The parable of the vinedresser, the vine, the branches and the fruit. How the apostles were to bear spiritual fruit to God.
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What did Jesus mean when he said to his disciples, "I am the true vine and my Father
is the husbandman", and, "I am the vine, you are the branches" – John 15? This essay
contains an analysis of the symbolism and spiritual meaning of the parable of the
vinedresser, the vine, the branches and the fruit (the Gospel according to John,
chapter 15). That is, it will be explained how the apostles were to bear spiritual
fruit to God.
John 15:1-5 records how Jesus, during the evening meal before he was betrayed and captured, said to the eleven apostles who remained at the table with him, that his Father was a "vinedresser" (vine farmer), or "husbandman" as some archaic translations have it, and that he, Jesus, was "the true vine", and that those apostles were "branches" who were attached to Jesus the Vine, and were to bear fruit.
Here is the parable in question, in the KJ version's rendering:
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (KJV-1769)
The same passage in a slightly more modern language:
John 15:1 I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me not bearing fruit, He takes it away; and each one bearing fruit, He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already pruned because of the Word which I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in Me, and I in you. As the branch is not able to bear fruit of itself, unless it remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. 5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. He that remains in Me, and I in him, this one bears much fruit. For apart from Me you are not able to do anything. (LIT)
A note: Older translations have "husbandman" instead of "vinedresser" or "vine farmer". Both words are archaic and all may not know what they mean. "Vinedresser" means someone who cultivates grape-vines and trims or prunes them – someone who takes care of a vineyard. "Husbandman" is an old word for "farmer". Some translations have "farmer", "gardener" or "vine-grower", instead. (Vine: Grapevine, the plant on which grapes grow.)
In verse 1, the Greek word for "vine" is ampelos, a grape-vine. The word for "branches" in John 15:5 is klêma (klêmata) which referred to a tender, flexible twig, especially the twig of a vine. The word that many bible-translations render as "vinedresser" or "husbandman", was geôrgos which meant "a tiller of the soil", "land-worker". (Geôrgos was compiled from gê, "soil", and ergon, "work".)
It is important to note and realise that this parable was specific to the eleven apostles. Jesus spoke those words to them, and regarding them. That parable does not mention or refer to people of our day. This fact is a central part of the interpretation and explanation of that parable.
Again, the analogy with the vine and the branches (ampelos and klêmata), including the bearing of fruit, was about Jesus and the eleven apostles who were at the table with him. (The twelfth one, Judas Iscariot, was not present any longer but had left the room and was on his way to betray Jesus.)
In that analogy, God the Father was the Vinedresser (vineyard keeper). His son Jesus was the Vine (ampelos, grape-vine). Jesus likened the apostles to the vine's branches or twigs (klêma, klêmata). Jesus was the main part of the vine, and those eleven men were twigs who were attached to that vine (Jesus). They were to bear much fruit to God, just as the twigs on a vine bear grape clusters.
Again, Jesus spoke that analogy to and regarding the eleven apostles who remained with him at the table, after Judas had gone his way. It was those eleven men who were the branches. Other people were mentioned only as "fruit" (John 15:2) – not as branches or twigs, but as the fruit born by the twigs (the apostles).
Later, those eleven men (and the apostle Paul) proclaimed the Good Message which Jesus had given to them, and did produce much fruit to God. Fruit: People turned to God and his son Jesus.
Today, many try to apply John 15:1-5 to themselves. But again, the facts are that those words of Jesus were specific to the men whom he was addressing – the eleven apostles who were with him at the table.
Important: When one reads the Bible and sees such words as "you", "your" (or "we", "us", our"), one must realise that those words refer to those who were being addressed, on the occasion they were spoken or written. It is very vital to remember that, for proper understanding of the Scriptures. The essay eg02c.htm has more on this.
Simply, they produced spiritual fruit by proclaimed the Good Message which then turned people to God and to his son Jesus. That is the fruit Jesus was talking about.
They could not do that by their own power. Jesus said to them, "apart from me you are not able to do anything". If a twig of the vine is to produce fruit, it has to remain attached to the vine. Similarly, in order to produce fruit, the apostles had to remain faithful to Jesus, doing things by his power, being led by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said to them, "he who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit". And indeed, through Jesus' power, the apostles (later including Paul), produced much fruit, turning thousands upon thousands of people to God and his son Jesus.
Those who understand that the first-fruits of Revelation 14:4 (the 144,000) is a group that consists of people of the apostles' day, can understand that indeed, the apostles indeed did produce much fruit. (The essay et03c.htm has more on the 144,000 "first-fruit" ones.)
And, as Jesus noted, those who did not remain "attached to the vine" (faithful to Jesus), could not produce fruit. Judas Iscariot had already left the table, on his way to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. He did not produce any fruit. Other New Testament passages record how Jesus and the apostle Paul warned about certain things which would make those who proclaimed the Good Message, unfruitful. Here is one of those passages:
Matthew 13:22 "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. (NKJV)
The essay em08c.htm has more on Jesus' and Paul's warnings regarding how those who proclaimed the Good Message, could become spiritually unfruitful.
A lot of preachers twist Jesus' words, and tell their followers that they supposedly can become connected to Jesus only through the preacher or through some church. People are told that they if they want to be joined to Jesus, they have to become (and then remain) members of some church.
But, regarding John 15 and the apostles and the other saints – did Jesus' symbolic way of expressing things (that parable) mean that those who then became saints as a result of those apostles' work, were joined to Jesus "only through the apostles", only by proxy? No. All saints had a direct relationship to Jesus and with him, without any proxies.
Jesus used symbolic language regarding how the apostles through their work would produce spiritual fruit to God, but that analogy had nothing to do with hierarchies, churches or church membership, or anything like that. When Jesus ascended to Heaven, there was no mortal "vicar" who took his place here on Earth. (The Latin noun vicarius means "substitute", "deputy", "proxy", "vicegerent".) For more on "church hierarchies", look under the heading "Hierarchy" on the index-page keyw-h3.htm.
Let us read what Jesus said to his disciples:
Matthew 23:8 "But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 "And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 "And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. (NASB-77)
A note: Some preachers twist even that very clear passage. They turn it upside down, in order to uphold the unbiblical dogma of "servant leadership" which a certain American writer invented in 1970. The essay ee03c.htm has more on this. Then, some misinterpret and twist Matthew 16:19 and produce out of it an excuse for the church hierarchies and "primacies" that they have formed. The essay eb08c.htm has more on that passage and subject.
The answer is a clear no. Jesus has no apostles here on Earth, in our day. Many have claimed that they are apostles, but Jesus has not sent them. In short: There are no "branches" of the kind the apostles were, here on Earth today. And anyway, the parable recorded in John 15 was specifically about Jesus and the eleven men whom he was addressing on that occasion. The essays ee01c.htm and ea08b.htm have more on apostleship, elders and religious titles.
More: Dogmas regarding a supposed "true church", "church mother" and "church eras" are not biblical. They are copies of an old Catholic dogma. Many non-Catholic preachers have then copied those Catholic teachings and used them for controlling their followers. But, the cold facts are that the churches of this world are not of the true God who is in Heaven – not even one of them.
The essay ea01d.htm has more on Matthew 16:18 and on churches in general. The essay eg06b.htm explains the actual origin and meaning of the word "church". The essay ea02d.htm considers Galatians 4:26 and the "church mother" dogma. The essay ea03d.htm takes a closer look at the "church eras" dogma which many churches and preachers have.
The essay eb08c.htm has more on Matthew 16:19 (many preachers misinterpret and twist that passage), and the "keys of the Kingdom of Heaven" which are mentioned there. The essay ea04c.htm has more on the word and concept "worship". The essays es06d.htm and es07c.htm have more on "spiritual authority" and such words and concepts as "clergy and laity".
The parable which is recorded in John 15 is not about people of our day. It was about Jesus and the eleven apostles whom he was talking to. They were to produce fruit to God – and they certainly did.
Again, when one reads the Bible, it is important to realise and to keep in mind that in the Bible, such words as "we", "our", "us", "you" and "your", refer to people of those days, and not to the reader. The essay eg02c.htm has more on this.
The point once again: When Jesus said, "you are the branches", and said that those branches were to bear fruit, that referred to the eleven men whom he was talking to, and not to people of our day.
So, what about people of our day? Where do they fit in, in this all? The answer is that it is God who decides who is to receive the Holy Spirit, and when. The saints (that is, the 144,000 of the "first-fruits harvest" in the apostles' day), received God's Spirit. They were the fruits of the apostles' work with spreading the Good Message.
But again, what about our day? Many churches and preachers baptise people – but those churches and their doings have nothing to do with the true God who is in Heaven. (The essay eb01c.htm has more on the distribution of the Holy Spirit. The essays eb02c.htm and eb03d.htm have more on "calling", "election" and "predestination".)
What about the 144,000 and the great multitude? Again: Those 144,000 saints – people turned to God – were the fruit which the apostles produced. They are not people of our day. That first-fruits group of 144,000 (Revelation 14:4) consists of people who lived here on Earth in the apostles' day.
Now, the 144,000 were a "first-fruits harvest" (Revelation 14:4). In the "end time", there will be another "time of harvest". At that time, a great, innumerable multitude of people will be sealed with the Holy Spirit. That larger group does not yet exist; it will only come into being shortly before Jesus comes. The essay et03c.htm has more on the 144,000 and the great multitude.
It seems that the two witnesses will have a part in bringing forth more fruit to God, a "latter harvest" – that is, the great multitude, those who will be sealed by the Holy Spirit in the "end time". The essay et01e.htm has more on the two witnesses.
What about others, people of other times? The essays eb09c.htm and et07e.htm have a bit more on that question.
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A clarifying explanation of the short names for the bible-versions quoted or mentioned at this site, such as that NKJV stands for New King James Version, YLT for Young's Literal translation, HCSB for Holman Christian Standard Bible, NRSV for the New Revised Standard Version, and so on. → es09c.htm
For those who are interested: A printable, bible-based word-search puzzle with words related to John 15. → puzzle16-p.pdf – Many more bible-based word-search puzzles. → ep01.htm
The concepts "saint" and "sainthood" analysed. Does the Bible define or clarify who is a saint and what sainthood consists of? Also: Are there saints here on Earth, in our day? What do the Scriptures say concerning these things? Further: What is the etymology of the word "saint", and what does it really mean? → eg03c.htm
The identity and timing of the 144,000 and the great multitude of Revelation 7, and the first-fruits or virgins of Revelation 14:1-4 – who those groups really are, and when they came or come into existence. → et03c.htm
Check your bible knowledge. A basic self-test with 15 biblical questions (with answers and commentary). → es04b.htm
On Jesus' teaching regarding "the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven" or "the keys of the Reign of Heaven". What did the word "keys" depict or symbolise? What is the interpretation of that passage – what was it that Jesus was saying to his disciples? Bible study notes on Matthew 16 verse 19, with context. Also, a general overview and comments on the subject of "binding and loosing". → eb08c.htm
How to understand the Bible. Easy keys to interpreting and understanding Scripture in a better and deeper way, by avoiding certain fundamental but common mistakes and errors in bible study. These vital keys are really the basics for objective bible study. Knowing these keys will make many things easier to interpret and comprehend, and one will see several central matters in the Bible from a new and different perspective, especially in connection with the Gospels and the Epistles. → eg02c.htm
Essays regarding various matters in connection with religious fellowships. → keyw-a4.htm (Look under the heading "Assembly".)
Is "servant leadership" a biblical concept? Did elders in the saints' fellowships act as "servant leaders"? What the Bible says about leadership among Jesus' disciples. → ee03c.htm
What does the Bible say about elders? What was their role in the saints' fellowships? Also, was there a "hierarchy" with "ranks"? → ee01c.htm
What the Bible says about titles of men in the religious context. A few comments regarding certain ecclesiastical titles, such as apostle, bishop, deacon, doctor of theology, evangelist, father, minister, pastor, priest, prophet, reverend, and so on. → ea08b.htm
Matthew 16:18, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". What was Jesus talking about? What is the immortal assembly or ekklêsia which he said he would form, and where is it located? Is it an earthly religious organisation in this world – a church – or is it a heavenly assembly that has as its members the saints who have become immortals? → ea01d.htm
The origin and meaning of the word "church". → eg06b.htm
The meaning of the words Christ, Christian, Messiah and Messias. Also: Did the saints call themselves "Christians" – christianos or christianoi? → eg07b.htm
What does Galatians 4:26 mean? It talks about the heavenly Jerusalem and is a part of an allegory regarding the two covenants. Why have some preachers then claimed that it refers to some church? This essay finds the facts regarding the allegory of Galatians 4:21-31, and shows what the different things named in it pictured and symbolised. → ea02d.htm
Worshipping God. What does the Bible say about worship, when it comes to New Covenant times? Serving God is something important, for many believers. There is a custom to gather for worship services. Indeed, for many people, worship is the same as going to church or attending church. But, where does the word "worship" really come from, and what does it mean? And, what about praise and giving thanks and "offerings", and so on? In what way and when and where should believers be serving and worshipping God? → ea04c.htm
Church eras – do they exist? Are there seven "eras of the Church", as some have claimed – "Sardis era", "Philadelphian era", "Laodicean era" and so on? Is there any biblical basis for that dogma? The question in a nutshell: The seven assemblies mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3 – were they contemporary assemblies of saints in the days of John (as the book of Revelation describes them), or are they, as some have claimed, successive "eras of the Church of God" that exist in later times and continue to our day? → ea03d.htm
What does the Bible say about authority? Who has biblical, spiritual or religious authority on the mundane, human level? Who can speak for God? Knowing the answers to those questions is a vital key to understanding the Bible in a better and deeper way. → es06d.htm
"Amateur bible students" versus "professional theologians". Some preachers have spitefully called people who actively study the Bible on their own, "amateur theologians". Indeed, many a clergyman seems to feel that a layman should not put his or her nose into theological studies but should rather leave those things to "experts". But, is that correct? This treatise sorts out that matter, and clarifies and explains in layman's terms the linguistic and historical background of the concepts "clergymen" and "laymen", and gives the definition and actual meaning of such words as "clergy", "laity", "scholar" and "scholarly". → es07c.htm
The Holy Spirit – an outline and a no-nonsense synopsis of the matter of the distribution of God's Spirit, in the past, today, and in the coming days of the future. Also: Whose baptism is valid? Churches and preachers baptise people, but they are not notably changed and no obvious signs or fruit of the Spirit are seen in their lives. Why is that? Is the Spirit of God at all given to humans, at this present time? → eb01c.htm
What does the Bible say about calling, election, sanctification and justification? → eb02c.htm
Predestination. The destiny of humans: Is it already fixed and decided, as some have claimed? Are all people, or some individuals, "predestined"? → eb03d.htm
The two witnesses of the book of Revelation. Also: Similarities between their work and that of Moses, Elijah, and John the Baptist. → et01e.htm
What does the Bible say about resurrection? How many resurrections do the Scriptures talk about? → eb09c.htm
The Great White Throne Judgment, a time when both living and dead will be judged. When will it take place, where, and who will judge? Also, there is more to take into consideration, because the Bible talks about more than one still future times of judgment. → et07e.htm
A study on the phrases "the snare of the Devil" and "the love of money is the root of all evil" (1 Timothy 3:7 and 6:9-10 and 2 Timothy 2:26). On Jesus' and Paul's teachings regarding how those who proclaimed the Gospel or Good Message could become spiritually unfruitful. → em08c.htm
Are modern-day believers a "royal priesthood", or "kings and priests", as some have claimed? How should one understand 1 Peter 2:4-9 and other related passages? → eo03d.htm
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