John 15:4 (GNV)

Passage

Abide in me, and I in you: as the branche cannot beare fruite of it selfe, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Nearby Context

John 15:2 Euery branch that beareth not fruite in me, he taketh away: and euery one that beareth fruite, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruite.

John 15:3 Nowe are ye cleane through the worde, which I haue spoken vnto you.

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you: as the branche cannot beare fruite of it selfe, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

John 15:5 I am that vine: ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruite: for without me can ye doe nothing.

John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branche, and withereth: and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they burne.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "abide", "branche", "beare", "fruite", "selfe", "except", and "vine". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "abide" and "branche", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "Nowe are ye cleane through the worde..." into verse 5's "I am that vine ye are the...", so "abide" and "branche" 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 "abide" and "branche" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.