John 16:33 in Context
John 16:33 read in its full chapter context. See the verses before and after, plus historical setting and flow of thought.
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
— John 16:33 (KJV)
Where This Verse Sits
John 16:33 appears in John chapter 16, verse 33. Jesus spoke these words at the Last Supper, hours before His arrest in Gethsemane, around AD 33. He knew His disciples would soon scatter in fear. 'Be of good cheer' (tharseo) is a command, not a suggestion—Jesus demands courage based on His completed victory over the world system opposed to God.
The Verse Itself
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
— John 16:33 (KJV)
Flow of the Passage
To grasp John 16:33 fully, read it inside the surrounding paragraph. The verses before set up the argument, and the verses after show its outworking. John 16 as a whole carries forward the theme of overcoming, and this single verse is one beat in that larger movement.
Jesus prepares His disciples for hardship by honestly saying tribulation is guaranteed. Yet He offers hope: His victory over the world gives believers peace in the midst of trials.
Cross-References
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