Journal: Journal of Dispensational Theology
Volume: JODT 15:44 (Apr 2011)
Article: The Inevitability Of Fruitbearing: An Exegesis Of John 15:6 – Part I
Author: John A. Tucker

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JODT 15:44 (April 2011) p. 51

The Inevitability Of Fruitbearing: An Exegesis Of John 15:6 – Part I

John A. Tucker

John A. Tucker, M.S., D.Min., associate pastor, Fort Christmas Baptist Church, Christmas, Florida; and, Th.D. candidate, Tyndale Theological Seminary, Hurst, Texas

Prior to any attempt to adequately ascertain the proper meaning of John 15:6, one must first address the issues involving the immediate context of the preceding verses. The issues of this single verse cannot be appropriately reconciled if this verse is interpreted in isolation, nor will this verse be reconciled biblically if one is burdened with their own presuppositional bias. One must, therefore, allow the context of the situation being addressed, first and foremost, speak for itself. Only then, should one allow the entrance of other pertinent passages to clarify, and perhaps amplify, what was said therein. Each verse of this context will be addressed individually.

Introduction To The Controversy

Charles R. Smith indicated that John 15:1-8 has been a site of significant conflict in the historical battlegrounds of doctrinal interpretation. He also noted, “Perhaps only the passage in Hebrews 6 has been the scene of more battles between Calvinistic and Arminian schools of interpretation concerning the matter of eternal security.”1 However, not only has this passage provided much discordant discussion between these two schools of theology, it has also afforded a point of disagreement within Calvinism itself. It is the identification of the unfruitful branch in 15:2 and the non-abider in 15:6, in addition to their fates, that provides the crux for understanding the intent of the passage.

Arminians have generally taught that the unfruitful branches are true believers who have fallen into a state of unfruitfulness and therefore lose their justification before the Father. They believe that such believers now become unbelievers bound for hellfire. Calvinists generally describe the group of unfruitful branches as either: (1) true believers who have fallen into a state of unfruitfulness and are, as a result, sovereignly subject to some form of divine discipline not to include the loss of their salvation—it being eternal; or,

JODT 15:44 (April 2011) p. 52

(2) false believers who profess to know Christ, but their lives belie their actual profession of faith. The fate of such false believers is eternal damnation. The interpretative possibilities will be discussed further as the individual verses are addressed progressively in this article.

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