John 17 is the seventeenth chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the ChristianBible. It portrays a prayer of Jesus Christ addressed to his Father, placed in context immediately before his betrayal and crucifixion, the events which the gospel often refers to as his glorification.[1]Lutheran writer David Chytraeus entitled Jesus' words "the prayer of the high priest".[2]Methodist theologian Joseph Benson calls this prayer "Our Lord’s Intercessory Prayer", because "it is considered as a pattern of the intercession he is now making in heaven for his people".[3] The New King James Version divides this chapter into three sections:
Jesus refers to his Father six times in this chapter, calling God "Father" (Greek: πατηρ, pater), "Holy Father" (Greek: πατηρ ἅγιε, pater hagie, John 17:11) and "Righteous Father" (Greek: πατηρ δικαιε, pater dikaie, John 17:25). These are the only occurrences in the New Testament of the vocative forms αγιε and δικαιε, used in direct address to God.[7]
Verse 1
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You".[8]
Alternatively, "After Jesus had spoken these words ..." (to his disciples, in chapter 16),[9] namely:
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."[10]
Benson suggested that "these words" refers to "the words recorded in the three preceding chapters" (chapters 14 to 16).[3]
Verse 2
"As You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.[11]
All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.[14]
Jesus explains parenthetically,[15] how they belong to the Father, although given by him to the Son. Irish Archbishop John McEvilly comments that
The Father does not lose His right over them. For, all things belonging to the Son, belong to the Father. All things the Father gave Him either in His eternal or temporal birth, belong still to the Father, on account of the unity and identity of nature, and all Divine perfections in both, in common with the Holy Ghost. And they belong to the Son; because given by the Father, whose right or claim does not cease, owing to this concession; but, remains still the same, as before.[16]
Verse 11
Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.[17]
Swedish-based commentator René Kieffer distinguishes chapter 17 from the rest of Jesus' farewell discourse, referring to "a kind of timeless aspect" denoted by the words "I am no longer in the world".[2]
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.[21]
The words "in the world" are omitted by the most reliable early texts.[13] Judas' actions fulfill the words of Psalm 41:9:
Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.[13]
Verse 20
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.[22]
McEvilly divides Jesus' prayer into four parts: his prayers for himself (verses 1-5), for his disciples (verses 6-19), specifically for those who will come to faith through the teaching of the apostles (verse 20) and finally for the whole church (verses 21-26).[16]
