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John 17

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

What does John 17:10 mean?

Explanation

John 17:10 is a part of what is traditionally known as the "High Priestly Prayer" that Jesus Christ offered shortly before his crucifixion.

In this particular verse, Jesus speaks to the Father, affirming the unity between Himself, the Father, and their disciples.

When He says, "And all mine are thine, and thine are mine," Jesus is expressing that everything He has, including his disciples, comes from the Father, and everything belonging to the Father is shared with Him.

This statement illustrates a profound mutual possession and unity within the Godhead and includes the believers (disciples) in this intimate relationship.

The second part of the verse, "and I am glorified in them," indicates that Jesus' glory is reflected and manifested in his followers. This could mean that their faith, love, and obedience to Christ's teachings bring honor to Him and, by extension, to the Father.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of John was written in a complex historical setting where the early Christian community was understanding its identity in contrast to Judaism and the larger Greco-Roman world.

This prayer, delivered by Jesus after the Last Supper and before His arrest, is part of Jesus' farewell discourse covering John chapters 14 to 17.

It presents themes of love, unity, and the glorification of Jesus through His death and resurrection.

It may have served to encourage and affirm the faith of the early Christians, who might have been grappling with the implications of Jesus' departure from the world and facing persecution.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse touches on various concepts:

Divine Unity: It highlights the unity and distinctiveness within the Trinity, the Christian belief of one God in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Divine Ownership: It speaks to the idea that all created things, including the disciples, belong to God.
Glorification: The verse suggests that the followers of Jesus participate in His glory through their relationship with Him, which has implications for their sanctification and communion with God.
Mutual Indwelling: Some theologians might interpret this statement as referring to the perichoresis, the interpenetration of the divine and human where Jesus' followers are included in the life of the Trinity.

Different Christian traditions may emphasize various aspects of this verse in accordance with their doctrinal stances.

Practical Applications

This verse can be seen as encouragement for believers to recognize their value in God's eyes, understanding that they are possessed by, and united in, God through Jesus Christ.

It can also inspire a sense of responsibility to live in a way that glorifies God, knowing that their actions can either honor or dishonor Him.

This may lead Christians to pursue lives of holiness, unity, and love, reflecting Christ in their daily interactions.

Cross-References

John 10:30 - "I and my Father are one."
John 14:20 - "At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you."
1 Corinthians 3:23 - "And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's."
John 15:8 - "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."
John 17:21 - "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek language of this verse include:

"mine" (Greek: "ἐμὰ", transliterated: "ema"): that which belongs to me.
"thine" (Greek: "σὰ", transliterated: "sa"): that which belongs to you.
"glorified" (Greek: "ἐδοξάσθην", transliterated: "edoxasthēn"): to honor, to magnify, or to show the splendor.

Analyzing the original language conveys the depth of the mutual possession and glorification, denoting a sense of shared honor and ownership between the Father and the Son.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In diverse cultures and religions, the concept of a deity sharing in the lives of its followers can be found.

In Hinduism, for example, the Bhagavad Gita proposes the idea of God dwelling in the heart of every living being.
Ancient Egyptian religion spoke of Pharaohs being divine or semi-divine, acting as mediators between gods and people.

While these concepts are not identical to the Christian theological view of the unity of believers with God, they reflect a human interest in divine-human connectedness.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse, dealing with metaphysical claims about divine relationships and glorification, does not intersect directly with scientific inquiry which is based on empirical observation and measurement.

However, the idea that beliefs and community affiliations have psychological and social benefits is a topic of study in psychology and sociology.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of this verse:

Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the mutual love and interest that the Father and Son have in believers, highlighting the concept of believers being God’s gift to Christ.
The New Bible Commentary points to the deeper spiritual union between believers and the divine, explaining the verse as an indication of Christ’s work being accomplished in and through his followers.
Theological scholars like Karl Barth have discussed the implications of this verse for understanding the Church's role in participating in the life of God through Jesus Christ.

These commentaries reflect the enduring theological and spiritual significance ascribed to this verse across different Christian thought traditions.

John 17

John 17

What does John 17:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 17:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?