The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:20-26
(3) Prayer for the Church Catholic in all time . read more
John 17:20-23 Nasb,nasb
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:21
That they all may be one . My prayer is that the many may become one, form one living glorious unity;—every part of which spiritual organism, while living a separate and differentiated life, is yet a part of a whole. In the natural sphere, as the parts of a whole organism are mere and more developed, and increasingly resemble individualities in their separation, they are in the same proportion dependent on the whole for the life that is in them. Even in a highly organized community, as the... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:21
A prayer for unity. I. LOOK AT THIS PRAYER IN THE LIGHT OF PENTECOST . Within two months from the utterance of the prayer, the apostles, through their spokesman Peter, uttered forth their first great word concerning their glorified and ascended Master, and in that same day there was added to the apostles about three thousand souls. Thus within this short time the first company of them believing in Jesus through the word of his apostles made its appearance. Jesus was not... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:22
Our Lord now proceeds to record how he has already contributed to produce this result. I also —very emphatic— have given to them —that is, to my disciples— the glory which thou gavest me . Numerous interpretations of this "glory" have been suggested, as e . g. , the glory into which he is about to enter in his glorified body; but the emphatic perfect δέδωκα , in connection with the ἐδωκάς , viz.: "I have given and am now and still giving," renders this improbable. Meyer, who... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:22-24
A prayer that the disciples may share in the Lord's glory. Jesus supports his petition by declaring what he has already done for his disciples. I. HE HAS ALREADY IMPARTED TO THEM A SHARE IN ' HIS GLORY . "And the glory which thou hast given me I have given them." 1. This glory is not apostolic office or gift of miracle . 2. It is not the glory of the future kingdom . 3. It is the glory of adoption . As Christ's glory consisted in his Sonship, so... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:23
I in them, and thou in me . He does not say, "Thou in them, as thou in me," nor "They in thee, and I in thee;" but he includes in the ἡμεῖς of the previous verse, ἐγὼ καὶ σύ , and distinctly regards himself as the mediating link of relation between the Father and the disciples. The ἐγὼ is that of the Son of God, manifested in Christ's consciousness of the God-man-hood; the σύ is the eternal and non-incarnate God. God is in him, as he is in them. They are in him, as he is... read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 17:20-21
Neither pray I for these alone ... - Not for the apostles only, but for all who shall be converted under the preaching of the gospel. They will all need similar grace and be exposed to similar trials. It is a matter of unspeakable joy that each Christian, however humble or unknown to men however poor, unlearned, or despised, can reflect that he was remembered in prayer by “him whom God heareth always.” We value the prayers of pious friends. How much more should we value this petition of the Son... read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 17:22
And the glory ... - The honor which thou hast conferred on me by admitting me to union with thee, the same honor I have conferred on them by admitting them to like union with me.May be one, even as we are one - Not in nature, or in the mode of existence - for this was not the subject of discourse, and would be impossible - but in feeling, in principle, in purpose. Evincing, as the Father and the Son had always done, the same great aim and plan; not pursuing different interests, or counteracting... read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 17:23
May be made perfect in one - That their union may be complete. That there may be no jars, discords, or contentions. A machine is perfect or complete when it has all its parts and is in good order when there is no portion of it wanting. So the union of Christians, for which the Saviour prayed, would be complete or perfect if there were no controversies, no envyings, no contentions, and no heart-burnings and jealousies. It is worthy of remark here how entirely the union of his people occupied the... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:20-23
Christian unity. Notice it— I. IN ITS IMPORT AND SCOPE . 1. Believers are to be in unity . Many and yet one, one and yet many. Many members, but one body; many bodies, but one Spirit; many believers , but one spiritual community. They are to be one with each other, with Christ, and with the Father. 2. Their union is to be universal . "Tidal they all may be one." There is to be no exception. It is not optional, but the universal rule of the society and law... read more