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

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.