What are they clean from?

sermonindex Oct 6, 2006

2Every 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.

~~[b]~~3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.[/b]

4Abide 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.

Jesus said this to them pre-cross, pre Him breathing on them to recieve the Spirit and pre-pentecost.

Anyone have any thoughts on what they were "clean" of/from? Is He speaking of salvation or something else?

sermonindex Oct 6, 2006

Anyone?

I

InTheLight Oct 6, 2006

Here is the Thayer's definition of the Greek word translated 'clean' in verse 3...
G2513
καθαρός
katharos
Thayer Definition:
1) clean, pure
1a) physically
1a1) purified by fire
1a2) in a similitude, like a vine cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit
1b) in a levitical sense
1b1) clean, the use of which is not forbidden, imparts no uncleanness
1c) ethically
1c1) free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt
1c2) free from every admixture of what is false, sincere genuine
1c3) blameless, innocent
1c4) unstained with the guilt of anything
Note item 1A2 in Thayer's definition, I believe this may give the best meaning of the word when we consider the vine/branch context of this passage.

I believe that Jesus is saying that His teachings had a purifying effect that cleared the way for fruit to be borne, it removed any wrong ideas or understandings that would hinder their growth.

In Christ,

Ron

sermonindex Oct 7, 2006

Hi sscott

What are they clean from?

I would like to say 'everything'.

For me, the amazing thing about this verse is not that they are clean, or what they are clean from (especially since Jesus had washed their feet in John 13 two chapters earlier), but, ~~[i]~~~~[b]~~How[/i] is it that His word made them / makes us 'clean'?[/b]

I'm not trying to hijack your thread with a new question; rather, I wonder if you've ever pondered it and if so, what answers you found, as I believe they will help to answer your own immediate question.