After the Last Supper, the apostles say that the trust that Jesus came from God and now speaks plainly.
John 16:31 Do you now believe?
John 16:31 Do you now believe?
Just now, you trust? or "Right now, you trust..."
We trust, but only now and then.
The word transalted as "believe" means "trust" especially trusting words, which is the specific context here. While this is translated as a question, it could be a simple statement or even a command. The emphasis is on the first word, which doesn't means "now," but "just now" or "right now." I like hearing it as a humorous, ironic question. The first is more light-hearted. "Just now, you trust?" This teases them for not trusting him before. But given what follows, this is more light a statement that is a little sad, "right now, you trust" with the sense that they will lose that trust soon.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "now" is not the common word usually translated as "now."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "believe" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "now" is not the common word usually translated as "now."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "believe" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
Do -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
now -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "now" means "just" or "exactly and "now" in the sense of "just now" when applied to time. It is not the common adverb usually translated as "now" but one that means "just now" or "as yet" implying a change in the future. In English, we say "right now."
believe? -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "believe" does not apply to religious belief as much but trusting or relying upon other people, especially their words. Jesus usually uses it in contexts, such as the one here, that apply to trusting words, which is what the apostles say to him, that they understand his words.
Do -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
now -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "now" means "just" or "exactly and "now" in the sense of "just now" when applied to time. It is not the common adverb usually translated as "now" but one that means "just now" or "as yet" implying a change in the future. In English, we say "right now."
believe? -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "believe" does not apply to religious belief as much but trusting or relying upon other people, especially their words. Jesus usually uses it in contexts, such as the one here, that apply to trusting words, which is what the apostles say to him, that they understand his words.
Ἄρτι [13 verses](adv) "Now" is arti, which means "just," "exactly," and "just now."
πιστεύετε; [69 verses](verb 2nd pl pres ind act) "Do you...believe" is pisteuo, which means "to trust, put faith in, or rely on a person," "to believe in someone's words," "to comply," "to feel confident in a thing," and "to entrust in a thing."
The word translated as "now" means "just now" and teases the idea that they didn't trust before and might not in the future.