Answering 439 Bible Contradictions

Answer: Jesus told His disciples everything they could bear, though more truth followed after His resurrection through the Holy Spirit’s illumination and inspiration.

Problem: Jesus says in John 15:15 that He had revealed all things to His disciples, while in John 16:12 He informs the disciples there’s far more He’s yet to tell them.

Explanation: In John 15, Jesus calls his disciples “friends” instead of slaves. This must have shocked them, because as of yet, only Abraham had been called a friend of God in Scripture (Jms. 2:23). Never is God referred to as a friend of man.

While slaves are expected to obey commands without explanation, comrades share motives and plans with each other. A captain tells his servant: “Climb to the top of the mountain.” The only valid response is: “Yes, sir!” But a friend explains why scaling the peak is important.

In the Old Testament, God did not give his servants a full report of His saving purposes. In the New Testament, however, Jesus tells his “friends” “all things” (Jn. 15:15) that the Father had given Him. For example, He declares that whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (3:16), that Jesus lays down His life for the sheep (10:11), that He’s preparing for them mansions (14:2), that He’s coming again (14:3), and that the new birth is the only way to eternal life (3:5).

In John 16:12, Jesus clarifies that the “all things” He had “made known” (15:15) were those truths which the disciples could “bear”. The disciples were slow learners (Mk. 6:52). Christ had not given them every detail they would need. But after Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit would come and “guide” them “into all the truth” (16:13). How would the Spirit do this?

First, the Paraclete will make the Scriptures clear, which had previously been hazy and mere “figures of speech” (16:25). The disciples were mostly clueless about Jesus’ death and resurrection, despite His clear and direct statements. But after Christ’s death, the Holy Spirit would “teach [them] all things” (Jn. 14:26) by unpacking the meaning of the Savior’s words through illumination (Lk. 24:6-8).

Second, the Spirit would give His people further revelation through the New Testament books yet to be written. This is why Jesus could say: “I still have many more things to say to you.” Many of these truths would not come until after His resurrection and through the inspiration of the Spirit (Hb. 1:2; 2Tm. 3:16).

In sum, John 15:15 and John 16:12 fit together perfectly, describing the different categories and methods Jesus would use to reveal Himself.