John 17:21
in John 17that 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.
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This verse in John 17
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Athanasius of Alexandria296–373
Four Discourses Against the Arians, Discourse 3, Chapter 25 · Written before 373.
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
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
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.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1869)
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 & Brown1802–1910
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 & Brown1802–1910
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 wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| πάντες | pantes | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ἓν | hen | one | G1520 → | 343 times |
| ὦσιν | osin | may be | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| καθὼς | kathos | even as | G2531 → | 182 times |
| σύ, | su | You yourself, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| πάτερ, | pater | Father, | G3962 → | 410 times |
| ἐν | en | [are] in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἐμοὶ | emoi | Me myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| κἀγὼ | kago | and I myself | G1473 →G2532 → | 839 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| σοί, | soi | You, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| αὐτοὶ | autoi | they themselves | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἡμῖν | hemin | Us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ὦσιν· | osin | may be; | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κόσμος | kosmos | world | G2889 → | 185 times |
| πιστεύῃ | pisteue | may believe | G4100 → | 237 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| σύ | su | You yourself | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| με | me | Me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἀπέστειλας. | apesteilas | sent. | G649 → | 132 times |
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
πάντεςall
pantesG3956 →1235 times
ἓνone
henG1520 →343 times
ὦσινmay be
osinG1510 →2333 times
καθὼςeven as
kathosG2531 →182 times
σύ,You yourself,
suG4771 →2973 times
πάτερ,Father,
paterG3962 →410 times
ἐν[are] in
enG1722 →2738 times
ἐμοὶMe myself
emoiG1473 →839 times
κἀγὼand I myself
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
σοί,You,
soiG4771 →2973 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
αὐτοὶthey themselves
autoiG846 →5565 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἡμῖνUs
heminG3165 →1936 times
ὦσιν·may be;
osinG1510 →2333 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
κόσμοςworld
kosmosG2889 →185 times
πιστεύῃmay believe
pisteueG4100 →237 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
σύYou yourself
suG4771 →2973 times
μεMe
meG3165 →1936 times
ἀπέστειλας.sent.
apesteilasG649 →132 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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 12:12The 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.
- Romans 12:4–5
Through
Philippians 1:27Nevertheless, 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,
- Ephesians 4:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About John

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.
