They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.John 16:2 Explainer ## Introduction - In Plain Language: Jesus warns his disciples they will be kicked out of Jewish meeting places and that some people will even think they are doing God a favor by killing believers. - Big idea: Following Jesus can bring rejection and even deadly hostility from those who sincerely, but mistakenly, believe they are serving God. - Key points: - Jesus predicts social and religious exclusion for his followers (being "put out" of synagogues). - Persecutors can be sincerely convinced they are doing God’s work even while committing violence. - The warning is meant to prepare disciples, not to justify retaliation. ## Context - Where this verse fits in: John 16 is part of Jesus’ Farewell Discourse (John 14–17), a final private teaching to his disciples before his arrest and crucifixion. This section prepares them for coming opposition and the role of the Spirit. - Story timeline: Spoken in first‑century Judea just before Jesus’ passion. The immediate audience is the Twelve disciples; the broader context includes growing tension between the early Jesus movement and some Jewish religious leaders and communities. - Surrounding passage: - John 16:1 introduces the warning: Jesus has been telling them these things so they won’t be surprised or stumble. - John 16:2 (this verse) predicts expulsion from synagogues and a time when some will think killing believers is serving God. - John 16:3–4 explains why this will happen (because they do not know the Father) and that Jesus has told them in advance so they’ll remember later that he warned them. ## Explanation - Quick take: Jesus bluntly warns that following him may mean being driven out of community and even facing lethal hostility — and that perpetrators may believe they are acting for God. This prepares disciples for the cost and reveals the seriousness of religious misunderstanding. - In Depth: - “They shall put you out of the synagogues”: In Jewish life the synagogue was a central religious and social institution. Being expelled meant loss of worship fellowship, teaching, social standing, and practical support. For early Christians who were still culturally Jewish, this was a real form of isolation and punishment. - “The time cometh”: Jesus frames this as a future reality — an appointed hour when opposition intensifies. The Farewell Discourses repeatedly warn of this coming storm so the disciples won’t be surprised. - “Whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service”: This is an observation about motive and perception. Persecutors are not always acting from obvious malice; they can be religiously zealous and convinced they are defending God or truth. The verse names the tragic reality that good intentions can be joined to grievous wrongdoing when people misunderstand God’s will. Historically, the Johannine community likely experienced expulsions and hostility, and the Gospel records this warning as both description and consolation. Jesus’ prediction is neither a call to violence nor a theological endorsement of persecution; it is a sober preparation and diagnostic: opposition can be religiously framed. ## Key Words - ekballō (ἐκβάλλουσιν) — “to cast out” or “expel”; here, to drive out of the synagogue/community. - synagōgē (συναγωγῶν) — “synagogues” or communal meeting places for prayer, Torah reading, and social life. - phoneuō/phonéō (φονεύων) — “the one who kills”; root for “kill” or “murder.” - latreuein (λατρεύει) — “to serve” or “to worship”; religious service/worship, used here to describe how the persecutor perceives his actions. ## Background - Cultural/historical: In the first century, synagogues were local centers of Jewish religious life. To be expelled was a severe form of religious and social punishment. The Gospel of John reflects tensions between the Johannine community and certain synagogue authorities; scholars think some early Christians were excluded from synagogue life for confessing Jesus as the Messiah. - Literary: John’s farewell speeches often warn of the world’s hostility and emphasize the Spirit’s coming as comfort and guidance. This verse contributes to the theme that misunderstanding Jesus leads to hostility that can be mistakenly justified as piety. ## Theology - Theological insights in plain language: - Persecution can come from religious conviction, not only political malice — people can sincerely misread God’s will. - Jesus anticipates suffering for his followers and uses that reality to form and comfort them, highlighting faithfulness over safety. - The verse warns against equating religious zeal with righteousness; true service to God must align with God’s character revealed in Jesus. ## Application To Your Life - For workers: If standing for integrity or truth causes you to be shunned, remember Jesus warned this could happen and that faithfulness matters more than acceptance. Seek wise community and non‑retaliatory paths. - For parents: Teach children that being faithful can sometimes be unpopular and that love often calls for courage, not conformity. Model how to respond with grace rather than returning harm. - For seekers: This verse shows that religion can be mistaken; look for what God truly reveals about love, not just zeal or ritual. - For those facing hostility: This passage is a reminder you are not alone in suffering; prepare practically and pray for wisdom and for those who oppose you. - Reflection questions: - When have I seen sincere religious conviction do harm? What did I learn? - How might I respond with truth and compassion when others reject me for my faith? - Do I ever confuse zeal for God with actions that contradict Jesus’ teaching? - Short prayer: Lord, give me courage to follow you when it costs me, and wisdom to love even those who oppose me. Help me serve you in ways that reflect your love, not harm. ## Translation Comparison - KJV: “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” - NIV: “They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.” - ESV: “They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.” - NRSV: “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the hour is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.” - NASB: “They will expel you from the synagogues; and an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.” Note on why differences matter: Translations vary on words like “synagogue” (singular/plural), “service” vs “worship,” and formal vs modern phrasing. The Greek term λατρεία (service/worship) can imply religious devotion, so some translations say “worship” while others say “service” or “offering.” These choices shape how readers understand the persecutor’s motive — whether it’s framed as religious ritual, sincere worship, or perceived service to God. ## FAQs - Q: Is Jesus predicting that Jewish people will kill Christians? Short answer: Jesus predicts that followers will face expulsion and lethal hostility from people who think they are serving God. The immediate social context involves conflict with some Jewish authorities (the Gospel of John reflects such tensions), but the verse is not a blanket condemnation of all Jewish people. Historically, the Johannine community may have experienced exclusion from synagogues. It’s important to read this passage carefully and avoid using it to justify antisemitism. The point Jesus makes is about religious misunderstanding and zeal that can lead to grave wrongdoing — something seen in many contexts, not only between Jews and Christians. The verse highlights the tragedy that people can commit violence with the conviction they are doing God’s will. - Q: Does this verse mean God approves of persecution if the persecutors think they are serving God? Short answer: No. Jesus is describing what will happen and diagnosing the persecutors’ mistaken conviction — he is not endorsing their actions. The verse shows that people can be sincerely misguided; their conviction does not make wrongdoing right in God’s sight. Elsewhere Jesus calls for love, nonretaliation, and warns that God judges motives. This verse functions as a warning and preparation for disciples: expect false piety to justify harm, and respond with faithfulness, not reciprocal violence. ## Cross References - John 15:18–21 — Jesus warns that the world will hate his followers because it hated him. (Same theme of expected rejection.) - Matthew 10:16–22 — Jesus prepares disciples for persecution, capture, and betrayal. (Practical parallels in the Synoptics.) - Acts 7:54–60 — The stoning of Stephen shows people committing murder while thinking they defend the law. (Echo of “thinking they do God service.”) - Philippians 3:6 — Paul’s earlier life shows sincere religious zeal can be misdirected (he thought he was serving God by persecuting Christians). - Acts 8:1–3 — Persecution scatters the church, which leads to the gospel spreading. (Historical outcome hinted by Jesus’ warning.) ## Deeper Study - Commentary synthesis (high-level): Most commentators see John 16:2 as both predictive and pastoral. Predictive, because it forecasts real hostility the early community experienced; pastoral, because it prepares disciples emotionally and spiritually. Scholars emphasize the Johannine setting: the Gospel reflects a community that had been excluded from some synagogues and felt religiously opposed. Interpreters caution against using the verse to blame Jewish people broadly — context matters. Theologically, it ties to themes of misunderstanding (people who do not know the Father), the cost of discipleship, and the coming work of the Spirit to sustain believers. - Group study bullets: - Read Acts 7 and Philippians 3: Discuss how religious conviction led to violence and how God turned those situations toward his purposes. - Role-play: One person is a disciple warned about expulsion; discuss practical pastoral care for someone socially isolated for faith. - Reflect on modern parallels: When does sincere belief lead to harm today? How should Christians respond? - Study the Greek terms in pairs and compare translations to see how word choice affects interpretation. ## Related verses (compare and contrast) - John 15:18–25 — Compares: both warn of hatred and rejection; contrasts: John 15 highlights the reason (the world’s hatred) while 16:2 highlights religiously motivated misunderstanding. - Matthew 10:16–22 — Compares: both foretell persecution and prepare disciples; contrasts: Matthew includes concrete instructions about fleeing and endurance while John emphasizes community expulsion and the persecutor’s mindset. - Acts 7:54–60 — Compares: Stephen’s martyrdom is an instance where persecutors thought they were defending the faith, matching John 16:2’s description; contrasts: Acts gives the narrative outcome and the early church’s response. ## Talk to the Bible Try the “Talk To The Bible” feature to explore this verse further. Suggested prompts: - “Show me passages in Acts that fulfill John 16:2 and explain the connections.” - “Compare the Greek word λατρεύει (latreuei) in John 16:2 with other New Testament uses — what shades of meaning appear?” - “How should a local church pastor prepare and care for members facing social exclusion for their faith, using John 16 as a guide?”
