R.A. Torrey addresses the animosity the world holds towards Jesus and His disciples, emphasizing that this hatred is a consistent theme throughout history. He explains that believers are separated from the world by their faith in Christ, which often leads to persecution, yet they can find comfort in the presence of the Holy Spirit, who serves as their advocate and guide. Torrey reassures that the world's rejection of believers is a reflection of its rejection of Christ, and encourages disciples to embrace their suffering as a testament to their faith. He highlights the importance of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers to witness for Christ amidst adversity. Ultimately, Torrey calls for a recognition of the privilege of suffering for Jesus' name and the assurance of the Holy Spirit's support.

DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS 1. The World’s Hatred for Jesus and His Disciples, vv. 18–27 Of what had Jesus been speaking in the verses immediately preceding? (vv. 12–17.) Of what does He now begin to speak (v. 18)? What does He say will be the attitude of the world toward those that believe on Him (v. 18)? Is this the attitude of the world in all ages toward those who believe on Jesus? What abundant consolation may we take to our hearts in face of the world’s hate (v. 18)? Why does the world hate the believer (v. 19)? Who separates the believer from the world (v. 19)? Does it pay to be thus separated? How did the world show its hatred of believers in the early days of the Church? In what ways does the world today show its hatred of disciples of Jesus? Does the real attitude of the world toward believers ever change? Is there any way to have the world love us (v. 19)? Is the world’s love worth the price? Why ought the believer never to complain at the persecution he receives (v. 20)? When the believer in Christ grumbles at the persecution that comes to him, what is he making himself (v. 20)? Ought we to have any desire to be greater than our Lord? If the world does not receive our teaching, with what thought may we comfort ourselves (v. 20)? Since the world persecuted Jesus, of what may we be perfectly sure? (Compare 2 Tim. 3:12.) For whose sake do all these persecutions come upon us (v. 21)? Is there any comfort in that? Why does the world persecute us for Christ’s name’s sake (v. 21)? Does the world think that it knows God? Does it know God? What took away all the world’s excuse for its ignorance of God and for its sin (vv. 22, 24)? Has the world any excuse today for its ignorance of God and for its sin? What did Jesus’ words and works prove? In the light of Jesus’ words and works, when anyone rejects Him what does that rejection reveal (vv. 22–24)? Can anyone who rejects Jesus love the Father? If one hates the Son, whom does it prove that He also hates (v. 23)? What cause has the world for its hatred of Jesus (v. 25)? What cause has it to love Jesus? Who had anticipated the world’s inexcusable hatred of the Messiah? (v. 25; compare Ps. 69:4; 7:4; 35:19; 109:3.) What does Jesus set over against the hatred of the world (v. 26)? What two names are given to the Holy Spirit in v. 26? What is the literal meaning of the word translated “Comforter”? (See R. V., margin.) What thought does it give us about the Holy Spirit? How does He help? (John 16:13; 14:26; Ro. 8:29; Acts 8:26; 11:11, 12; 16:6, 7; Matt. 10:18–20; Acts 4:8; 6:10.) Why is the Holy Spirit called “the Spirit of Truth”? From whom does the Holy Spirit come (v. 26)? Who sends Him from the Father? (Compare c. 14:16; Acts 2:33.) How does it appear in v. 26 that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three entirely distinct persons? What would be the work of this Spirit whom Jesus promises to send? How does the Spirit bear witness to Jesus? (2 Peter 1:21; 1 Cor. 12:3; John 16:14; Matt. 16:17.) Can anyone truly know Jesus without the direct personal testimony of the Holy Spirit to him? What is the force of the “but” with which v. 26 begins? (Compare vv. 24, 25.) Though the world is against Christ today what mighty witness for Him have we on our side? What would be the result in their own lives of the Holy Spirit bearing witness for Christ (v. 27)? What is it necessary that we have if we are to bear efficient witness for Christ? (Luke 24:48, 49; Acts 1:8; 4:31, 33.) What qualification did the disciples possess for bearing reliable testimony regarding Christ (v. 27)? 2. The World’s Persecution of the Disciples of Jesus, 1–6 What was Jesus’ purpose in telling the disciples beforehand how they would be hated and persecuted? What ought to keep us from stumbling (v. 1, R. V.) in face of the persecutions that we shall meet? (2 Tim. 3:12.) To what extent did Jesus say they would carry their hatred of His disciples (v. 2)? Did this prove true historically? Will the time ever come again when Christians will be persecuted to this extent? Need we have any fears on that account? How ought we to regard suffering for and with Jesus? (Compare Matt. 5:10–12.) What did Jesus say lay at the root of all this hatred and persecution of believers (v. 3)? What did Jesus say was His purpose in telling these things to His disciples (v. 4)? When persecutions come upon us, of what may we see a proof in them? Why had Jesus not told these things to His disciples at the beginning? To Whom was Jesus now going? What question had the disciples failed to ask Him (v. 5)? Why had they not asked Him this question (v. 6)? Ought the disciples to have had only sorrow over the departure of Jesus? (v. 7; c. 14:28.) CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS 1. God the Father Hated by the world, 23, 24; not known to the world, 21, 3; the Holy Spirit proceeds from Him, 26. 2. Jesus Christ (1). His nature: Divine, 23, 24, 26, 3; human, 20, 24, 5. (2). His subordination to the Father, 21, 5. (3). His work: Chooses His disciples out of the world, 19; does such works as none other ever did, 24; sends the Holy Spirit from the Father, 26. (4). How treated: Not understood by the world, 3; hated by the world, 18, 23, 24, 25; hated without a cause, 25; persecuted by the world, 19; witnessed to by the Holy Spirit, 26; by His disciples, 27. 3. The Holy Spirit (1). His personality, 26. (2). His names: The Paraclete (One called to stand by our side, an ever-present Friend and Helper), 26; the Spirit of truth, 26. (3). The Spirit of the Father: Spirit proceeds from the Father, 26. (4). The Spirit and Jesus Christ: Spirit is sent by Jesus, 26; testifies of Jesus, 26. (5). The Spirit and the believer: Spirit does for the believer what Jesus did while on earth, 26; compare c. 14:16; 16:7; abides with the believer as an ever-present Friend, 26; compare 14:16, 17; bears witness concerning Jesus to the believer, 26; fits the believer to bear witness to Jesus, 26, 27. (6). His offices: An ever-present Helper, 26; teacher, 26; compare 14:26; 16:13; witness, 26; revealer of the truth, 26. 4. The Disciples of Christ Not of the world, 19; chosen by Jesus Himself out of the world, 19; therefore hated by the world, 18, 19, 1–3; persecuted by the world, 20, 1–3; have fellowship with Jesus in the world’s hatred and persecution, 18; have the privilege of suffering for Jesus’ name’s sake, 21; have an everpresent Comforter and Helper, 26. Their work: To witness for Jesus, 27; forewarned and forearmed, 1–4. 5. The World Knows not Jesus Christ, 3; knows not the Father, 21, 3; hates Jesus Christ, 18, 23, 24, 25; hates Christ absolutely without a cause, 25; has no excuse for its rejection of Christ, 24; no excuse for its sin, 22.