PrevJohn 17:4Next

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 17:4 mean?

Explanation

John 17:4 is part of a larger section known as the High Priestly Prayer, which is generally considered to be Jesus' final prayer before His betrayal and crucifixion.

In this verse, Jesus speaks to the Father, affirming that He has completed the mission given to Him.

The verse reflects a deep sense of fulfillment and accomplishment in Jesus' earthly ministry.

The phrase "I have glorified thee on the earth" suggests that Jesus' actions, teachings, and very being have revealed the nature and glory of God to humankind.

By saying, "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do," Jesus declares the completion of the tasks assigned to Him by God, which can be understood as His teachings, miracles, establishment of discipleship, and, ultimately, the redemption achieved through His sacrifice.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of John is attributed to John the Apostle and is believed to have been composed between 90 and 100 AD.

The Gospel differs from the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) in style and content.

It emphasizes the divinity of Jesus and His pre-existence.

John 17 is part of Jesus' farewell discourse, which takes place after the Last Supper and before His arrest.

In this prayer, Jesus reflects on His earthly ministry and prepares for His impending death, which is significant in the broader narrative of the Gospel and Christian theology as the climax of His redemptive mission.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse has been interpreted in several ways:

Christological Aspect: It emphasizes the divinity of Jesus and His obedience to the Father, underlining the unity between Jesus and God.
Eschatological Aspect: The completion of Jesus' work points towards the finality of God's plan for salvation and the end times.
Soteriological Aspect: It touches upon the doctrine of salvation, indicating that Jesus' earthly mission was part of the divine plan to save humankind from sin.

Different denominations may place varying emphasis on these aspects, but generally, this verse is seen as a testament to Jesus’ fulfilling His divine calling.

Practical Applications

In everyday life, this verse can inspire believers to:

Reflect on their own life's purpose and consider how they can fulfill the work that they believe God has called them to do.
Understand the significance of obedience and dedication to one's mission or calling.
Embrace the concept of servanthood and self-sacrifice as exhibited by Jesus.

Cross-References

John 19:30: "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
John 4:34: "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."
John 14:13: "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

Language Study

The key terms in the original Greek are:

Glorified (ἐδόξασα, edoxasa): To honor, praise, or manifest the splendor of.

In the context of this verse, it implies manifesting the divine nature and attributes of God.

Finished (ἐτελείωσα, eteleiosa): To bring to an end, complete, or accomplish.

It denotes the bringing to completion of a task or purpose.

Work (ἔργον, ergon): This word signifies the deeds, actions, or tasks.

In this case, it refers to Jesus' ministry and mission.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The notion that a divine figure comes to earth to complete a mission can be found in various religions and myths. For example, in Hinduism, the concept of avatars - divine beings descending to earth to restore dharma (cosmic order) - shares similarities with the idea of a divine mission.

Scientific Perspectives

While this verse does not directly engage with scientific concepts, the notion of completing a mission might resonate with the scientific understanding of cause and effect and the completion of processes in the natural world.

Commentaries

Commentators from a wide range of theological backgrounds offer insights into this verse:

Matthew Henry's Commentary: He notes the glory Jesus brought to God on Earth and sees the completion of His work as a fulfillment of prophecies and promises.
John Gill's Exposition of the Bible: Gill interprets this verse as Jesus having done everything necessary for the salvation of His people, thereby bringing glory to God.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible: Barnes discusses the significance of Jesus' mission as being fully accomplished and that His works were means of displaying the character and attributes of God.

John 17

John 17

What does John 17:4 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 17:4 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?