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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - John 17:11 - 17:11
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
And these (kai houtoi or autoi, they). Note adversative use of kai (= but these).
I come (erehomai). Futuristic present, “I am coming.” Cf. Joh 13:3; Joh 14:12; Joh 17:13. Christ will no longer be visibly present to the world, but he will be with the believers through the Holy Spirit (Mat 28:20).
Holy Father (pater hagie). Only here in the N.T., but see 1Jo 2:20; Luk 1:49 for the holiness of God, a thoroughly Jewish conception. See Joh 6:69 where Peter calls Jesus ho hagios tou theou. For the word applied to saints see Act 9:13. See Joh 17:25 for patēr dikaie (Righteous Father).
Keep them (tērēson autous). First aorist (constative) active imperative of tēreō, as now specially needing the Father’s care with Jesus gone (urgency of the aorist tense in prayer).
Which (hōi). Locative case of the neuter relative singular, attracted from the accusative ho to the case of the antecedent onomati (name).
That they may be one (hina ōsin hen). Purpose clause with hina and the present active subjunctive of eimi (that they may keep on being). Oneness of will and spirit (hen, neuter singular), not one person (heis, masculine singular) for which Christ does not pray. Each time Jesus uses hen (Joh 17:11, Joh 17:21, Joh 17:22) and once, eis hen, “into one” (Joh 17:23). This is Christ’s prayer for all believers, for unity, not for organic union of which we hear so much. The disciples had union, but lacked unity or oneness of spirit as was shown this very evening at the supper (Luk 22:24; Joh 13:4-15). Jesus offers the unity in the Trinity (three persons, but one God) as the model for believers. The witness of the disciples will fail without harmony (Joh 17:21).