💫WEB · John 16:9
What does John 16:9 mean?
"about sin, because they don’t believe in me;"
— John 16:9 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment;
about sin, because they don’t believe in me;
about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won’t see me any more;
about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged.
“I have yet many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.
Explanation
John 16:9 comes from a longer statement Jesus makes to his disciples during the Last Supper discourse, in which he explains that after he departs, he will send "the Helper" or "Advocate" — the Holy Spirit — to continue his work in the world. In verses 8-11, Jesus says the Spirit will "convict the world concerning sin, concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment." Verse 9 gives the first of these three, explaining specifically what he means by conviction "concerning sin": it is unbelief in Jesus himself. In plain language, the verse says that the fundamental sin the Holy Spirit exposes in the world is the refusal to believe in Jesus.
To understand this properly, we need the context. Jesus speaks these words the night before his crucifixion, preparing his disciples for his departure. They are troubled and confused, not understanding why he must leave. Jesus reassures them that his going away is actually beneficial, because it makes possible the coming of the Holy Spirit, who will not simply comfort the disciples but will also carry out a convicting work in the world — that is, among those who reject Jesus. This discourse is addressed to the eleven remaining apostles, but its content extends beyond them to describe the ongoing ministry of the Spirit in every generation of the church, especially as the gospel is proclaimed to unbelievers.
Theologically, this verse redefines how sin is measured at its root. Throughout the passage, Jesus is not saying that individual sinful acts don't matter, but that the deepest, most decisive s
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