Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - John 17:20 - 17:24
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_17:20-24
20"I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. 24Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world."
Joh_17:20 "but for those also who believe in Me" This is a present tense functioning as a future tense. This refers to all subsequent believers and in Joh_10:16, even to Gentiles. See Special Topic at Joh_2:23.
▣ "through their word" This is the term logos. Because of its use in Joh_17:14 and its synonym rhçma in Joh_17:8, this must refer to the disciples' passing on the revelatory message of Jesus.
Joh_17:21 "that they may all be one" This unity is nothing else than the unity of the Trinity (cf. Joh_17:11; Joh_17:22-23; Eph_4:1-6). This is one aspect of Jesus' teaching that His followers have not followed.
▣ "so that the world may believe that You sent Me" This is a present active subjunctive. The purpose of unity is evangelism. Joh_17:23 is almost the exact same structure and emphasis!
There is a tension in Jesus' prayer. He does not pray for the world (cf. Joh_17:9), yet He sends His followers into the world with His message which will cause their persecution because God loves the world (cf. Joh_17:21; Joh_17:23; Joh_3:16). God wants the whole world to believe (cf. 1Ti_2:4; Tit_2:11; 2Pe_3:9). God loves all those made in His image and likeness. Jesus died for the sins of the entire world. See Special Topic: Send (Apostellô) at Joh_5:24.
Joh_17:22 "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them" These are both perfect active indicatives. Glory must refer to the revelatory message. They will bear His word to the world as Jesus bore the Father's word. This will result in them bearing His reproach also! A. T. Robertson in his Word Pictures in the New Testament, Vol. V, says "It is the glory of the Incarnate Word (cf. Joh_1:14; Joh_2:11) not the glory of the Eternal Word mentioned in Joh_17:24" (p. 280). See full note on "glory" at Joh_1:14.
Joh_17:23 "that they may be perfected in unity" This is hina clause with a periphrastic perfect passive, like Joh_17:19. In Joh_17:19, there is an element of contingency based on (1) Christ's upcoming work or (2) their continuing faith. The implication is that they have already been united by the agency of Jesus and that it will remain! The purpose of unity is evangelism.
▣ "and loved them, even as You have loved Me" This is a promise (cf. Joh_16:27; Joh_14:21; Joh_14:23), but it has a condition. God deals with humans by means of covenants ("if. . .then").
Love (agapeô) occurs eight times in John 1-12, but 31 times in John 13-17. The upper room dialogues emphasized the revealed character of God the Father through the words and actions of the Son and soon after, the resurrection, and especially Pentecost, through the disciples. God is love (cf. 1Jn_4:7-21).
Joh_17:24 "be with Me where I am" Jesus is returning to glory to prepare a place for His followers (cf. Joh_14:1-3). This world is not our home as it was not His either! It is His creation (Genesis 1-2) and it will be restored (Revelation 21-22).
▣ "so that they may see My glory which You have given Me" Obviously the term "glory" in this verse cannot mean what it does in Joh_17:22. Here it seems to include the majesty of Jesus' pre-existent deity.
▣ "before the foundation of the world" The Triune God was active in redemption even before creation. This phrase is used several times in the NT (cf. Mat_25:34; Luk_11:50; Eph_1:4; Heb_4:3; Heb_9:26; 1Pe_1:20; Rev_13:8; Rev_17:8).