Jesus refers to his Father six times in this chapter, calling God "Father" (,
pater), "Holy Father" (,
pater hagie, ) and "Righteous Father" (,
pater dikaie, ). These are the
only occurrences in the New Testament of the
vocative forms αγιε and δικαιε, used in
direct address to God.
Verse 1 :
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You". Alternatively, "After Jesus had spoken these words ..." (to his
disciples, in
chapter 16), namely: :
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Benson suggested that "these words" refers to "the words recorded in the three preceding chapters" (chapters
14 to 16). "Over all flesh" (σαρκός,
sarkos), from the noun σὰρξ (
sarx), becomes "all people" in the
New International Version and the
Good News Translation. Alfred Plummer argues that "
fallen man, man in his frailty, is specially meant".
Verse 4 :
I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. This is the first of six summaries given in this chapter of the ministry of Jesus Christ on earth. The others are to be found in verses 6-8, 12, 14, 22-23, 25-26. Jesus explains parenthetically, how they belong to the Father, although given by him to the Son. Irish Archbishop
John McEvilly comments that
Verse 11 :
Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. Swedish-based commentator
René Kieffer distinguishes chapter 17 from the rest of Jesus'
farewell discourse, referring to "a kind of timeless aspect" denoted by the words "I am no longer in the world". The
Jerusalem Bible and
Richard Francis Weymouth's
version of the New Testament both suggest the reading "keep [them] true to your/thy name".
Verse 12 New King James Version :
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. The words "in the world" are omitted by the most reliable early texts. McEvilly divides Jesus' prayer into four parts: his prayers for himself (verses 1-5), for his disciples (verses 6-19), specifically for those who will come to faith through the teaching of the apostles (verse 20) and finally for the
whole church (verses 21-26).
Verse 21 :
[T]hat they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. == See also ==