Joh 17:20-26 | RWP | e4.org | Through their word ( δια του λογου αυτων ). Through the agency of conversation and preaching, blessed privilege open to all believers thus to win men to Christ, but an agency sadly limited by the lives of those who speak in Christ's name.

‏ John 17:20-26

Through their word ( δια του λογου αυτων ). Through the agency of conversation and preaching, blessed privilege open to all believers thus to win men to Christ, but an agency sadly limited by the lives of those who speak in Christ's name.

That they also may be in us ( ινα κα αυτο εν ημιν ωσιν ). Another purpose clause with ινα and the present active subjunctive of ειμ. The only possible way to have unity among believers is for all of them to find unity first with God in Christ.

That the world may believe ( ινα ο κοσμος πιστευη ). Another purpose clause with ινα and the present active subjunctive of πιστευω, "may keep on believing." Beyond a doubt, strife, wrangling, division are a stumblingblock to the outside world.

And the glory ( καγω την δοξαν ). Literally, "And I the glory," with emphasis on "I." It is the glory of the Incarnate Word (Bernard), cf. 1:14; 2:11, not the glory of the Eternal Word mentioned in 17:24. Bengel says: Quanta majestas Christianorum! Then verse 22 repeats the unity prayed for in verse 21.

That they may be perfected into one ( ινα ωσιν τετελειωμενο εις εν ). Purpose clause again with ινα (nineteen times in this prayer, this the fifteenth) with the periphrastic perfect passive subjunctive of τελειοω (verse 4), permanent state, with εις εν (into one) as the goal and final result.

That the world may know ( ινα γινωσκη ). Present active subjunctive of γινωσκω with ινα like the present tense of πιστευω in verse 21, "that the world may keep on knowing" with the same pregnant phrase "that thou me didst send" ( οτ συ με απεστειλας ) as in 8, 25.

And lovedst them ( κα ηγαπησας αυτους ). Timeless aorist, but love shown by sending Christ (Joh 3:16) and illustrated and proven by the way Christians love one another.

I will ( θελω ). Perfect identity of his will with that of the Father in "this moment of spiritual exaltation" (Bernard), though in Gethsemane Jesus distinguishes between his human will and that of the Father (Mr 14:36).

Where I am ( οπου ειμ εγω ). That is heaven, to be with Jesus (12:26; 13:36; 14:3; Ro 8:17; 2Ti 2:11f.).

That they may behold ( ινα θεωρωσιν ). Another purpose clause with ινα and the present active subjunctive of θεωρεω, "that they may keep on beholding," the endless joy of seeing Jesus "as he is" (1Jo 3:2) in heaven.

Before the foundation of the world ( προ καταβολης κοσμου ). This same phrase in Eph 1:4; 1Pe 1:20 and six other times we have καταβολη κοσμου (Mt 25:34; Lu 11:50; Heb 4:3; 9:26; Re 13:8; 17:8). Here we find the same pre-incarnate consciousness of Christ seen in 17:5.

O righteous Father ( Πατηρ δικαιε ). Nominative form with πατηρ used as vocative (cf. Joh 20:28), but vocative form δικαιε. Then the righteousness of God is appealed to like God's holiness in verse 11.

The world ( κα ο κοσμος ). The translations usually slur over the κα as untranslatable in English. Westcott suggests "while" as a sort of correlative. It is quite possible that here κα is almost concessive like "though" and δε =yet: "though the world did not know thee, yet I knew thee, and these knew thee." See Robertson, Grammar, p. 1182 for και--δε--κα and various other uses of κα in John's Gospel.

And will make it known ( κα γνωρισω ). Future active of γνωριζω, the perpetual mission of Christ through the Spirit (16:12, 25; Mt 28:20) as he himself has done heretofore (17:6).

Wherewith ( εν ). Cognate accusative relative with ηγαπησας which has also the accusative of the person με (me).