In reading the Gospel of John, at times there appears to be some difficulties with the arrangement of material.

For instance, 14: !" 1 poses one such difficult#. $ere it appears that Jesus has completed his upper room discourse. $e implies that his arrest is at hand b# sa#ing, I will not tal% much with #ou, for the prince of this world cometh. &hen he sa#s, 'rise, let us go hence. (ut Jesus does ha)e much more to tal% to them about*+, )erses*before the coming of Judas -up to 1+:1.. /hould 14: 1 be followed b# 1+:10 $ow do #ou e1plain this difficult#0

The English translation of this passage makes an accurate understanding of Jesus words difficult, as is expressed by the question. The passage reads, will not speak with you much longer.! "dmittedly, this seems to imply the intended bre#ity of Jesus following discourse. f, howe#er, the order of the English translation is not ideal, the original text may impart an entirely different meaning. $or instance, if the original wording is closer to $rom this point, will not often speak with you at length,! the passage contains no difficulty at all. Jesus following dialogue then fits neatly within the confines of the intended meaning. The %reek words which translate as not,! much,! and longer! are actually out of order in most of our English translations. The word for much! is polys.! The word ouketi! is translated as not! and longer.! The actual usage of this phrase is polys ouketi,! literally, much not longer.! The passage, though less readable, would more accurately translate as will speak with you much not longer.! &erhaps Jesus is not implying that 'e is ceasing to speak at length, rather, that 'e will not speak at length much longer.

(. Edward ). %oodrick and John *ohlenberger Concordance +%rand ,apids- .onder#an, (///0

, The Strongest NIV Exhaustive