John 14:17

John 14:17, in plain English

Jesus calls the Holy Spirit 'the Spirit of truth.' The world cannot receive Him, but you can, because He already lives with you and will soon live inside you.

Why it's here

This is the shift from God being with you to God being in you. The Spirit's coming means the presence of God is no longer something you travel to; it is something that lives inside your heart.

Who's speaking

Jesus describes who the Holy Spirit is and how He relates to believers.

Where it sits in the story

The world looks at spiritual truth and sees nothing. But the disciples have a different kind of sight. The Spirit has been with them through Jesus, and soon He will be in them. God is about to go from beside them to inside them.

The scholarly reading

The Spirit is identified as 'the Spirit of truth' (to pneuma tēs alētheias). The world cannot receive Him because it lacks spiritual perception. The disciples, by contrast, already know the Spirit because He 'abides' (menei) with them and will be 'in' them.

Language and setting

The distinction between 'with you' (par' hymin) and 'in you' (en hymin) may mark the transition from the Spirit's external work during Jesus' ministry to His internal indwelling after Pentecost.

Voice

Jesus describes the Holy Spirit's nature and relationship with believers versus the world.

Significance

Jesus identifies the coming Spirit as the Spirit of truth, invisible and incomprehensible to the unbelieving world but intimately known by the disciples. The Spirit already dwells with them in Jesus' presence and will soon dwell within them, transforming their experience of God from external to internal.

15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—

17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.

18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

19In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.

Read all of John 14 — In the upper room, Jesus comforts his terrified disciples. He promises them a place, a path, and a presence that will never leave them.