Print Page Options Listen to John 17

The High Priestly Prayer

17 Jesus spoke these things; and (A)raising His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; (B)glorify Your Son, so that the Son may glorify You, just as (C)You gave Him authority over all [a]mankind, so that [b](D)to all whom You have given Him, (E)He may give eternal life. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, (F)the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom (G)You have sent. (H)I glorified You on the earth [c](I)by accomplishing the work which You have given Me to do. And now You, Father, (J)glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had (K)with You before the world existed.

(L)I have revealed Your name to the men whom (M)You gave Me out of the world; they were (N)Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have (O)followed Your word. Now they have come to know that everything which You have given Me is from You; for (P)the words which You gave Me (Q)I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that (R)I came forth from You, and they believed that (S)You sent Me. (T)I ask on their behalf; (U)I do not ask on behalf of the world, but on the behalf of those whom (V)You have given Me, because (W)they are Yours; 10 and (X)all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11 I am no longer going to be in the world; and yet (Y)they themselves are in the world, and (Z)I am coming to You. (AA)Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name (AB)which You have given Me, so that (AC)they may be one just as We are. 12 While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name, (AD)which You have given Me; and I guarded them, and (AE)not one of them perished except (AF)the [d]son of destruction, so that the (AG)Scripture would be fulfilled.

The Disciples in the World

13 But now (AH)I am coming to You; and (AI)these things I speak in the world so that they may have My (AJ)joy made full in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and (AK)the world has hated them because (AL)they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from [e](AM)the evil one. 16 (AN)They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 (AO)Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 Just as (AP)You sent Me into the world, (AQ)I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I (AR)sanctify Myself, so that they themselves also may be (AS)sanctified (AT)in truth.

20 “I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, 21 that they may all be one; (AU)just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, (AV)so that the world may [f]believe that (AW)You sent Me.

Disciples’ Future Glory

22 The (AX)glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 (AY)I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected [g]in unity, so that the world may [h]know that (AZ)You sent Me, and You (BA)loved them, just as You loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that (BB)they also, whom You have given Me, (BC)be with Me where I am, so that they may see My (BD)glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before (BE)the foundation of the world.

25 (BF)Righteous Father, [i]although (BG)the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that (BH)You sent Me; 26 and (BI)I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that (BJ)the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Footnotes

  1. John 17:2 Lit flesh
  2. John 17:2 Lit everything that You have given Him, to them He may
  3. John 17:4 Or having accomplished
  4. John 17:12 Heb idiom for one destined to perish
  5. John 17:15 Or evil
  6. John 17:21 Gr tense indicates continually believe
  7. John 17:23 Lit into one
  8. John 17:23 Gr tense indicates continually know
  9. John 17:25 Lit even the world

Jesus Prays to Be Glorified

17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven(A) and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come.(B) Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.(C) For you granted him authority over all people(D) that he might give eternal life(E) to all those you have given him.(F) Now this is eternal life: that they know you,(G) the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.(H) I have brought you glory(I) on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.(J) And now, Father, glorify me(K) in your presence with the glory I had with you(L) before the world began.(M)

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

“I have revealed you[a](N) to those whom you gave me(O) out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me(P) and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you,(Q) and they believed that you sent me.(R) I pray for them.(S) I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me,(T) for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine.(U) And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world,(V) and I am coming to you.(W) Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one(X) as we are one.(Y) 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost(Z) except the one doomed to destruction(AA) so that Scripture would be fulfilled.(AB)

13 “I am coming to you now,(AC) but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy(AD) within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them,(AE) for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.(AF) 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.(AG) 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.(AH) 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth.(AI) 18 As you sent me into the world,(AJ) I have sent them into the world.(AK) 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.(AL)

Jesus Prays for All Believers

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one,(AM) Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.(AN) May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.(AO) 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me,(AP) that they may be one as we are one(AQ) 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me(AR) and have loved them(AS) even as you have loved me.

24 “Father, I want those you have given me(AT) to be with me where I am,(AU) and to see my glory,(AV) the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.(AW)

25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you,(AX) I know you, and they know that you have sent me.(AY) 26 I have made you[e] known to them,(AZ) and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them(BA) and that I myself may be in them.”

Footnotes

  1. John 17:6 Greek your name
  2. John 17:11 Or Father, keep them faithful to
  3. John 17:12 Or kept them faithful to
  4. John 17:17 Or them to live in accordance with
  5. John 17:26 Greek your name

The High Priestly Prayer

17 When Jesus had spoken these things, He raised His eyes to heaven [in prayer] and said, “Father, the [a]hour has come. Glorify Your Son, so that Your Son may glorify You. Just as You have given Him power and authority over all mankind, [now glorify Him] so that He may give eternal life [b]to all whom You have given Him [to be His—permanently and forever]. Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true [supreme and sovereign] God, and [in the same manner know] Jesus [as the] Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You [down here] on the earth by [c]completing the work that You gave Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory and majesty that I had with You before the world existed.

“I have manifested Your name [and revealed Your very self, Your real self] to the people whom You have given Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept and obeyed Your word. Now [at last] they know [with confident assurance] that all You have given Me is from You [it is really and truly Yours]. For the words which You gave Me I have given them; and they received and accepted them and truly understood [with confident assurance] that I came from You [from Your presence], and they believed [without any doubt] that You sent Me. I pray for them; I do not pray for the world, but for those You have given Me, because they belong to You; 10 and all things that are Mine are Yours, and [all things that are] Yours are Mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 I am no longer in the world; yet they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are. 12 While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and protected them, and not one of them was lost except [d]the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.(A)

The Disciples in the World

13 But now I am coming to You; and I say these things [while I am still] in the world so that they may experience My joy made full and complete and perfect within them [filling their hearts with My delight]. 14 I have given to them Your word [the message You gave Me]; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world and do not belong to the world, just as I am not of the world and do not belong to it. 15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep them and protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your word is truth. 18 Just as You commissioned and sent Me into the world, I also have commissioned and sent them (believers) into the world. 19 For their sake [e]I sanctify Myself [to do Your will], so that they also may be sanctified [set apart, dedicated, made holy] in [Your] truth.

20 “I do not pray for these alone [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for [all] those who [will ever] believe and trust in Me through their message, 21 that they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe [without any doubt] that You sent Me.

Their Future Glory

22 I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know [without any doubt] that You sent Me, and [that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given to Me [as Your gift to Me], may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

25 “O just and righteous Father, although the world has not known You and has never acknowledged You [and the revelation of Your mercy], yet I have always known You; and these [believers] know [without any doubt] that You sent Me; 26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them [overwhelming their heart], and I [may be] in them.”

Footnotes

  1. John 17:1 I.e. the time of Jesus’ death.
  2. John 17:2 A reference to election or predestination. Also see John 6:39; 17:6, 9, 24; Acts 13:48; Rom 8:29-33; Eph 1:3-6; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2.
  3. John 17:4 Much of Jesus’ discourse and prayer in John 13-17 is reminiscent of God’s comparison of rain and snow to His word in Is 55:10, 11. Like God’s word, Jesus, who was introduced by John as the Word (John 1:1), comes from God (John 16:28; 17:8), accomplishes God’s desire (John 14:10; 17:4, 8) and then returns to God (John 13:33; 14:4; 17:13).The themes of joy and peace found in Isaiah 55:12 also resonate throughout John 13-17; joy (John 15:11; 16:20-24; 17:13) and peace (John 14:27; 16:33). Isaiah 55; 56 has many points of connection with John’s Gospel as a whole, most notably the invitations to quench thirst (Is 55:1; John 4:13, 14; 7:37) and receive bread (Is 55:2; John 6:26-35, 48-51). Other points of connection between Is 55; 56 and John include the tie between listening and living, appeals to witnesses, calls to obedience, the idea of a special window of God’s nearness, and the inclusion of the Gentiles in salvation.
  4. John 17:12 Hebrew idiom for one destined to perish. The betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot was foretold in Ps 41:9; cf John 13:18.
  5. John 17:19 Jesus’ sacrificial death allows Christians to be truly sanctified—set apart for God’s purpose.

The Prayer of Jesus

17 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

“I have revealed you[a] to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.

“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. 11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name;[b] now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me.[c] I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

Footnotes

  1. 17:6 Greek have revealed your name; also in 17:26.
  2. 17:11 Some manuscripts read you have given me these [disciples].
  3. 17:12 Some manuscripts read I protected those you gave me, by the power of your name.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

17 After Jesus finished saying this, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, so that the Son may give glory to you. For you gave him authority over all people, so that he might give eternal life to all those you gave him. (A)And eternal life means to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent. I have shown your glory on earth; I have finished the work you gave me to do. Father! Give me glory in your presence now, the same glory I had with you before the world was made.

“I have made you known to those you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me. They have obeyed your word, and now they know that everything you gave me comes from you. I gave them the message that you gave me, and they received it; they know that it is true that I came from you, and they believe that you sent me.

“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those you gave me, for they belong to you. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine; and my glory is shown through them. 11 And now I am coming to you; I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world. Holy Father! Keep them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me,[a] so that they may be one just as you and I are one. 12 (B)While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me.[b] I protected them, and not one of them was lost, except the man who was bound to be lost—so that the scripture might come true. 13 And now I am coming to you, and I say these things in the world so that they might have my joy in their hearts in all its fullness. 14 I gave them your message, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but I do ask you to keep them safe from the Evil One. 16 Just as I do not belong to the world, they do not belong to the world. 17 Dedicate them to yourself by means of the truth; your word is truth. 18 I sent them into the world, just as you sent me into the world. 19 And for their sake I dedicate myself to you, in order that they, too, may be truly dedicated to you.

20 “I pray not only for them, but also for those who believe in me because of their message. 21 I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I gave them the same glory you gave me, so that they may be one, just as you and I are one: 23 I in them and you in me, so that they may be completely one, in order that the world may know that you sent me and that you love them as you love me.

24 “Father! You have given them to me, and I want them to be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory, the glory you gave me; for you loved me before the world was made. 25 Righteous Father! The world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you sent me. 26 I made you known to them, and I will continue to do so, in order that the love you have for me may be in them, and so that I also may be in them.”

Footnotes

  1. John 17:11 Keep them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me; some manuscripts have By the power of your name keep safe those you have given me.
  2. John 17:12 I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me; some manuscripts have By the power of your name I kept safe those you have given me.