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John 17:21

in John 17

that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV

ASV

that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me.

KJV

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.

This verse in John 17

Commentary

7 notes on this verse
The Saviour, then, saying of us, "As Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they too may be one in Us," does not signify that we were to have identity with Him; for this was shewn from the instance of Jonah; but it is a request to the Father, as John has written, that the Spirit should be vouchsafed through Him to those who believe, through whom we are found to be in God, and in this respect to be conjoined in Him.

This site's exposition

which shall believe on me through their word

on John 17:20-21

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word: the prayer's circle widens beyond the eleven to every believer of every age reached through the apostolic testimony, the bench noting this clause includes the reader of the Gospel directly in the Lord's own petition offered the night before he died. 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: the unity asked for is again modeled on the Father-Son relation and given an evangelistic purpose, that the world may believe, the church's visible oneness named as evidence bearing on the world's own faith, a request whose precise fulfillment across denominational history the bench leaves to the reader rather than adjudicating.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

As thou art in me - This also is to be understood in a way of similitude, and not of sameness or equality. That the world may believe - Here Christ prays for the world. Observe the sum of his whole prayer, 1.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

That they all may be one - This prayer was literally answered to the first believers, who were all of one heart and of one soul: Act 4:32. And why is it that believers are not in the same spirit now? Because they neither attend to the example nor to the truth of Christ. That the world may believe - are have already seen that the word, κοσμος, world, is used in several parts of this last discourse of our Lord to signify the Jewish people only.

on John 17:17-26

These wonderful verses form a fitting conclusion of the most wonderful prayer that was ever prayed on earth —the last Lord's prayer after the first Lord's Supper. They contain three most important petitions which our Lord offered up in behalf of His disciples. On these three petitions let us fix our attention. Passing by all other things in the passage, let us look steadily at these three points. We should mark, first, how Jesus prays that His people may be sanctified. "Sanctify them," He says, "through your truth—Your word is truth."

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

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.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

on John 17:20-23

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.

The words behind it

26 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 12:12

    The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.

    it leads to

    • Romans 12:4–5

      Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,

    • Colossians 3:15

      Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.

    • 1 Corinthians 12:27

      Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.

  • Through

    Philippians 1:27

    Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm…

    it leads to

    • Ephesians 4:1

      As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received:

    • 1 Corinthians 16:13–14

      Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.

    • 1 Corinthians 1:10

      I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united…

    • 2 Peter 3:14

      Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.

    • Philippians 2:1–2

      Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

Where this verse is studied

About John

The Word Made Flesh — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
The Word Made Flesh — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Athanasius of Alexandria, Four Discourses Against the Arians, Discourse 3, Chapter 25; J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, John; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament.