Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 2/17/2011

Question
what does this mean, I just cant figure it out. John 16:11 "and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned"

Answer
Dear Pete,

This verse is part of a section which deals with the work of the coming Holy Spirit—The Comforter. Jesus had just revealed to His disciples that He was going to have to leave the world. He’s looking forward to the time, after His death and resurrection, when He would ascend back up to the Father. And explaining to them that He would be with them through His intermediary, the Holy Spirit, He reveals some of the work which the Holy Spirit would do. Here’s the section we’re talking about.

John 16:6 (KJV)  But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
John 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
John 16:8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
John 16:9  Of sin, because they believe not on me;
John 16:10  Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
John 16:11  Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

I imagine you’re wondering, “Who is the prince of this world?”

In a word: Satan. But let me show you why I say this. Notice in the two following texts how Jesus refers to this being:

John 12:31  Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

The judgment of this world involves the casting out of the prince of this world. So this being is not good. He is evil—the devil.

John 14:30  Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

Once before Jesus told the Scribes and Pharisees:

John 8:46  Which of you convinceth me of sin? ...

I’m sure that, if Jesus had committed a sin, this group would have jumped at the chance to reveal it. But they couldn’t, because Jesus had never sinned. Now in John 14:30, Jesus points out that not even the devil could point out any sin in Jesus. If Jesus had sinned, you better believe that the devil would have been proud to tell everyone about it—especially God. But Jesus hadn’t sinned, so the “prince of this world . . . hath nothing in me.”

So, finally, exactly who is this being? He is the exact opposite of the Holy Spirit.

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

The Holy Spirit leads people to Jesus and makes them holy.

The prince of the world is the prince of the power of the air, “the spirit” that leads people into disobedience to God and makes them unholy. Satan’s prime motive is to hurt God by destroying His created children. He knows that his destiny is destruction in the lake of fire (Rev. 20), and he wants to drag as many people into the fire with him as he can.

If you have any questions, keep reading your Bible. Reading the Bible is so important to the Christian. It would be very difficult to maintain a saving relationship with God without it. And learning about God and His requirements for us would be nearly impossible without some connection with God’s Holy Word.

Actually, if we watch for Him, we’ll find Jesus Christ in almost every passage of the Old and New Testaments. Sometimes He’s known as the Creator (cf. John 1:1-4, 10, 14); sometimes He’s known as “the Angel of the LORD” (Ex. 3:1-14; cf. John 8:56-58); sometimes He’s known as the “servant” (Isa. 52:13-53:12); and sometimes as the Messiah. Often He’s behind the scenes, working through those who live according to His will.

If you have difficulty understanding the Bible, there are many aids available to help you do this, (see list below). But above all, read your Bible for yourself, and pray that God will help you understand it.

Feel free to go to Bibleinfo.com any time you have other Bible questions. It’s one of the best sites for getting your Bible questions answered. There are over 300 answers to Bible questions, and if you can’t find your answer there, you can, like with Allexperts.com, ask your own question and a volunteer Bible expert will answer it for you.

Stay close to Jesus.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
PettyPress@gmail.com
www.PettyPress.com (20 Books; 42 Bible Study Guides; more)

Sources of Bible study aids and answers for your questions:
Mail order Bible lessons: Amazing Facts Bible Lessons, PO Box 1058, Roseville, CA 95678
Telephone questions answered: 3ABN 1-800-752-3226 (pastoral dept., ext. 1)
On-line: Bibleinfo.com; Itiswritten.com (Bible studies/Discover Bible Guides)
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