CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 15:17 This is My command to you: Love one another.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/15-17.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/43_Jhn_15_17.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 15:17 - No Greater Love" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="This is My command to you: Love one another." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/john/15-17.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/john/15-17.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/john/">John</a> > <a href="/john/15.htm">Chapter 15</a> > Verse 17</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad17.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/15-16.htm" title="John 15:16">◄</a> John 15:17 <a href="/john/15-18.htm" title="John 15:18">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/john/15.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/john/15.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />This is my command: Love each other.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/john/15.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />This is my command: Love each other.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/john/15.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />These things I command you, so that you will love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/john/15.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is My command to you: Love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/15.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />These things I command you, that you love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/john/15.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />These things I command you, that ye love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/john/15.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />These things I command you, that you love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/john/15.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />This I command you, that you love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/john/15.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220This I command you, that you love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/john/15.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“This I command you, that you love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/john/15.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />This I command you, that you love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/john/15.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />This [is what] I command you: that you love <i>and</i> unselfishly seek the best for one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/john/15.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“This is what I command you: Love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/john/15.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is what I command you: Love one another. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/john/15.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />These things I command you, that ye may love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/john/15.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />So I command you to love each other. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/john/15.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />These things I command you, that ye may love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/john/15.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Love each other. This is what I'm commanding you to do.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/john/15.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />This, then, is what I command you: love one another. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/john/15.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />I am giving you these commandments so that you may love one another."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/john/15.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is My command to you: Love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/john/15.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />This I command you--to love one another. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/john/15.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"I command these things to you, that you may love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/john/15.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />These things I command you, that ye love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/15.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"Thus I command you to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/john/15.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“I command these things to you, that you may love one another. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/john/15.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />These things I command you, that you love one another;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/15.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />These things I command you, that you love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/john/15.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'These things I command you, that ye love one another;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/john/15.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />These things I command you, that ye love one another.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/john/15.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />These things I command you, that you love one another. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/john/15.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />This I command you: that you love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/john/15.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />This I command you: love one another. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/john/15.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/john/15.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />I command these things to you, so that you love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/15.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />“These things I command you that you will love one another.”<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/john/15.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />These things I command you, that you may love one another.<CM><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/john/15.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>I command these things unto you, that you must love one another with divine love.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/john/15.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />These things I command you, that ye love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/john/15.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />Above all I enjoin you, to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/15.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"Thus I command you to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/john/15.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>These things I command you, that ye may love one another.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/john/15.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>These commands I give you, that ye should love one another.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/john/15-17.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=5555" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/john/15.htm">No Greater Love</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">16</span>You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. <span class="reftext">17</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: tauta (DPro-ANP) -- This; he, she, it. ">This</a> <a href="/greek/1781.htm" title="1781: entellomai (V-PIM/P-1S) -- To give orders (injunctions, instructions, commands). From en and the base of telos; to enjoin.">is My command</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymin (PPro-D2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">to you:</a> <a href="/greek/2443.htm" title="2443: hina (Conj) -- In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that."></a> <a href="/greek/25.htm" title="25: agapate (V-PSA-2P) -- To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.">Love</a> <a href="/greek/240.htm" title="240: allēlous (RecPro-AMP) -- One another, each other. Genitive plural from allos reduplicated; one another.">one another.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">18</span>If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/3-23.htm">1 John 3:23</a></span><br />And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/4-21.htm">1 John 4:21</a></span><br />And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/13-34.htm">John 13:34-35</a></span><br />A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. / By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8</a></span><br />Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/1-22.htm">1 Peter 1:22</a></span><br />Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/2-10.htm">1 John 2:10</a></span><br />Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/4-7.htm">1 John 4:7-8</a></span><br />Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. / Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/5-2.htm">1 John 5:2-3</a></span><br />By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments. / For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-14.htm">Galatians 5:14</a></span><br />The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/4-2.htm">Ephesians 4:2</a></span><br />with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-14.htm">Colossians 3:14</a></span><br />And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/22-37.htm">Matthew 22:37-40</a></span><br />Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ / This is the first and greatest commandment. / And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_thessalonians/4-9.htm">1 Thessalonians 4:9</a></span><br />Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/13-1.htm">1 Corinthians 13:1-3</a></span><br />If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. / If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. / If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/2-8.htm">James 2:8</a></span><br />If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">These things I command you, that you love one another.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/15-12.htm">John 15:12</a></b></br> This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_peter/2-17.htm">1 Peter 2:17</a></b></br> Honour all <i>men</i>. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_john/3-14.htm">1 John 3:14-17</a></b></br> We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not <i>his</i> brother abideth in death… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/15-14.htm">Command</a> <a href="/john/15-13.htm">Love</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/1-2.htm">Command</a> <a href="/john/15-19.htm">Love</a><div class="vheading2">John 15</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/15-1.htm">The union of Jesus and his members shown under the parable of a vine.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/15-18.htm">The hatred of the world.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/15-26.htm">The office of the Holy Spirit.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/15.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/15.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>This is My command to you:</b><br>In this phrase, Jesus emphasizes the authority of His words by using "command," indicating a directive that is not optional for His followers. This reflects the biblical theme of obedience to God's will, as seen throughout Scripture, such as in <a href="/deuteronomy/6-5.htm">Deuteronomy 6:5</a>, where love for God is commanded. The use of "My" signifies the personal nature of Jesus' instruction, highlighting His role as the divine teacher and leader. This command is given in the context of the Last Supper, a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, underscoring the importance of His final teachings to His disciples.<p><b>Love one another.</b><br>This command to love is central to Christian ethics and is a recurring theme in Jesus' teachings, as seen in <a href="/john/13-34.htm">John 13:34-35</a>, where He introduces the "new commandment" to love as He has loved. The love referred to here is "agape," a selfless, sacrificial love that seeks the best for others, reflecting the love of Christ. This command is set against the backdrop of a world that often values power and self-interest, challenging believers to live counter-culturally. The call to love one another is also a fulfillment of the law, as Paul explains in <a href="/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8-10</a>, where love is described as the fulfillment of the law. This directive is not just for the disciples present but extends to all believers, forming the foundation of Christian community and witness.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>The speaker of this command, Jesus is addressing His disciples during the Last Supper, imparting final teachings before His crucifixion.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_disciples.htm">The Disciples</a></b><br>The immediate audience of Jesus' command, representing all believers who are called to follow His teachings.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_upper_room.htm">The Upper Room</a></b><br>The setting of this discourse, where Jesus shares intimate teachings and prepares His disciples for His impending departure.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_last_supper.htm">The Last Supper</a></b><br>The event during which Jesus delivers this command, a pivotal moment in the Gospels where Jesus institutes the New Covenant.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_world.htm">The World</a></b><br>Implicit in the context, representing those outside the community of believers who may not understand or accept this command.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_centrality_of_love.htm">The Centrality of Love</a></b><br>Jesus places love at the heart of His commandments, indicating that it is not optional but essential for His followers.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/love_as_a_command.htm">Love as a Command</a></b><br>This is not merely a suggestion but a directive from Jesus, highlighting the importance of obedience in the Christian life.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/love_in_community.htm">Love in Community</a></b><br>The command to love one another is directed towards the community of believers, emphasizing the need for unity and mutual care.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/reflecting_christ's_love.htm">Reflecting Christ's Love</a></b><br>Our love for one another is a reflection of Christ's love for us, serving as a testimony to the world of His transformative power.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/practical_expressions_of_love.htm">Practical Expressions of Love</a></b><br>Love should be evident in our actions, words, and attitudes, manifesting in tangible ways that meet the needs of others.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_15.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 15</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_job_stay_faithful_in_suffering.htm">What does 'I Have Called You Friends' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_loving_jesus_entail.htm">What does loving Jesus entail?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_about_those_without_revelation.htm">What does 'Love One Another as I Have Loved You' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'overcome_by_the_blood'_mean.htm">What were the teachings of Jesus?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/15.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(17) <span class= "bld">These things I command you</span>--<span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> the things of which He has spoken from <a href="/john/15-1.htm" title="I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer.">John 15:1</a> onwards, and especially from <a href="/context/john/15-12.htm" title="This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you.">John 15:12-16</a>. After speaking them He comes back to the purpose from which this section started, "that ye love one another."<p>We must beware of the not unfrequent mistake of interpreting "these things" of the words which follow, as if it were, "I command you this, viz., to love one another." The thought is, "I am giving you these precepts that you may love one another."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/15.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 17-27.</span> - (b) <span class="accented">The results of this union with Christ to the unbelieving world</span>. <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 17.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">These things do I command you</span> - clearly pointing back to Ver. 12 - <span class="cmt_word">that ye may love one another</span>. This entire meditation culminates where it began. The digression comes back to the main theme Westcott regards it as the starting-point of a new theme, but our Lord did not return upon the idea of mutual love, but discusses the effect upon the world of that love to each other and to him which blended their personalities into one mystic unity. This verse shows how the new topic links itself with the previous discussion. His dying for them, thus proving his friendship for them, and all the other signs of his interest and confidence, have been set before them to this great end; for while the world is full of outrage and mutual animosities, the motive of his own entire self-manifestation is to awaken a new and higher type and model of humanity. Well may the familiar legend of St. John in the churches of Ephesus confirm this sublime truth. From this point to the end of the chapter (Ver. 27) Christ unfolded the consequences, to the unbelieving world, of the sacred union between himself and his disciples, and he discussed the reciprocal relations between his own disciples and the world, seeing that they are united with him in such a close incorporation. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/john/15-17.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">This</span><br /><span class="grk">ταῦτα</span> <span class="translit">(tauta)</span><br /><span class="parse">Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3778.htm">Strong's 3778: </a> </span><span class="str2">This; he, she, it. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">is My command</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐντέλλομαι</span> <span class="translit">(entellomai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1781.htm">Strong's 1781: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give orders (injunctions, instructions, commands). From en and the base of telos; to enjoin.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to you:</span><br /><span class="grk">ὑμῖν</span> <span class="translit">(hymin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> </span><span class="str2">You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Love</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀγαπᾶτε</span> <span class="translit">(agapate)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_25.htm">Strong's 25: </a> </span><span class="str2">To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">one another.</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀλλήλους</span> <span class="translit">(allēlous)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_240.htm">Strong's 240: </a> </span><span class="str2">One another, each other. Genitive plural from allos reduplicated; one another.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/15-17.htm">John 15:17 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/john/15-17.htm">John 15:17 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/john/15-17.htm">John 15:17 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/john/15-17.htm">John 15:17 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/john/15-17.htm">John 15:17 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/john/15-17.htm">John 15:17 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/15-17.htm">John 15:17 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/15-17.htm">John 15:17 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/john/15-17.htm">John 15:17 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/john/15-17.htm">John 15:17 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/john/15-17.htm">NT Gospels: John 15:17 I command these things to you that (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/15-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 15:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 15:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/15-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 15:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 15:18" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>