John 15:15

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

You [apostles] did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you to go and bear much fruit [i.e., through their evangelizing], and that your fruit should last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask Him for in my name [i.e. by my authority].

Cross References

Matthew 13:11

He replied, “You disciples are being given an understanding of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but the crowds of people are not.

James 2:23

So, the Scripture was fulfilled, which says [Gen. 15:6], “Abraham believed God and [so] God considered him righteous,” and he was called God’s friend.

Colossians 1:26

[This message is] the secret which has been kept hidden throughout the ages and generations, but has now been revealed to God’s saints [i.e., His holy people].

Revelation 1:1

[This is the record of] the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave [Him] to show to His servants. [It contains] the things which were soon to happen, and Christ sent His angel [i.e., messenger] to inform His servant, [the apostle] John, [about them].

Ephesians 3:5

which was not told to people of previous generations as it has now been revealed to His [i.e., Christ’s] holy apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:9

in doing what He intended through Christ, to make known to us His secret plan, according to what pleased Him.

John 20:17

Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not ascended to the Father yet [Note: Apparently Jesus was discouraging Mary from embracing Him in worship as was done in Matt. 28:9, and thereby causing a delay of when the rest of the disciples would learn of His resurrection], but go to my brothers and tell them [I said] ‘I am [about] to ascend to my Father and to your Father, and to my God and your God.’”

2 Peter 1:1

[This letter is being written by] Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith just as precious as ours, through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Galatians 4:6

And because you are [His] children, God sent the Holy Spirit of His Son into our hearts, to call out, “Abba,” [which means] “Father.”

John 12:26

If any person wants to serve me, he should become my follower; and wherever I am, my servant will be there also. If any person serves me, the Father will honor him.

John 8:26

I have many things to say about you and [many] judgments to pass on you. However, God, who sent me, is truthful and I am telling the world [only] the things I have heard from Him.”

1 Peter 1:11

They studied [their own prophecies] to learn what, or which [person or] time the Holy Spirit in them pointed to, in predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories yet to come.

James 1:1

[This letter is from] James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, [who sends] greetings to the twelve tribes which are scattered throughout the world. [Note: This refers to Christians, probably of Jewish descent].

Philemon 1:16

not as a slave [only], but more than a slave, as a dearly loved brother. [He is that] to me especially, but how much more to you, both in a physical way [i.e., by continuing to serve as your slave] and in [the fellowship of] the Lord [i.e., now also as your brother in Christ].

John 17:26

And I declared your name to them and I will continue to declare it, so that the love you have for me will be in them [also], and that I [will be] in them.”

John 15:20

But they [i.e., the world] will do all these things to you for my name’s sake [i.e., because you are my disciples], for they do not know Him [i.e., God], who sent me.

John 13:16

Truly, truly, I tell you, a slave is not greater [in importance] than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the person who sent him.

Jude 1:1

[This is being written by] Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ, and a brother of James [Note: This “Jude” was probably not the apostle. See verses 17-18], to those who have been called [by God], who are also loved in [fellowship with] God the Father, and who are kept [safe] in [fellowship with] Jesus Christ.

Acts 20:27

For I held nothing back in declaring to you the entire message of God.

John 4:19

[Then] the woman said to Jesus, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.

Luke 10:23

Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “The eyes that see the things you see are [truly] blessed,

John 16:12

“I still have many things to tell you, but you cannot bear [to hear] them at present.

Romans 7:15

For I do not [really] understand what I am doing; I practice what I do not want to and I hate what I do. [Note: This highly controversial section (verses 14b-25) is here viewed as the struggles of the apostle Paul after his conversion, and by extension, of all Christians. See Bruce, pages 150ff; Murray, pages 255ff; Lard, pages 236ff].

1 Corinthians 2:16

[Isa. 40:13 says], “For who knows [what is in] the Lord’s mind? And who is capable of instructing Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. [Note: The “we” may refer to the apostles, who had the gift of inspiration (See verse 12), or to all Christians who have spiritual discernment]