Objective vs subjective

[poetofparables]

You didn't ask me but I'll share my thoughts:

First, the NIV is not the most accurate translation for that verse in that the articles and pronouns describing The One that will do greater works are clearly singular in the original Greek, yet translated plural for some odd reason, by the NIV.

John 14:12 Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in me, the works that I am doing he will do also, and he will do greater works than these because I am going to the Father. ​

Obviuosly Jesus doesn't mean the disciples (Thomas/Phillip) were (at that moment) believing in Him (as God) as He just got through kind-of scolding them for their unbelief in Him. Plus, He would have said to them that "you" will do greater works, not "The One" or he if that's what He meant.

I believe The One Jesus meant who was destined to do even greater works (Godly signs/miracles) was/is none other than the Holy Spirit (God). Just read the rest of the discussion where the Holy Spirit is promised to them later (Jesus hadn't returned to The Father just yet leaving The Holy Spirit with us).

And it is my belief that the Holy Spirit has done just that. Bringing billions of believers into believing in Him as God and thus healing them (in an Eternal sense).

Way greater works, indeed has He done than heal a few.

K.

 

[poetofparables]

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret?" (1 Corinthians 12:27-29 NIV)

The answer to the rhetorical question being 'no', of course. Those who have the gift of working miracles are the ones who work miracles.

And it has been suggested that raising somebody up to eternal life, after the resurrection, is the greater work that Jesus was talking about. The work that the church would later do.

Yeah ok Im with you some of the way there, with the greater works part.

 

[OzSpen]

I'll post this source, from the bible.

John 14:11-13New International Version (NIV)
11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Go ahead and tell me what you think that verse means and if Jesus is or is not pointing out that those who believe in him they can do the things he has been doing. He also states that those who believe in him can do greater things, maybe it means something else I'm open for a different point of view.

I agree with chessman above that the NIV is not the best translation as it violates one of the fundamentals of English grammar for this Aussie. Let's take a read of 3 versions of John 14:12:

• 'Very truly I tell you, whoever believes [singular in Greek] in me will do the works I have been doing, and they [singular in Greek] will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father' (John 14:12 NIV).

This is a trend that I see happening in the USA where a singular (whoever) subject is referred to in the following clause by the plural (they). So the NIV is possibly following this new grammatical trend.
http://biblehub.com/nlt/john/14.htm

• "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father (John 14:12 NLT).

This gets over the NIV dilemma by using 'anyone' (singular) and inferring the singular by 'and even'.

• “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes (singular) in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do (singular), because I am going to the Father (John 14:12 ESV).

The ESV gets over the dilemma with the 2 singulars, but the second one 'will he do' is not accurate from the Greek. It should be, 'will he/she/it do'. Since it is referring to a person ('whoever believes', the ESV should have translated as 'will he or she do'. But most Bible translators seem to think that that is too clumsy to translate like that throughout the Bible so they choose the masculine, 'he'. The NRSV gets over this awkwardness this way:

• "Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12 NRSV).

So the singular is assumed with 'will do greater' as meaning 'the one [he or she] will do greater'.

As for its meaning, I find the plain meaning of the text is pretty straight forward. Christian believers will do the kind of works Jesus did when on earth and even greater than these (assuming greater in quantity because there are more of them available to do the works) when the Holy Spirit comes to them. I do not consider that this should be interpreted metaphorically. It includes the sign miracles and other works that he did while on earth. But that kind of understanding does not make all Christians happy.

Oz