Do John 15:15 & John 16:12 Contradict?
Do John 15:15 & John 16:12 Contradict?
In the Gospel of John, some skeptics have risen eyebrows over the prior verses for they seem to contradict each other on if Jesus told the disciples everything.
John 15:15
"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," (John 15:15 KJV).
John 16:12
"I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now," (John 16:12 KJV).
In John 15:15, many have claimed Jesus told the disciples all; however, in John 16:12 he seems to say he still has more for the disciples. Firstly, we must look at the original Greek used in the passage. In John 15:15, the Greek word for "all" is "πάντα"; however, this may not be the best translation for this word in this context as it can mean "all sorts of". This is a rarer translation; however, even if this is incorrect, it is not impossible it was merely hyperbolic as Paul does in 1 Corinthians using the same word.
As he writes, "All things are lawful(or permitted), but not all things are profitable(or of benefit)," (1 Corinthians 10:23). Does he literally mean all things are permitted? Well, if he did that would mean sin does not exist which would be absurd as he himself notes that all have sinned(Romans 3:23). Thus, it seems plausible what John means here is Jesus told all topics(or all sorts of topics) to the disciples the Father had told of Jesus to say or all things he needed to say. Later, the Spirit, as John 16:13 notes, "... will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come," (John 16:13 KJV). What Jesus meant in John 16:12 is there was more to learn by the Spirit, but he had taught all he needed as directed by the Father. This is not to say he will not teach more; however, it would not be from the Father.