The Meaning of John 15:15 Explained

John 15:15

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.

YLT: no more do I call you servants, because the servant hath not known what his lord doth, and you I have called friends, because all things that I heard from my Father, I did make known to you.

Darby: I call you no longer bondmen, for the bondman does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things which I have heard of my Father I have made known to you.

ASV: No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known unto you.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does John 15:15 Mean?

Study Notes

Henceforth
Progressive intimacy in John: Servants, John 13:13 , Friends John 15:15 , Brethren, John 20:17 .

Context Summary

John 15:10-16 - "i Have Called You Friends"
We must estimate the Father's love to Jesus before we can measure His love to us. We are told to love one another with the same love, but enabling power is needed, or we can never fulfill His command. Our love is not like His, unless it is prepared to sacrifice itself even unto death. Not servants, but friends! The first stage is that of the bondservant, who does what he is told, not because he understands, but because he has no option. Friendship involves obedience on our part; and on His part the making known of the deep things of God. Even the Son learned obedience by the things which He suffered. It is by implicit obedience alone that we can pass into the closer intimacy of friendship and ultimately of sonship. There is no limit to what the Father will do for those whom His Son calls "friends." [source]

Chapter Summary: John 15

1  The union of Jesus and his members shown under the parable of a vine
18  The hatred of the world
26  The office of the Holy Spirit

Greek Commentary for John 15:15

No longer [ουκετι]
As he had done in John 13:16. He was their Rabbi (John 1:38; John 13:13) and Lord (John 13:13). Paul gloried in calling himself Christ‘s δουλος — doulos (bond-slave). Servants Bond-servants, slaves. I have called you friends Perfect active indicative, permanent state of new dignity. They will prove worthy of it by continued obedience to Christ as Lord, by being good δουλοι — douloi Abraham was called the Friend of God (James 2:23). Are we friends of Christ? [source]
Henceforth - not [οὐκέτι]
Rev., better, no longer. No longer servants, as you were under the dispensation of the law. Compare Galatians 4:7. [source]
Servants [δούλους]
Strictly, bond-servants. [source]
Knoweth not [οὐκ οἶδέ]
Has no instinctive perception. See on John 2:24. [source]
You []
The position of the pronoun in the Greek is emphatic: “You I have called friends.” [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 15:15

John 1:16 Of His fulness [ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ]
These and the succeeding words are the Evangelist's, not the Baptist's. The word fullness ( πλήρωμα ) is found here only in John, but frequently occurs in the writings of Paul, whose use of it in Ephesians and Colossians illustrates the sense in John; these being Asiatic churches which fell, later, within the sphere of John's influence. The word is akin to πλήρης , full (John 1:14), and to πληροῦν , to fill or complete; and means that which is complete in itself, plenitude, entire number or quantity. Thus the crew of a ship is called πλήρωμα , its complement. Aristophanes (“Wasps,” 660), “ τούτων πλήρωμα , the sum-total of these, is nearly two thousand talents.” Herodotus (iii., 22) says that the full term of man's life among the Persians is eighty years; and Aristotle (“Polities,” iv., 4) refers to Socrates as saying that the eight classes, representing different industries in the state, constitute the pleroma of the state (see Plato, “Republic,” 371). In Ephesians 1:23, Paul says that the church is the pleroma of Christ: i.e., the plenitude of the divine graces in Christ is communicated to the Church as His body, making all the body, supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, to increase with the increase of God (Colossians 2:19; compare Ephesians 4:16). Similarly he prays (Ephesians 3:19) that the brethren may be filled unto all the pleroma of God: i.e., that they may be filled with the fullness which God imparts. More closely related to John's use of the term here are Colossians 1:19, “It pleased the Father that in Him (Christ) should all the fullness ( τὸ πλήρωμα , note the article) dwell;” and Colossians 2:9, Colossians 2:10, “In Him dwelleth all the pleroma of the Godhead bodily (i.e., corporally, becoming incarnate ), and in Him ye are fulfilled ( πεπληρωμένοι ).” This declares that the whole aggregate of the divine powers and graces appeared in the incarnate Word, and corresponds with John's statement that “the Word became flesh and tabernacled among men, full of grace and truth;” while “ye are fulfilled ” answers to John's “of His fullness we all received.” Hence John's meaning here is that Christians receive from the divine completeness whatever each requires for the perfection of his character and for the accomplishment of his work (compare John 15:15; John 17:22). [source]
John 1:40 Andrew [Ανδρεας]
Explained by John as one of the two disciples of the Baptist and identified as the brother of the famous Simon Peter (cf. also John 6:8; John 12:22). The more formal call of Andrew and Simon, James and John, comes later (Mark 1:16.; Matthew 4:18.; Luke 3:1-11). That heard John speak “That heard from John,” a classical idiom (παρα — para with ablative after ακουω — akouō) seen also in John 6:45; John 7:51; John 8:26, John 8:40; John 15:15. [source]
2 Peter 1:5 Adding on your part [παρεισπερω]
First aorist active participle of εισπερω — pareispherō old double compound, to bring in Old word from πασαν σπουδην — speudō to hasten (Luke 19:5.). This phrase (ποιουμενος — pāsan spoudēn) occurs in Judges 1:3 with ισπερεσται — poioumenos and on the inscription in Stratonicea (2 Peter 1:3) with εν τηι πιστει υμων — ispheresthai (certainly a curious coincidence, to say the least, though common in the Koiné).In your faith Faith or αγαπη — pistis (strong conviction as in Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 11:3, the root of the Christian life Ephesians 2:8) is the foundation which goes through various steps up to love See similar lists in James 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:3.; Galatians 5:22.; Romans 5:3.; Romans 8:29. Hermas (Vis. iii. 8. 1-7) has a list called “daughters” of one another. Note the use of επιχορηγησατε — en (in, on) with each step.Supply (επιχορηγεω — epichorēgēsate). First aorist active imperative of επι — epichorēgeō late and rare double compound verb (χορηγεω — epi and χορηγος — chorēgeō 1 Peter 4:11 from χορος — chorēgos chorus-leader, ηγεομαι — choros and αρετην — hēgeomai to lead), to fit out the chorus with additional (complete) supplies. Both compound and simplex (more common) occur in the papyri. In 2 Peter 1:11 and already in 2 Corinthians 9:10; Galatians 3:5; Colossians 2:19.Virtue Moral power, moral energy, vigor of soul (Bengel). See 2 Peter 1:3.Knowledge (gnōsin). Insight, understanding (1 Corinthians 16:18; John 15:15). [source]
2 Peter 1:5 In your faith [πιστις]
Faith or αγαπη — pistis (strong conviction as in Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 11:3, the root of the Christian life Ephesians 2:8) is the foundation which goes through various steps up to love See similar lists in James 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:3.; Galatians 5:22.; Romans 5:3.; Romans 8:29. Hermas (Vis. iii. 8. 1-7) has a list called “daughters” of one another. Note the use of επιχορηγησατε — en (in, on) with each step.Supply (επιχορηγεω — epichorēgēsate). First aorist active imperative of επι — epichorēgeō late and rare double compound verb (χορηγεω — epi and χορηγος — chorēgeō 1 Peter 4:11 from χορος — chorēgos chorus-leader, ηγεομαι — choros and αρετην — hēgeomai to lead), to fit out the chorus with additional (complete) supplies. Both compound and simplex (more common) occur in the papyri. In 2 Peter 1:11 and already in 2 Corinthians 9:10; Galatians 3:5; Colossians 2:19.Virtue Moral power, moral energy, vigor of soul (Bengel). See 2 Peter 1:3.Knowledge (gnōsin). Insight, understanding (1 Corinthians 16:18; John 15:15). [source]
2 Peter 1:5 Virtue [γνωσιν]
Moral power, moral energy, vigor of soul (Bengel). See 2 Peter 1:3.Knowledge (gnōsin). Insight, understanding (1 Corinthians 16:18; John 15:15). [source]
2 Peter 1:5 Knowledge [gnōsin)]
Insight, understanding (1 Corinthians 16:18; John 15:15). [source]

What do the individual words in John 15:15 mean?

No longer I call you servants for the servant not knows what is doing his - master however I have called friends because all things that I heard from the Father of Me I have made known to you
οὐκέτι λέγω ὑμᾶς δούλους ὅτι δοῦλος οὐκ οἶδεν τί ποιεῖ αὐτοῦ κύριος δὲ εἴρηκα φίλους ὅτι πάντα ἤκουσα παρὰ τοῦ Πατρός μου ἐγνώρισα ὑμῖν

οὐκέτι  No  longer 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐκέτι  
Sense: no longer, no more, no further.
λέγω  I  call 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
δούλους  servants 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: δοῦλοσ1 
Sense: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition.
δοῦλος  servant 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: δοῦλοσ1 
Sense: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition.
οἶδεν  knows 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
ποιεῖ  is  doing 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
αὐτοῦ  his 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κύριος  master 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
εἴρηκα  I  have  called 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to utter, speak, say.
φίλους  friends 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: φίλος  
Sense: friend, to be friendly to one, wish him well.
ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
πάντα  all  things 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
  that 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἤκουσα  I  heard 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
Πατρός  Father 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
μου  of  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐγνώρισα  I  have  made  known 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: γνωρίζω  
Sense: to make known.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.