John 16:1

The phrase "These things I have spoken to you" (Gr. tauta lelaleka hymin) brackets this subsection of the discourse and highlights a reason for it (cf. John 14:25; John 16:25; John 16:33; John 17:1). Jesus did not want His disciples to stumble (Gr. skandalethron, be caught unaware) in their discipleship after His departure because the events that would follow took them completely by surprise (cf. Matthew 5:10-12). Even though they did not understand everything Jesus told them immediately, they would remember them and understand them more fully later (cf. John 14:20; John 14:25-26).

"The greatest danger the disciples will confront from the opposition of the world is not death but apostasy." [Note: Carson, The Gospel . . ., p. 530.]

"Apostasy," from the Greek apostasis, meaning "to stand away from," is a word that describes people’s relationship to Jesus and or His truth. It is a term that identifies departure from a position formerly held whether the person in view is a believer or an unbeliever. It does not necessarily identify an unbeliever. It is possible for believers to depart from the Savior and His truth as well as unbelievers (cf. John 15:4; John 15:7; 1 Timothy 4; 2 Timothy 3). Jesus gave this present teaching so His believing disciples would not depart from Him and what He had taught them when persecution assailed them following His departure from them (cf. Matthew 10:33; Mark 8:38; 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 3:8).