John 15:5-11 Part 2 of a Series

ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος, ὑμεῖς τὰ κλήματα. ὁ μένων ἐν ἐμοὶ κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ οὗτος φέρει καρπὸν πολύν, ὅτι χωρὶς ἐμοῦ οὐ δύνασθε ποιεῖν οὐδέν. ἐὰν μή τις μένῃ ἐν ἐμοί, ἐβλήθη ἔξω ὡς τὸ κλῆμα καὶ ἐξηράνθη καὶ συνάγουσιν αὐτὰ καὶ εἰς τὸ πῦρ βάλλουσιν καὶ καίεται. ἐὰν μείνητε ἐν ἐμοὶ καὶ τὰ ῥήματά μου ἐν ὑμῖν μείνῃ, ὃ ἐὰν θέλητε αἰτήσασθε, καὶ γενήσεται ὑμῖν. ἐν τούτῳ ἐδοξάσθη ὁ πατήρ μου, ἵνα καρπὸν πολὺν φέρητε καὶ γένησθε ἐμοὶ μαθηταί. Καθὼς ἠγάπησέν με ὁ πατήρ, κἀγὼ ὑμᾶς ἠγάπησα· μείνατε ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ τῇ ἐμῇ. ἐὰν τὰς ἐντολάς μου τηρήσητε, μενεῖτε ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ μου, καθὼς ἐγὼ τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ πατρός μου τετήρηκα καὶ μένω αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ. Ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑμῖν ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ἡ ἐμὴ ἐν ὑμῖν ᾖ καὶ ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν πληρωθῇ.

John 15: 5-11

I am the vine, you are the branches.  The ones who remain in me and I in him, this one [he] produces much fruit, because apart from me, you are not able to do anything.  If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out like a branch and dries up.  And they gather and throw them [branches] into the fire, and he [anyone] is burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you wish and it will happen for you.  My Father is glorified in this that you may produce much fruit and may become my disciples.  As the Father loved me, I also loved you: Remain in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will remain in  my love, as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.  I have spoken these things to you so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

“And they gather and throw them [branches] into the fire, and he [anyone] is burned.”  

καίεται is a singular present middle/passive indicative 3rd person verb.  The two previous verbs for “gather” and “throw” are plural 3rd person verbs.  Most translations render καίεται as “they are burned”.  That makes more since to the english reader because the two previous verbs are in the plural.  The reality is that καίεται is a singular 3rd person verb.  Since this is a singular verb, then it’s subject must be singular.  What is it?  Anyone (that is not remaining in him)!  I think Jesus makes it very clear who is going to burn in this text.