Discovery BoxJohn 16:12
Context16:12 “I have many more things to say to you, 1 but you cannot bear 2 them now.
Hebrews 5:11-12
Context5:11 On this topic we have much to say 3 and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggish 4 in hearing. 5:12 For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, 5 you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God’s utterances. 6 You have gone back to needing 7 milk, not 8 solid food.
[16:12] 1 sn In what sense does Jesus have many more things to say to the disciples? Does this imply the continuation of revelation after his departure? This is probably the case, especially in light of v. 13 and following, which describe the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding the disciples into all truth. Thus Jesus was saying that he would continue to speak (to the twelve, at least) after his return to the Father. He would do this through the Holy Spirit whom he was going to send. It is possible that an audience broader than the twelve is addressed, and in the Johannine tradition there is evidence that later other Christians (or perhaps, professed Christians) claimed to be recipients of revelation through the Spirit-Paraclete (1 John 4:1-6).
[16:12] 2 tn Or (perhaps) “you cannot accept.”
[5:11] 3 tn Grk “concerning which the message for us is great.”
[5:12] 5 tn Grk “because of the time.”
[5:12] 6 tn Grk “the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God.”
[5:12] 7 tn Grk “you have come to have a need for.”
[5:12] 8 tc ‡ Most texts, including some early and important ones (א2 A B* D Ψ 0122 0278 1881 Ï sy Cl), have καί (kai, “and”) immediately preceding οὐ (ou, “not”), but other equally significant witnesses (Ì46 א* B2 C 33 81 1739 lat Or Did) lack the conjunction. As it was a natural tendency for scribes to add a coordinating conjunction, the καί appears to be a motivated reading. On balance, it is probably best to regard the shorter reading as authentic. NA27 has καί in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
