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John 15:25

KJV

But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Read it in context Hatred and testimony
Start reading at John 15:18 (John 15:18 to John 15:27). An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.

The disciples' relationship to Jesus explains the world's opposition and leads into the promise of the Comforter's testimony alongside theirs.

  1. 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
  2. 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
  3. 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
  4. 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
  5. 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
  6. 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
  7. 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
  8. 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
  9. 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
  10. 15:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Who

What

When

Where

How

Cited: John 15:18, John 15:27, John 1:14, John 8:31, John 14:15, John 20:31

Who wrote it, and how we know

John the apostle Named in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe book identifies its author as the disciple who testifies of these things and wrote them. John 21:24John 21:20
Early traditionEarly testimony, notably Irenaeus, names John the apostle.
What is debated

There is substantial early Christian tradition supporting John the son of Zebedee—James’s brother—as the authority behind the Gospel, but it is not the same kind of evidence as having a signed first-century manuscript saying “I, John son of Zebedee, wrote this.” The case is cumulative, built from internal evidence in the Gospel plus external testimony from early Christians. There are also real reasons scholars debate it.

Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment

The notes distinguish explicit fulfillment statements from other explicit New Testament applications. They do not assume every detail of the surrounding prophecy has already been fulfilled.

Hatred without cause

NT explicitly identifies fulfillment

John records Jesus' fulfillment statement about hatred without cause. The wording has parallels in both listed psalms; the NT does not name a psalm number here.

Related passages

Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).

Macro-Structure

See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.

John 15

The Gospel states that its signs are written so readers may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and have life through His name. Read its claims about belief alongside its calls to receive His word, continue in it, and follow Him.

John 20:30 John 20:31 John 8:31

The vine and the branches
John 15:1–17

FocusAbiding, fruit, and love

Connection to the wholeJesus joins fruitfulness to abiding in Him, including warnings about fruitless branches and commands to continue in His love and love one another.
interpretation
Hatred and testimony
John 15:18–27 You are here · 15:25

FocusWitness in an opposing world

Connection to the wholeThe disciples' relationship to Jesus explains the world's opposition and leads into the promise of the Comforter's testimony alongside theirs.
interpretation

Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.

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