In John 15:2, Christ describes the Father's action of taking away unproductive branches using the verb *airo* (G142), which means to take up, to bear, or to remove. This action contrasts with the pruning of productive branches, and in John 15:6, Christ elaborates that if anyone does not abide in Him, he is cast out as a branch, withered, gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. This removal through *airo* results in destruction, not cleansing. Additionally, in Revelation 3:15-16, Christ uses a stronger expression than *airo* to warn against being lukewarm, indicating His intent to spit out or reject those who are neither hot nor cold, emphasizing a violent separation from Himself. The unproductive branches, removed through the action implied by *airo*, suffer loss and annihilation, experiencing no cleansing.

In the illustration of the vine and branches, Jesus explains how God, the Vinedresser, works with us to produce fruit. Regarding the branches that bear no fruit, the Greek verb *airo* (G142), translated as "takes away" in John 15:2, does not mean to cut off. Instead, in Greek literature, *airo* means to lift from the ground, to lift so as to carry, or to carry off. A more accurate rendering in the context of vinedressing is "lifts up" or "raises." This lifting up by the Vinedresser parallels the discipline a parent gives a child, as seen in Hebrews 12:5-6. God, as our heavenly Father, intervenes with rebuke, chastening, and scourging to reposition us for fruitfulness. These actions are designed to spur repentance and return us to a state of producing fruit, reflecting godly discipline rather than removal. In contrast, pruning, which involves cutting, is applied to fruitful branches to increase their yield, distinguishing it from the lifting up of barren branches.

The Greek verb *airo* (G142), as used by the apostle John, carries multiple meanings such as to take up, to bear, and to remove. In the context of a grapevine being lifted out of the mud, it does not imply excision or removal. However, a graver connotation is revealed in Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, where *airo* can mean to take from among the living, either by natural death or by violence, highlighting the severe consequences of unproductivity or spiritual failure in the life of a believer.

The Greek verb airo (G142), commonly translated as "take up," "take away," or "take" in the King James Version, carries a strong connotation of removal or lifting. It appears in various contexts in Scripture, demonstrating its powerful meaning. In Matthew 4:6, during the temptation of Christ, satan uses airo as "take up" while quoting Psalm 91:11-12. In Luke 23:18, the verb appears in a forceful context where the people shout, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas," emphasizing removal. Additionally, airo is used in Matthew 27:32 and Colossians 2:14, where it signifies Christ taking away the certificate of indebtedness by nailing it to the cross. Specifically, in John 1:29 and I John 3:5, airo is rendered as "take away" to indicate that Christ actively removes sins. These passages underscore that we are powerless to unfasten the heavy chain of sin burdening us; we cannot lift it or place it on Christ's shoulders. Instead, while we were yet sinners, Christ lifted this burden from us, taking it upon Himself in an active display of His love. This action is entirely His initiative, not ours, highlighting His role in the removal of sin.