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From the mutual love characteristic of Christian society at every level, Jesus turned to a warning about the hate the disciples could expect from the world. The hatred and persecution would be gratuitous and undeserved, but it could at least be explained. And Jesus did explain it, after reminding them that the world had hated him first of all (15:18). Basically, the world would hate the disciples because it was the world and was therefore at enmity with God.
Jesus then explained the issue. The world would hate the disciples because the disciples were no longer part of the world (v.19; 17:14). And it would hate them on account of Jesus, who was already the target of their ill will (vv.20-21; cf. 13:16). But as the hatred of the disciples was really hatred of Jesus, so the reaction to Jesus was really a reaction to God, of whom the world was ignorant (vv.21-25). Its ignorance, which might have been innocent except for the teaching and miracles of Jesus, was inexcusably culpable (cf. 9:39-41) and its hatred groundless (Ps 35:19; 69:4).
This state of affairs would not go unaddressed. The world’s hatred depended on a misapprehension of the person and work of Jesus, but correctives would be forthcoming both from the disciples and from the Counselor sent by God. The disciples could testify to the truth about Jesus because of their long association with him during his ministry (v.27). The Counselor’s qualifications to testify about him (v.26; cf. 14:16-17, 25-26; 16:5-15) are of sterling quality. He is the Spirit of truth sent by Jesus from the Father, who is the ultimate source of all truth; he was acknowledged by John the Baptist as the guarantor of the trustworthiness of Jesus' own teaching (cf. 3:33-36).
The world’s hostility would be intense. Its murderous deeds would even be done in the name of God. But Jesus endeavored to strengthen the disciples and prevent potential apostasy by forewarning them and by explaining the reason for the treatment they would receive (16:1-4). On 16:2 cf. 9:22, 34.