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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 17:26 mean?

Explanation

John 17:26 is the closing verse of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer which he offers up before his betrayal and crucifixion.

This prayer is part of Jesus’ farewell discourse given to his disciples as found in the Gospel of John, chapters 14-17.

In this specific verse, Jesus speaks to the Father about having revealed the Father's name – which implies the character, nature, and essence of God – to his followers.

Jesus also expresses his desire to continue making God known so that the divine love shared between the Father and the Son can dwell in the believers and, through this love, Jesus himself may be present within them.

This articulates themes of intimacy, unity, and the indwelling of God's presence among believers.

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Historical Context

John 17:26 sits within the context of the Last Supper narrative in the Gospel of John.

Unlike the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke), John does not focus on the institution of the Eucharist but instead presents extended teachings and prayers of Jesus.

The historical context is Jesus' impending departure through his crucifixion and the Passover feast, a time when Jews commemorated their deliverance from slavery in Egypt.

Early Christians would have understood this prayer as a source of comfort and hope, and a confirmation of Jesus' mission and authority, given its pre-crucifixion setting.

Theological Insights

This verse encompasses several key theological concepts.

The "name" of God refers to more than just a title; it represents the understanding and knowledge of God's character and nature.

Jesus, as the Word of God (John 1:1), reveals God to humanity.

The reference to love suggests the innate relationship within the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), as well as the possibility for believers to participate in that divine love.

This also ties into the concept of theosis or divinization in Eastern Orthodox theology, the process by which believers become more like God in nature through sanctification.

Moreover, with the phrase "I in them," there is an allusion to the indwelling presence of Christ in believers, a foundational principle for the theology of the Holy Spirit's work in sanctification.

Practical Applications

The teachings of John 17:26 call believers to a deeper relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

This implies a life committed to knowing God more intimately and reflects a call to embody the love of God in one's actions and relationships. Just as Jesus declared God's name to his followers, Christians are to make God known to others, being witnesses of His love and grace in the world.

Additionally, recognizing the indwelling of Jesus brings comfort in times of distress and motivates ethical living, as one's body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Cross-References

John 14:23 – "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."
John 15:9 – "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love."
1 John 4:12 – "No man hath seen God at any time.

If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."

Ephesians 3:17-19 – "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."

Language Study

Declared: The Greek word used here is "gnorizō," meaning to make known, declare, disclose, or reveal.
Name: In biblical Greek, "onoma" refers not just to a name as a label, but to the reputation, fame, and glory associated with a name.

It embodies the person's character and essence.

Love: The Greek "agape" refers to a selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love, which is the highest form of love in Scripture.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of divine names holding power is common in many ancient cultures and religious traditions.

For example, in ancient Egypt, knowing the true name of a deity or individual was believed to grant power over them.

In Judaism, the name of God (YHWH) was considered so sacred that it was not spoken, reflecting the profound reverence for the divine.

In Christianity, Jesus is presented as the definitive revelation of God's character, distinguishing the Christian understanding of the personal and relational nature of God from other religious perspectives.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, discussions on love, as presented in this verse, intersect with studies on human psychology and behavior.

While science cannot confirm the metaphysical claims surrounding the indwelling presence of Jesus, studies can attest to the psychological and societal benefits of having love, community, and purpose through one's faith.

Numerous studies have shown that faith and a sense of spiritual connectedness can contribute positively to mental and physical health.

Commentaries

Most biblical commentaries agree on the high Christological theme of this verse, focusing on Jesus' role in revealing the Father and the mutual indwelling of divine love.

For instance, the Matthew Henry Commentary interprets Jesus' prayer as a deep desire for his followers to have a true understanding of God, to be unified in divine love, and be assured of Christ's presence within them.

The Pulpit Commentary elaborates on the continued revelation of God as an ongoing process in the lives of believers.

It also touches upon the idea that eternal life is, fundamentally, to know God and Jesus Christ, which is echoed from earlier in John 17:3.

John 17

John 17

What does John 17:26 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 17:26 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?