Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
And he (kai ekeinov). Emphatic demonstrative masculine pronoun.
When he is come (elqwn). Second aorist active participle of erxomai, "having come" or "coming."
Will convict the world (elegcei ton kosmon). Future active of elegxw, old word for confuting, convicting by proof already in John 3:29; John 8:46. Jesus had been doing this (John 7:7), but this is pre-eminently the work of the Holy Spirit and the most needed task today for our complacent age.
In respect of sin (peri amartiav). Concerning the reality of sin as missing the mark and as wronging God and man, and not a mere slip or animal instinct or devoid of moral responsibility or evil. Some scientists and psychologists (Freudians and behaviourists) seem bent on destroying man's sense of sin. Hence crime waves even in youth.
And of righteousness (kai peri dikaiosunhv). The opposite of "sin" and to be yearned for after conviction. Cf. Rom. 1:19-3:21 about the necessity of the God-kind of righteousness and the Sermon on the Mount for Christ's idea of righteousness.
And of judgment (kai peri krisewv). As certain to come as condemnation because of sin and the lack of righteousness. These are not played out motives in human life, but basal. For this ministry we have the help of the Paraclete. The Paraclete is here spoken of "not as man's advocate with God (1 John 2:1), but as Christ's advocate with the world" (Bernard).
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
John 3:20
John 7:33
John 8:28
John 8:46
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