the path rather than a sign that God has abandoned them. This pastoral purpose runs through the discourse: truth spoken beforehand fortifies faith for hard days ahead.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 1 Pet 2:8and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
- Matt 13:21But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
- Matt 26:31–33Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
- John 15:18–27If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.
- Matt 24:10At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,
- John 16:4But I have told you these things so that when their hour comes, you will remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
- Rom 14:21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.
- Matt 13:57And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”
- Matt 11:6Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
- John 15:11I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
- Phil 1:10so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 16:1 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.