This commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Jesus states this same truth elsewhere in John: the Father has given Him power to give eternal life to those who believe. As clarified by John 6 and in context to the disciples in the chapter, a person must be willing to hear and learn, once they :
John 5:21 “ For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
John 10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
“as many as thou hast given him”
The Father drew Israel in love (Hosea 11:4; Jeremiah 31:3), yet most resisted and refused Him (Hosea 11:5; Zechariah 7:11–12). In the historical setting of Jesus’ earthly ministry, those given to Him are primarily Israelites who responded to the Father’s prior revelation.
Those who heard and learned from the Father (John 6:45) through Moses (John 5:45–46) and the Prophets (Hebrews 1:1–2) were, by faith, the ones given to Jesus. These are the ones that John says “would come” to Jesus (John 6:37, 45). They came because they didn’t refuse the Father’s initial drawing not because God selected them.
Thus, these are the ones the Father gives to Jesus, those who did not resist His drawing. This includes the disciples (v. 6), Jewish men waiting for their Messiah:
The disciples were given
In the immediate context of John 17, the disciples are explicitly said to be given to Jesus, and He promises them eternal life (cf. John 6:39). Their reception of eternal life is grounded in their faith, yet their faith reflects that they already belonged to the Father (v. 6) through hearing and learning from Him (John 6:45):
(v. 6) “the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.”
(v. 8) “ I have given unto them the words and they have received them...and they have believed that thou didst send”
Other Israelites were given
Although this may not be ones Jesus is speaking of here in John 17, the disciples were not the only ones under the Father’s care who were prepared to receive the Messiah. As John 6:37 teaches, all whom the Father gives will come throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry:
John 4:39–42 — Samaritans who believed through the woman at the well
John 7:40–43 — Some Jews recognize Jesus as the Prophet/Messiah. Indicates that hearing and learning from the Father’s words (John 6:45) led to belief in the Son.
John 9:35–38 — The man born blind
John 11:21–27 — Martha of Bethany believes
John 11:45–46 — Some Jews believe after Lazarus is raised.
3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
6I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
“the men which thou gavest me out of the world”
The Father gave Jesus the twelve disciples.
The ones that kept they word are the ones that had a heart of good soil as we read they are those that bring forth fruit:
Luke 8:13 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”
Judas did not have good soil so it is appropriate to understand Jesus is not speaking to him here. In fact, Jesus says something similar when he is addressing the 12 in the previous chapter. Judas is the except to a lot of what Jesus is saying when He speaks to them all:
John 13:18 “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chose”
The verb is in the Greek active voice
The verb “kept” is in the Greek active voice, meaning the person performs the action themselves. God is not granting this action in the sense of irresistibly causing it; rather, the individual chooses to keep the word. If God were granting or producing this action directly, the verb would be in the passive voice. Instead, the active voice presents keeping as a human responsibility.
7Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
The verbs are in the Greek active voice
Both “received” and “believed” are in the Greek active voice, meaning the disciples themselves performed these actions. God is not granting these actions in the sense of irresistibly causing them; rather, the individuals must choose to receive the word and believe. If God were producing these actions directly, the verbs would be in the passive voice. Instead, the active voice presents reception and belief as human responsibilities.
9I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
Does Jesus care about the world or only the ones given to Him?
If we read on to verse 20-21 we can see that He does care for the world. He prays for future believers and in hopes that “the world”may also believe:
John 17:20-21 “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
10And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
“keep through thine own name”
Jesus is leaving and He know asks the Father to protect the disciples from evil as stated in verse 15 below and to keep them just as He kept them as verse 12 states:
John 17:15 ”I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
What does Jesus mean by none of them is lost here but the son of perdition?
“Lost” cannot mean loss of salvation, because Judas never believed
In John 6:64 we read “For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.” Therefore, Judas:
never believed
never entered the believing category
therefore could not be “lost” from belief
That means “lost” in John 17 cannot mean loss of salvation without contradicting John 6. (See also John 6:70-71, Jesus undercuts Peter’s collective belief claim).
In addition, John explicitly interprets “lost” as physical preservation
In the next chapter, John 18:8–9, John connects Jesus’ words directly to the disciples’ physical protection in the garden. He defines the fulfillment of Jesus’ statement as the fact that none of the disciples were arrested or taken captive. Thus, “lost” refers to custodial preservation, not salvation:
John 18:8–9 = ”Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none”
Judas was “lost” because he was no longer under Jesus’ physical keeping
Judas was intentionally removed from Jesus’ care that the scripture might be fulfilled:
John 13:27–30 reads “And after the sop Satan entered into him...Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly....then having received the sop went immediately out”.
Scripture Jesus referenced is Psalm 41:9 “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.”
John explicitly identifies this as the fulfillment in John 13:18 “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.”
By the time Jesus prays here in John 17 and later protects His disciples in the garden, Judas is no longer present. He has already aligned himself with Satan and the arresting party (John 18:8–9), fulfilling Scripture.
Therefore, Judas is called “lost” not because he fell from salvation, but because he had already departed from Jesus’ keeping and was excluded from the preservation promised to the believing disciples.
Jesus says He “kept them in thy name,”which is in the past tense. This was a temporal protection for the disciples mission where Jesus. It means to be kept within the sphere of God’s revealed authority and mission, not necessarily within a saving union:
”sent them into the world.” John 17:18
As we read in Mark 6:
”And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;” Mark 6:7
In summary, Judas is listed among the given here in the mission sense, not salvific.
13And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
All 12 disciples, including Judas, were chosen and sent into the world on a mission for Jesus throughout Israel:
”And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;” Mark 6:7
19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
The phrase“which thou hast given me” (ὃ δέδωκάς μοι) uses the perfect tense, showing that the giving has already been completed. In the immediate context of the prayer, this clearly refers to the Eleven disciples who remained with Jesus.
Verse 25 confirms this reference when Jesus says, “these have known that Thou hast sent Me,” identifying those who already possess understanding and faith.
Therefore, Judas and future believers cannot be included and said to be given. This is specific to the 11 disciples.
25O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
26And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
17
John 17 — Forever Word commentary
King James VersionThis commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Jesus states this same truth elsewhere in John: the Father has given Him power to give eternal life to those who believe. As clarified by John 6 and in context to the disciples in the chapter, a person must be willing to hear and learn, once they :
John 5:21 “ For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
John 10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
“as many as thou hast given him”
The Father drew Israel in love (Hosea 11:4; Jeremiah 31:3), yet most resisted and refused Him (Hosea 11:5; Zechariah 7:11–12). In the historical setting of Jesus’ earthly ministry, those given to Him are primarily Israelites who responded to the Father’s prior revelation.
Those who heard and learned from the Father (John 6:45) through Moses (John 5:45–46) and the Prophets (Hebrews 1:1–2) were, by faith, the ones given to Jesus. These are the ones that John says “would come” to Jesus (John 6:37, 45). They came because they didn’t refuse the Father’s initial drawing not because God selected them.
Thus, these are the ones the Father gives to Jesus, those who did not resist His drawing. This includes the disciples (v. 6), Jewish men waiting for their Messiah:
The disciples were given
In the immediate context of John 17, the disciples are explicitly said to be given to Jesus, and He promises them eternal life (cf. John 6:39). Their reception of eternal life is grounded in their faith, yet their faith reflects that they already belonged to the Father (v. 6) through hearing and learning from Him (John 6:45):
(v. 6) “the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.”
(v. 8) “ I have given unto them the words and they have received them...and they have believed that thou didst send”
Other Israelites were given
Although this may not be ones Jesus is speaking of here in John 17, the disciples were not the only ones under the Father’s care who were prepared to receive the Messiah. As John 6:37 teaches, all whom the Father gives will come throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry:
John 4:39–42 — Samaritans who believed through the woman at the well
John 7:40–43 — Some Jews recognize Jesus as the Prophet/Messiah. Indicates that hearing and learning from the Father’s words (John 6:45) led to belief in the Son.
John 9:35–38 — The man born blind
John 11:21–27 — Martha of Bethany believes
John 11:45–46 — Some Jews believe after Lazarus is raised.
3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
6I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
“the men which thou gavest me out of the world”
The Father gave Jesus the twelve disciples.
The ones that kept they word are the ones that had a heart of good soil as we read they are those that bring forth fruit:
Luke 8:13 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”
Judas did not have good soil so it is appropriate to understand Jesus is not speaking to him here. In fact, Jesus says something similar when he is addressing the 12 in the previous chapter. Judas is the except to a lot of what Jesus is saying when He speaks to them all:
John 13:18 “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chose”
The verb is in the Greek active voice
The verb “kept” is in the Greek active voice, meaning the person performs the action themselves. God is not granting this action in the sense of irresistibly causing it; rather, the individual chooses to keep the word. If God were granting or producing this action directly, the verb would be in the passive voice. Instead, the active voice presents keeping as a human responsibility.
7Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
The verbs are in the Greek active voice
Both “received” and “believed” are in the Greek active voice, meaning the disciples themselves performed these actions. God is not granting these actions in the sense of irresistibly causing them; rather, the individuals must choose to receive the word and believe. If God were producing these actions directly, the verbs would be in the passive voice. Instead, the active voice presents reception and belief as human responsibilities.
9I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
Does Jesus care about the world or only the ones given to Him?
If we read on to verse 20-21 we can see that He does care for the world. He prays for future believers and in hopes that “the world” may also believe:
John 17:20-21 “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
10And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
“keep through thine own name”
Jesus is leaving and He know asks the Father to protect the disciples from evil as stated in verse 15 below and to keep them just as He kept them as verse 12 states:
John 17:15 ”I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
What does Jesus mean by none of them is lost here but the son of perdition?
“Lost” cannot mean loss of salvation, because Judas never believed
In John 6:64 we read “For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.” Therefore, Judas:
never believed
never entered the believing category
therefore could not be “lost” from belief
That means “lost” in John 17 cannot mean loss of salvation without contradicting John 6. (See also John 6:70-71, Jesus undercuts Peter’s collective belief claim).
In addition, John explicitly interprets “lost” as physical preservation
In the next chapter, John 18:8–9, John connects Jesus’ words directly to the disciples’ physical protection in the garden. He defines the fulfillment of Jesus’ statement as the fact that none of the disciples were arrested or taken captive. Thus, “lost” refers to custodial preservation, not salvation:
John 18:8–9 = ”Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none”
Judas was “lost” because he was no longer under Jesus’ physical keeping
Judas was intentionally removed from Jesus’ care that the scripture might be fulfilled:
John 13:27–30 reads “And after the sop Satan entered into him...Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly....then having received the sop went immediately out”.
Scripture Jesus referenced is Psalm 41:9 “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.”
John explicitly identifies this as the fulfillment in John 13:18 “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.”
By the time Jesus prays here in John 17 and later protects His disciples in the garden, Judas is no longer present. He has already aligned himself with Satan and the arresting party (John 18:8–9), fulfilling Scripture.
Therefore, Judas is called “lost” not because he fell from salvation, but because he had already departed from Jesus’ keeping and was excluded from the preservation promised to the believing disciples.
Jesus says He “kept them in thy name,” which is in the past tense. This was a temporal protection for the disciples mission where Jesus. It means to be kept within the sphere of God’s revealed authority and mission, not necessarily within a saving union:
”sent them into the world.” John 17:18
As we read in Mark 6:
”And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;” Mark 6:7
In summary, Judas is listed among the given here in the mission sense, not salvific.
13And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
All 12 disciples, including Judas, were chosen and sent into the world on a mission for Jesus throughout Israel:
”And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;” Mark 6:7
19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
The phrase “which thou hast given me” (ὃ δέδωκάς μοι) uses the perfect tense, showing that the giving has already been completed. In the immediate context of the prayer, this clearly refers to the Eleven disciples who remained with Jesus.
Verse 25 confirms this reference when Jesus says, “these have known that Thou hast sent Me,” identifying those who already possess understanding and faith.
Therefore, Judas and future believers cannot be included and said to be given. This is specific to the 11 disciples.
25O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
26And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.