1ταυταG5023{D-APN} ελαλησενG2980{V-AAI-3S} τσβοG3588{T-NSM} ιησουςG2424{N-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} αεπαραςG1869{V-AAP-NSM} τσβεπηρενG1869{V-AAI-3S} τουςG3588{T-APM} οφθαλμουςG3788{N-APM} αυτουG846{P-GSM} ειςG1519{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} ουρανονG3772{N-ASM} τσβκαιG2532{CONJ} ειπενG2036{V-2AAI-3S} πατερG3962{N-VSM} εληλυθενG2064{V-2RAI-3S} ηG3588{T-NSF} ωραG5610{N-NSF} δοξασονG1392{V-AAM-2S} σουG4675{P-2GS} τονG3588{T-ASM} υιονG5207{N-ASM} ιναG2443{CONJ} τσβκαιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} υιοςG5207{N-NSM} τσβσουG4675{P-2GS} δοξασηG1392{V-AAS-3S} σεG4571{P-2AS} 2καθωςG2531{ADV} εδωκαςG1325{V-AAI-2S} αυτωG846{P-DSM} εξουσιανG1849{N-ASF} πασηςG3956{A-GSF} σαρκοςG4561{N-GSF} ιναG2443{CONJ} πανG3956{A-ASN} οG3739{R-ASN} δεδωκαςG1325{V-RAI-2S} αυτωG846{P-DSM} βδωσειG1325{V-FAI-3S} ατσδωσηG1325{V-AAS-3S} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} ζωηνG2222{N-ASF} αιωνιονG166{A-ASF} 3αυτηG3778{D-NSF} δεG1161{CONJ} εστινG2076{V-PXI-3S} ηG3588{T-NSF} αιωνιοςG166{A-NSF} ζωηG2222{N-NSF} ιναG2443{CONJ} γινωσκωσινG1097{V-PAS-3P} σεG4571{P-2AS} τονG3588{T-ASM} μονονG3441{A-ASM} αληθινονG228{A-ASM} θεονG2316{N-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} ονG3739{R-ASM} απεστειλαςG649{V-AAI-2S} ιησουνG2424{N-ASM} χριστονG5547{N-ASM} 4εγωG1473{P-1NS} σεG4571{P-2AS} εδοξασαG1392{V-AAI-1S} επιG1909{PREP} τηςG3588{T-GSF} γηςG1093{N-GSF} τοG3588{T-ASN} εργονG2041{N-ASN} ατελειωσαςG5048{V-AAP-NSM} τσβετελειωσαG5048{V-AAI-1S} οG3739{R-ASN} δεδωκαςG1325{V-RAI-2S} μοιG3427{P-1DS} ιναG2443{CONJ} ποιησωG4160{V-AAS-1S} 5καιG2532{CONJ} νυνG3568{ADV} δοξασονG1392{V-AAM-2S} μεG3165{P-1AS} συG4771{P-2NS} πατερG3962{N-VSM} παραG3844{PREP} σεαυτωG4572{F-2DSM} τηG3588{T-DSF} δοξηG1391{N-DSF} ηG3739{R-DSF} ειχονG2192{V-IAI-1S} προG4253{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} τονG3588{T-ASM} κοσμονG2889{N-ASM} ειναιG1511{V-PXN} παραG3844{PREP} σοιG4671{P-2DS} 6εφανερωσαG5319{V-AAI-1S} σουG4675{P-2GS} τοG3588{T-ASN} ονομαG3686{N-ASN} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} ανθρωποιςG444{N-DPM} ουςG3739{R-APM} αεδωκαςG1325{V-AAI-2S} τσβδεδωκαςG1325{V-RAI-2S} μοιG3427{P-1DS} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} κοσμουG2889{N-GSM} σοιG4674{S-2NPM} ησανG2258{V-IXI-3P} ακαμοιG2504{P-1DS-C} τσβκαιG2532{CONJ} τσβεμοιG1698{P-1DS} αυτουςG846{P-APM} αεδωκαςG1325{V-AAI-2S} τσβδεδωκαςG1325{V-RAI-2S} καιG2532{CONJ} τονG3588{T-ASM} λογονG3056{N-ASM} σουG4675{P-2GS} ατετηρηκανG5083{V-RAI-3P} τσβτετηρηκασινG5083{V-RAI-3P} 7νυνG3568{ADV} εγνωκανG1097{V-RAI-3P} οτιG3754{CONJ} πανταG3956{A-NPN} οσαG3745{K-APN} δεδωκαςG1325{V-RAI-2S} μοιG3427{P-1DS} παραG3844{PREP} σουG4675{P-2GS} αεισινG1526{V-PXI-3P} τσβεστινG2076{V-PXI-3S} 8οτιG3754{CONJ} ταG3588{T-APN} ρηματαG4487{N-APN} αG3739{R-APN} αεδωκαςG1325{V-AAI-2S} τσβδεδωκαςG1325{V-RAI-2S} μοιG3427{P-1DS} δεδωκαG1325{V-RAI-1S} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} καιG2532{CONJ} αυτοιG846{P-NPM} ελαβονG2983{V-2AAI-3P} καιG2532{CONJ} εγνωσανG1097{V-2AAI-3P} αληθωςG230{ADV} οτιG3754{CONJ} παραG3844{PREP} σουG4675{P-2GS} εξηλθονG1831{V-2AAI-1S} καιG2532{CONJ} επιστευσανG4100{V-AAI-3P} οτιG3754{CONJ} συG4771{P-2NS} μεG3165{P-1AS} απεστειλαςG649{V-AAI-2S} 9εγωG1473{P-1NS} περιG4012{PREP} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} ερωτωG2065{V-PAI-1S} ουG3756{PRT-N} περιG4012{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} κοσμουG2889{N-GSM} ερωτωG2065{V-PAI-1S} αλλαG235{CONJ} περιG4012{PREP} ωνG3739{R-GPM} δεδωκαςG1325{V-RAI-2S} μοιG3427{P-1DS} οτιG3754{CONJ} σοιG4671{P-2DS} εισινG1526{V-PXI-3P} 10καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-NPN} εμαG1699{S-1NPN} πανταG3956{A-NPN} σαG4674{S-2NPN} εστινG2076{V-PXI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-NPN} σαG4674{S-2NPN} εμαG1699{S-1NPN} καιG2532{CONJ} δεδοξασμαιG1392{V-RPI-1S} ενG1722{PREP} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} 11καιG2532{CONJ} αβουκετιG3765{ADV} τσουκG3756{PRT-N} τσετιG2089{ADV} ειμιG1510{V-PXI-1S} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} κοσμωG2889{N-DSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ααυτοιG846{P-NPM} τσβουτοιG3778{D-NPM} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} κοσμωG2889{N-DSM} εισινG1526{V-PXI-3P} ακαγωG2504{P-1NS-C} τσβκαιG2532{CONJ} τσβεγωG1473{P-1NS} προςG4314{PREP} σεG4571{P-2AS} ερχομαιG2064{V-PNI-1S} πατερG3962{N-VSM} αγιεG40{A-VSM} τηρησονG5083{V-AAM-2S} αυτουςG846{P-APM} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSN} ονοματιG3686{N-DSN} σουG4675{P-2GS} αβωG3739{R-DSN} τσουςG3739{R-APM} δεδωκαςG1325{V-RAI-2S} μοιG3427{P-1DS} ιναG2443{CONJ} ωσινG5600{V-PXS-3P} ενG1520{A-NSN} καθωςG2531{ADV} ημειςG2249{P-1NP} 12οτεG3753{ADV} ημηνG2252{V-IXI-1S} μετG3326{PREP} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} τσβενG1722{PREP} τσβτωG3588{T-DSM} τσβκοσμωG2889{N-DSM} εγωG1473{P-1NS} ετηρουνG5083{V-IAI-1S} αυτουςG846{P-APM} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSN} ονοματιG3686{N-DSN} σουG4675{P-2GS} αωG3739{R-DSN} τσβουςG3739{R-APM} δεδωκαςG1325{V-RAI-2S} μοιG3427{P-1DS} ακαιG2532{CONJ} εφυλαξαG5442{V-AAI-1S} καιG2532{CONJ} ουδειςG3762{A-NSM} εξG1537{PREP} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} απωλετοG622{V-2AMI-3S} ειG1487{COND} μηG3361{PRT-N} οG3588{T-NSM} υιοςG5207{N-NSM} τηςG3588{T-GSF} απωλειαςG684{N-GSF} ιναG2443{CONJ} ηG3588{T-NSF} γραφηG1124{N-NSF} πληρωθηG4137{V-APS-3S} 13νυνG3568{ADV} δεG1161{CONJ} προςG4314{PREP} σεG4571{P-2AS} ερχομαιG2064{V-PNI-1S} καιG2532{CONJ} ταυταG5023{D-APN} λαλωG2980{V-PAI-1S} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} κοσμωG2889{N-DSM} ιναG2443{CONJ} εχωσινG2192{V-PAS-3P} τηνG3588{T-ASF} χαρανG5479{N-ASF} τηνG3588{T-ASF} εμηνG1699{S-1ASF} πεπληρωμενηνG4137{V-RPP-ASF} ενG1722{PREP} αεαυτοιςG1438{F-3DPM} τσβαυτοιςG846{P-DPM} 14εγωG1473{P-1NS} δεδωκαG1325{V-RAI-1S} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} τονG3588{T-ASM} λογονG3056{N-ASM} σουG4675{P-2GS} καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} κοσμοςG2889{N-NSM} εμισησενG3404{V-AAI-3S} αυτουςG846{P-APM} οτιG3754{CONJ} ουκG3756{PRT-N} εισινG1526{V-PXI-3P} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} κοσμουG2889{N-GSM} καθωςG2531{ADV} εγωG1473{P-1NS} ουκG3756{PRT-N} ειμιG1510{V-PXI-1S} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} κοσμουG2889{N-GSM} 15ουκG3756{PRT-N} ερωτωG2065{V-PAI-1S} ιναG2443{CONJ} αρηςG142{V-AAS-2S} αυτουςG846{P-APM} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} κοσμουG2889{N-GSM} αλλG235{CONJ} ιναG2443{CONJ} τηρησηςG5083{V-AAS-2S} αυτουςG846{P-APM} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} πονηρουG4190{A-GSM} 16εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} κοσμουG2889{N-GSM} ουκG3756{PRT-N} εισινG1526{V-PXI-3P} καθωςG2531{ADV} εγωG1473{P-1NS} αουκG3756{PRT-N} αειμιG1510{V-PXI-1S} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} κοσμουG2889{N-GSM} τσβουκG3756{PRT-N} τσβειμιG1510{V-PXI-1S} 17αγιασονG37{V-AAM-2S} αυτουςG846{P-APM} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} αληθειαG225{N-DSF} τσβσουG4675{P-2GS} οG3588{T-NSM} λογοςG3056{N-NSM} οG3588{T-NSM} σοςG4674{S-2NSM} αληθειαG225{N-NSF} εστινG2076{V-PXI-3S} 18καθωςG2531{ADV} εμεG1691{P-1AS} απεστειλαςG649{V-AAI-2S} ειςG1519{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} κοσμονG2889{N-ASM} καγωG2504{P-1NS-C} απεστειλαG649{V-AAI-1S} αυτουςG846{P-APM} ειςG1519{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} κοσμονG2889{N-ASM} 19καιG2532{CONJ} υπερG5228{PREP} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} εγωG1473{P-1NS} αγιαζωG37{V-PAI-1S} εμαυτονG1683{F-1ASM} ιναG2443{CONJ} αωσινG5600{V-PXS-3P} καιG2532{CONJ} αυτοιG846{P-NPM} τσβωσινG5600{V-PXS-3P} ηγιασμενοιG37{V-RPP-NPM} ενG1722{PREP} αληθειαG225{N-DSF} 20ουG3756{PRT-N} περιG4012{PREP} τουτωνG5130{D-GPM} δεG1161{CONJ} ερωτωG2065{V-PAI-1S} μονονG3440{ADV} αλλαG235{CONJ} καιG2532{CONJ} περιG4012{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPM} αβπιστευοντωνG4100{V-PAP-GPM} τσπιστευσοντωνG4100{V-FAP-GPM} διαG1223{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} λογουG3056{N-GSM} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} ειςG1519{PREP} εμεG1691{P-1AS} 21ιναG2443{CONJ} παντεςG3956{A-NPM} ενG1520{A-NSN} ωσινG5600{V-PXS-3P} καθωςG2531{ADV} συG4771{P-2NS} πατερG3962{N-VSM} ενG1722{PREP} εμοιG1698{P-1DS} καγωG2504{P-1NS-C} ενG1722{PREP} σοιG4671{P-2DS} ιναG2443{CONJ} καιG2532{CONJ} αυτοιG846{P-NPM} ενG1722{PREP} ημινG2254{P-1DP} τσβενG1520{A-NSN} ωσινG5600{V-PXS-3P} ιναG2443{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} κοσμοςG2889{N-NSM} απιστευηG4100{V-PAS-3S} τσβπιστευσηG4100{V-AAS-3S} οτιG3754{CONJ} συG4771{P-2NS} μεG3165{P-1AS} απεστειλαςG649{V-AAI-2S} 22ακαγωG2504{P-1NS-C} τσβκαιG2532{CONJ} τσβεγωG1473{P-1NS} τηνG3588{T-ASF} δοξανG1391{N-ASF} ηνG3739{R-ASF} δεδωκαςG1325{V-RAI-2S} μοιG3427{P-1DS} δεδωκαG1325{V-RAI-1S} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} ιναG2443{CONJ} ωσινG5600{V-PXS-3P} ενG1520{A-NSN} καθωςG2531{ADV} ημειςG2249{P-1NP} ενG1520{A-NSN} τσβεσμενG2070{V-PXI-1P} 23εγωG1473{P-1NS} ενG1722{PREP} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} καιG2532{CONJ} συG4771{P-2NS} ενG1722{PREP} εμοιG1698{P-1DS} ιναG2443{CONJ} ωσινG5600{V-PXS-3P} τετελειωμενοιG5048{V-RPP-NPM} ειςG1519{PREP} ενG1520{A-ASN} τσβκαιG2532{CONJ} ιναG2443{CONJ} γινωσκηG1097{V-PAS-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} κοσμοςG2889{N-NSM} οτιG3754{CONJ} συG4771{P-2NS} μεG3165{P-1AS} απεστειλαςG649{V-AAI-2S} καιG2532{CONJ} ηγαπησαςG25{V-AAI-2S} αυτουςG846{P-APM} καθωςG2531{ADV} εμεG1691{P-1AS} ηγαπησαςG25{V-AAI-2S} 24πατερG3962{N-VSM} αοG3739{R-ASN} τσβουςG3739{R-APM} δεδωκαςG1325{V-RAI-2S} μοιG3427{P-1DS} θελωG2309{V-PAI-1S} ιναG2443{CONJ} οπουG3699{ADV} ειμιG1510{V-PXI-1S} εγωG1473{P-1NS} κακεινοιG2548{D-NPM-C} ωσινG5600{V-PXS-3P} μετG3326{PREP} εμουG1700{P-1GS} ιναG2443{CONJ} θεωρωσινG2334{V-PAS-3P} τηνG3588{T-ASF} δοξανG1391{N-ASF} τηνG3588{T-ASF} εμηνG1699{S-1ASF} ηνG3739{R-ASF} αδεδωκαςG1325{V-RAI-2S} τσβεδωκαςG1325{V-AAI-2S} μοιG3427{P-1DS} οτιG3754{CONJ} ηγαπησαςG25{V-AAI-2S} μεG3165{P-1AS} προG4253{PREP} καταβοληςG2602{N-GSF} κοσμουG2889{N-GSM} 25πατερG3962{N-VSM} δικαιεG1342{A-VSM} καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} κοσμοςG2889{N-NSM} σεG4571{P-2AS} ουκG3756{PRT-N} εγνωG1097{V-2AAI-3S} εγωG1473{P-1NS} δεG1161{CONJ} σεG4571{P-2AS} εγνωνG1097{V-2AAI-1S} καιG2532{CONJ} ουτοιG3778{D-NPM} εγνωσανG1097{V-2AAI-3P} οτιG3754{CONJ} συG4771{P-2NS} μεG3165{P-1AS} απεστειλαςG649{V-AAI-2S} 26καιG2532{CONJ} εγνωρισαG1107{V-AAI-1S} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} τοG3588{T-ASN} ονομαG3686{N-ASN} σουG4675{P-2GS} καιG2532{CONJ} γνωρισωG1107{V-FAI-1S} ιναG2443{CONJ} ηG3588{T-NSF} αγαπηG26{N-NSF} ηνG3739{R-ASF} ηγαπησαςG25{V-AAI-2S} μεG3165{P-1AS} ενG1722{PREP} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} ηG5600{V-PXS-3S} καγωG2504{P-1NS-C} ενG1722{PREP} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM}
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE INTERCESSORY PRAYER. (John 17:1-26)
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes--"John very seldom depicts the gestures or looks of our Lord, as here. But this was an occasion of which the impression was indelible, and the upward look could not be passed over" [ALFORD].
Father, the hour is come--(See on
John 13:31-
John 13:32).
glorify thy Son--Put honor upon Thy Son, by countenancing, sustaining, and carrying Him through that "hour."
2 given--gavest
him power over all flesh--(See on
Matt 11:27;
Matt 28:18-
Matt 28:20).
give eternal life to as many as, &c.--literally, "to all that which thou hast given him." (See on
John 6:37-
John 6:40).
3 this is--that.
life eternal, that they might--may.
know, &c.--This life eternal, then, is not mere conscious and unending existence, but a life of acquaintance with God in Christ (
Job 22:21).
thee, the only true God--the sole personal living God; in glorious contrast equally with heathen polytheism, philosophic naturalism, and mystic pantheism.
and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent--This is the only place where our Lord gives Himself this compound name, afterwards so current in apostolic preaching and writing. Here the terms are used in their strict signification--"JESUS," because He "saves His people from their sins"; "CHRIST," as anointed with the measureless fulness of the Holy Ghost for the exercise of His saving offices (see on
Matt 1:16); "WHOM THOU HAST SENT," in the plenitude of Divine Authority and Power, to save. "The very juxtaposition here of Jesus Christ with the Father is a proof, by implication, of our Lord's Godhead. The knowledge of God and a creature could not be eternal life, and such an association of the one with the other would be inconceivable" [ALFORD].
4 I have glorified thee on the earth--rather, "I glorified" (for the thing is conceived as now past).
I have finished--I finished.
the work which thou gavest me to do--It is very important to preserve in the translation the past tense, used in the original, otherwise it might be thought that the work already "finished" was only what He had done before uttering that prayer; whereas it will be observed that our Lord speaks throughout as already beyond this present scene (
John 17:12, &c.), and so must be supposed to include in His "finished work" the "decease which He was to accomplish at Jerusalem."
5 And now--in return.
glorify thou me--The "I Thee" and "Thou Me" are so placed in the original, each beside its fellow, as to show that A PERFECT RECIPROCITY OF SERVICES of the Son to the Father first, and then of the Father to the Son in return, is what our Lord means here to express.
with the glory which I had with thee before the world was--when "in the beginning the Word was with God" (
John 1:1), "the only-begotten Son in the bosom of the Father" (
John 1:18). With this pre-existent glory, which He veiled on earth, He asks to be reinvested, the design of the veiling being accomplished--not, however, simply as before, but now in our nature.
6 From praying for Himself He now comes to pray for His disciples.
I have manifested--I manifested.
thy name--His whole character towards mankind.
to the men thou gavest me out of the world--(See on
John 6:37-
John 6:40).
8 they . . . have known surely that I came out from thee--(See on
John 16:29;
John 16:31).
9 I pray for them--not as individuals merely, but as representatives of all such in every succeeding age (see on
John 17:20).
not for the world--for they had been given Him "out of the world" (
John 17:6), and had been already transformed into the very opposite of it. The things sought for them, indeed, are applicable only to such.
10 all mine are thine, and thine are mine--literally, "All My things are Thine and Thy things are Mine." (On this use of the neuter gender, see on
John 6:37-
John 6:40). Absolute COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY between the Father and the Son is here expressed as nakedly as words can do it. (See on
John 17:5).
11 I am no more in the world--(See on
John 17:4).
but these are in the world--that is, Though My struggles are at an end, theirs are not; though I have gotten beyond the scene of strife, I cannot sever Myself in spirit from them, left behind and only just entering on their great conflict.
Holy Father--an expression He nowhere else uses. "Father" is His wonted appellation, but "Holy" is here prefixed, because His appeal was to that perfection of the Father's nature, to "keep" or preserve them from being tainted by the unholy atmosphere of "the world" they were still in.
keep through thine own name--rather, "in thy name"; in the exercise of that gracious and holy character for which He was known.
that they may be one--(See on
John 17:21).
12 I kept--guarded.
them in thy name--acting as Thy Representative on earth.
none of them is lost, but the son of perdition--It is not implied here that the son of perdition was one of those whom the Father had given to the Son, but rather the contrary (
John 13:18) [WEBSTER and WILKINSON]. It is just as in
Luke 4:26-
Luke 4:27, where we are not to suppose that the woman of Sarepta (in Sidon) was one of the widows of Israel, nor Naaman the Syrian one of the lepers in Israel, though the language--the same as here--might seem to express it.
son of perdition--doomed to it (
2Thess 2:3;
Mark 14:21).
13 I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves--that is, Such a strain befits rather the upper sanctuary than the scene of conflict; but I speak so "in the world," that My joy, the joy I experience in knowing that such intercessions are to be made for them by their absent Lord, may be tasted by those who now hear them, and by all who shall hereafter read the record of them,
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world--for that, though it would secure their own safety, would leave the world unblessed by their testimony.
but . . . keep them from the evil--all evil in and of the world.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world--(See
John 15:18-
John 15:19). This is reiterated here, to pave the way for the prayer which follows.
17 Sanctify them--As the former prayer, "Keep them," was "negative," asking protection for them from the poisonous element which surrounded and pressed upon their renewed nature, so this prayer, "Sanctify them," is positive, asking the advancement and completion of their begun sanctification.
through--in.
thy truth--God's revealed truth, as the medium or element of sanctification; a statement this of immense importance.
thy word is truth--(Compare
John 15:3;
Col 1:5;
Eph 1:13).
18 As thou hast sent--sentest.
me into the world, even so have I also sent them--sent I also them.
into the world--As their mission was to carry into effect the purposes of their Master's mission, so our Lord speaks of the authority in both cases as co-ordinate.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify--consecrate.
myself that they also might--may.
be sanctified--consecrated. The only difference between the application of the same term to Christ and the disciples is, as applied to Christ, that it means only to "consecrate"; whereas, in application to the disciples, it means to consecrate with the additional idea of previous sanctification, since nothing but what is holy can be presented as an offering. The whole self-sacrificing work of the disciples appears here as a mere result of the offering of Christ [OLSHAUSEN].
through--in.
the truth--Though the article is wanting in the original here, we are not to translate, as in the Margin, "truly sanctified"; for the reference seems plainly to be "the truth" mentioned in
John 17:17. (See on
John 17:17).
20 Neither pray I for these alone--This very important explanation, uttered in condescension to the hearers and readers of this prayer in all time, is meant not merely of what follows, but of the whole prayer.
them also which shall believe--The majority of the best manuscripts read "which believe," all future time being viewed as present, while the present is viewed as past and gone.
21 that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may be one in us--The indwelling Spirit of the Father and the Son is the one perfect bond of union, knitting up into a living unity, first all believers amongst themselves; next, this unity into one still higher, with the Father and the Son. (Observe, that Christ never mixes Himself up with His disciples as He associates Himself with the Father, but says I in THEM and THEY in US).
that the world may believe that thou hast sent me--sentest me. So the grand impression upon the world at large, that the mission of Christ is divine, is to be made by the unity of His disciples. Of course, then, it must be something that shall be visible or perceptible to the world. What is it, then? Not certainly a merely formal, mechanical unity of ecclesiastical machinery. For as that may, and to a large extent does, exist in both the Western and Eastern churches, with little of the Spirit of Christ, yea much, much with which the Spirit of Christ cannot dwell so instead of convincing the world beyond its own pale of the divinity of the Gospel, it generates infidelity to a large extent within its own bosom. But the Spirit of Christ, illuminating, transforming, and reigning in the hearts of the genuine disciples of Christ, drawing them to each other as members of one family, and prompting them to loving co-operation for the good of the world--this is what, when sufficiently glowing and extended, shall force conviction upon the world that Christianity is divine. Doubtless, the more that differences among Christians disappear--the more they can agree even in minor matters--the impression upon the world may be expected to be greater. But it is not dependent upon this; for living and loving oneness in Christ is sometimes more touchingly seen even amidst and in spite of minor differences, than where no such differences exist to try the strength of their deeper unity. Yet till this living brotherhood in Christ shall show itself strong enough to destroy the sectarianism, selfishness, carnality, and apathy that eat out the heart of Christianity in all the visible sections of it, in vain shall we expect the world to be overawed by it. It is when "the Spirit shall be poured upon us from on high," as a Spirit of truth and love, and upon all parts of the Christian territory alike, melting down differences and heart burnings, kindling astonishment and shame at past unfruitfulness, drawing forth longings of catholic affection, and yearnings over a world lying in wickedness, embodying themselves in palpable forms and active measures--it is then that we may expect the effect here announced to be produced, and then it will be irresistible. Should not Christians ponder these things? Should not the same mind be in them which was also in Christ Jesus about this matter? Should not His prayer be theirs?
22 And the glory which thou gavest--hast given.
me I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one--The last clause shows the meaning of the first. It is not the future glory of the heavenly state, but the secret of that present unity just before spoken of; the glory, therefore, of the indwelling Spirit of Christ; the glory of an accepted state, of a holy character, of every grace.
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one--(See on
John 17:21).
24 Father, I will--The majesty of this style of speaking is quite transparent. No petty criticism will be allowed to fritter it away in any but superficial or perverted readers.
be with me where I am--(See on
John 14:3).
that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me--(See on
John 17:5). Christ regards it as glory enough for us to be admitted to see and gaze for ever upon His glory! This is "the beatific vision"; but it shall be no mere vision, for "we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is" (
1John 3:2).
25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee--knew thee not.
but I have known thee--knew thee.
and these have known--knew.
that thou hast sent--sentest
me--As before He said "Holy Father," when desiring the display of that perfection on His disciples (
John 17:11), so here He styles Him "Righteous Father," because He is appealing to His righteousness or justice, to make a distinction between those two diametrically opposite classes--"the world," on the one hand, which would not "know the Father, though brought so nigh to it in the Son of His love, and, on the other, Himself, who recognized and owned Him, and even His disciples, who owned His mission from the Father.
26 And I have declared--I made known or communicated.
thy name--in His past ministry.
and will declare it--in yet larger measure, by the gift of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost and through all succeeding ages.
that the love wherewith thou hast loved--lovedst.
me may be in them, and I in them--This eternal love of the Father, resting first on Christ, is by His Spirit imparted to and takes up its permanent abode in all that believe in Him; and "He abiding in them and they in Him" (
John 15:5), they are "one Spirit." "With this lofty thought the Redeemer closes His prayer for His disciples, and in them for His Church through all ages. He has compressed into the last moments given Him for conversation with His own the most sublime and glorious sentiments ever uttered by mortal lips. But hardly has the sound of the last word died away, when He passes with the disciples over the brook Kedron to Gethsemane--and the bitter conflict draws on. The seed of the new world must be sown in Death, that thence Life may spring up" [OLSHAUSEN].
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中國詞典Use Chinese Dictionary
