John 15:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

NIV: I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

NASB: No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

CSB: I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father.

NLT: I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

KJV: Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

NKJV: No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Abraham is referred to in Scripture as a "friend of God" (James 2:23). Here, Jesus calls the disciples—and by extension, those believers who "abide" in Him (John 15:9–10)—His "friends," as proven by communication. God openly spoke with Abraham (Genesis 18:17), and Jesus openly speaks with us through His Word (John 15:7). That Christ instructs and informs us, beyond brute commands, as well as offering His life for our sake (John 15:13) are powerful proofs that He sees us as His "friends."

This does not erase the idea that believers are "servants" of Christ (Romans 1:1). Jesus has used (John 13:16) and will continue to use (John 15:20) such terminology in reference to His followers. Rather, Jesus is indicating that His intended relationship with believers involves communication and support, rather than simple dictatorship. This also supports the "vine and branches" analogy Jesus used earlier in this passage (John 15:1–8). As God's love and knowledge flow to Christ, Christ passes them down to us, as a vine passes life along to branches. We, in turn, are meant to pass the Word, and love, to other people (Matthew 28:19; John 13:34–35; 14:15).

John 15:12–17 builds on Christ's explanation of the vine and branches. Once again, Jesus commands His followers to demonstrate love toward each other. This is phrased, in no uncertain terms, as an obligation given directly by Christ. Jesus once again ties willingness to obey to the legitimacy of one's love for Him. This contrasts with the hatred shown by the unbelieving world, which He discusses in the following passage.

This passage begins with a celebrated analogy from Christ: the vine and the branches. This includes the seventh and final "I Am" statement of the gospel of John. Jesus uses this metaphor to explain how our spiritual life, as born-again believers, is drawn from His life. God's intent for our lives is to progress from barrenness to fruitfulness, to spiritual abundance. Jesus also repeats His command for believers to love each other. In this context, He goes so far as to refer to those who follow His teachings as His "friends."

Jesus is in the middle of a long discourse given to the disciples, which began during the last supper. He presents the analogy of a vine and branches, then repeats His command for believers to love each other. Jesus also warns about how the unbelieving world will hate and persecute Christians. This leads into the teachings of chapter 16, which focus on perseverance in the face of trials.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.