John 15
The Vine and the Branches
1 I am the true vine, and my father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me not bearing fruit he takes away, and every [branch] bearing fruit, he prunes1 it in order that it bear more fruit. 3 Already are you clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Dwell in me, and I in you. Just as the branch is not able to be bearing fruit from itself if it does not dwell in the vine, thus you neither if you do not dwell in me.5 I am the vine, you are the branches. The [one] dwelling in me and I in him, this [one] bears much fruit, because apart from me you are able to be doing nothing. 6 If anyone be not dwelling in me, he was thrown out like the branch and was withered, and they gather them and throw [them] into the fire and it is burned.2 7 If you dwell in me and my words dwell in you, ask3 whatever you want, and it will come to pass to you. 8 In this was my father glorified, that you be bearing much fruit and become my disciples.
9 Just as the father agape-loved me, I also agape-loved you. Dwell in my agape-love. 10 If you keep my commandments you will dwell in my agape-love, just as I have kept my father's commandments and I dwell in [his] agape-love. 11 This have I spoken to you that my joy be in you and you joy be made full. 12 This is my commandment: that you be agape-loving one another, just as I agape-loved you. 13 Greater agape-love no one has than this, that he lay down his psyche-life4 in his philia-beloveds' behalf. 14 You are my philia-beloved, if you are doing what I command you. 15 No longer do I say you [are] slaves, because the slave does not know what his lord does; but I have called you philia-beloved, because everything that I heard from my father I made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you, and dedicated5 you that you be going and be bearing fruit and your fruit be remaining6, in order that whatever you ask3 the father in my name he give you. 17 These [things] I command you, in order that you be agape-loving one another.
The World's Hatred
18 If the world hates you, you know that it has first hated me. 19 If you were of the world, the world was philia-loving its own. But because you [are] not of this world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 20 Be remembering the word that I told you: [A] slave is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these [things] will they do to you on account of my name, because they do not know the [one] having sent me. 22 If I hadn't come and told them, they were not having sin. But now they do not have pretext concerning their sin. 23 The [one] hating me also hates my father. 24 If I hadn't done the works among them that no other has done, they were not having sin. But now they have both seen7 and hated me and my father. 25 But [this is] in order that the word in their law be fulfilled having been written that8:They hated me undeservedly.
26 When the advocate9 comes that I will send to you from beside the father—the spirit of truth that goes out from beside the father—that [one] will testify concerning me; 27 and you also testify, because you are with me from the beginning.
1KATHAIRO (καθαιρω) primarily means "clean", but also means to "prune" a plant. So this is a play on words with v.3.
2Doesn't say who does the gathering and the burning.
3AITEO "ay-TEH-oh" (αιτεω) "request", "demand", "beg" something for oneself. Far from humbly requesting—it's more like 'demanding'. Jesus uses AITEO only of the prayer of others, not of His own (cf. John.16:26)—and not requesting things for Himself, only for others. AITEO seems to suppose a lesser degree of intimacy than EROTAO (ερωταω), hence AITEO is used of the requests of the disciples to God, but EROTAO of the requests of the disciples to Jesus, and of those of Jesus to the Father ( John.14:16). AITEO is demanding/begging/pleading, EROTAO is polite and friendlier. Both AITEO and EROTAO occur in John.16:26.
4from PSYCHE (ψυχη): an individual manifestation of life/consciousness. Animals have PSYCHEs as well as humans. Contrast ZOE (ζωη)—Life 'collectively', interdependent, interconnected.
5or "gave", "placed"
6literally the same word "dwelling" used throughout this passage
7could either be referring to "the works" or to "me and my father."
8Ps.35:19
9PARACLETOS (παρακλητoς ) One who intercedes. Used in John.14:16, John.14:26, John.15:26, John.16:7, 1John.2:1