John 16:5 (DRB)

Passage

But I told you not these things from the beginning, because I was with you. And now I go to him that sent me, and none of you asketh me: Whither goest thou?

Nearby Context

John 16:3 And these things will they do to you; because they have not known the Father nor me.

John 16:4 But these things I have told you, that when the hour shall come, you may remember that I told you of them.

John 16:5 But I told you not these things from the beginning, because I was with you. And now I go to him that sent me, and none of you asketh me: Whither goest thou?

John 16:6 But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

John 16:7 But I tell you the truth: it is expedient to you that I go. For if I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you: but if I go, I will send him to you.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "told", "things", "beginning", "sent", "none", "asketh", "whither", and "goest". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "told" and "things", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "But these things I have told you..." into verse 6's "But because I have spoken these things...", so "told" and "things" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "told" and "things" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.