john-15:1-6,-luke-13:9-niv

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:1

I am the true vine - Perhaps the vines which they met with, on their road from Bethany to Gethsemane, might have given rise to this discourse. Some of the disciples were probably making remarks on the different kinds of them, and our Lord took the opportunity of improving the conversation, according to his usual manner, to the instruction of their souls. He might here term himself the true vine, or vine of the right sort, in opposition to the wild and barren vine. Some MSS. and several of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:2

Every branch in me - I stand in the same relation to my followers, and they to me, as the vine to the branches, and the branches to the vine. He taketh away - As the vine-dresser will remove every unfruitful branch from the vine, so will my Father remove every unfruitful member from my mystical body - such as Judas, the unbelieving Jews, the apostatizing disciples, and all false and merely nominal Christians, who are attached to the vine by faith in the word and Divine mission of Christ,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:3

Now ye are clean - Καθαροι εστε , Ye are pruned. As our Lord has not changed the metaphor, it would be wrong to change the expression. Through the word - Δια τον λογον , Through that word - that doctrine of holiness which I have incessantly preached unto you, and which ye have received. Perhaps our Lord more immediately refers here to the words which he had spoken concerning Judas, John 13:21-30 , in consequence of which Judas went out and finished his bargain with the chief... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:4

Abide in me - Hold fast faith and a good conscience; and let no trials turn you aside from the truth. And I will abide in you - ye shall receive every help and influence from me that your souls can require, in order to preserve and save them to eternal life. These two things are absolutely necessary to our salvation: That we continue closely united to Christ by faith and love, and live in and to him. 2. That we continually receive from him the power to do good; for as the branch,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:5

Without me ye can do nothing - Χωρις εμου ου δυνασθε ποιειν ουδεν - Separated from me, ye can do nothing at all. God can do without man, but man cannot do without God. Following the metaphor of our Lord, it would be just as possible to do any good without him, as for a branch to live, thrive, and bring forth fruit, while cut off from that tree from which it not only derives its juices, but its very existence also. Nearly similar to this saying of our Lord, is that of Creeshna (the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:6

If a man abide not in me - Our Lord in the plainest manner intimates that a person may as truly be united to him as the branch is to the tree that produces it, and yet be afterwards cut off and cast into the fire; because he has not brought forth fruit to the glory of his God. No man can cut off a branch from a tree to which that branch was never united: it is absurd, and contrary to the letter and spirit of the metaphor, to talk of being seemingly in Christ - because this means nothing. If... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:1

Verse 1 1.I am the true Vine. The general meaning of this comparison is, that we are, by nature, barren and dry, except in so far as we have been engrafted into Christ, and draw from him a power which is new, and which does not proceed from ourselves. I have followed other commentators in rendering ἄμπελος by vitis, (a vine,) and κλήματα by palmites, (branches.) Now, vitis (a vine) strictly denotes the plant itself, and not a field planted with vines, which the Latin writers call vinea, (a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:2

Verse 2 2.Every branch in me that beareth not fruit As some men corrupt the grace of God, others suppress it maliciously, and others choke it by carelessness, Christ intends by these words to awaken anxious inquiry, by declaring that all the branches which shall be unfruitful will be cut off from the vine But here comes a question. Can any one who is engrafted into Christ be without fruit? I answer, many are supposed to be in the vine, according to the opinion of men, who actually have no root... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:3

Verse 3 3.You are already clean, on account of the word. He reminds them that they have already experienced in themselves what he had said; that they have been planted in him, and have also been cleansed or pruned He points out the means of pruning, namely, doctrine; and there can be no doubt that he speaks of outward preaching, for he expressly mentions the word, which they had heard from his mouth. Not that the word proceeding from the mouth of a man has so great efficacy, but, so far as... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:4

Verse 4 4.Abide in me. He again exhorts them to be earnest and careful in keeping the grace which they had received, for the carelessness of the flesh can never be sufficiently aroused. And, indeed, Christ has no other object in view than to keep us as a hen keepeth her chickens under her wings, (Matthew 23:37) lest our indifference should carry us away, and make us fly to our destruction. In order to prove that he did not begin the work of our salvation for the purpose of leaving it... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:4

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