John 17 - NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

17:1 toward heaven. Looking up was a common posture in prayer. hour. See note on 12:23. Glorify. See notes on 12:23, 41, 43.

17:1–26 Writers and speakers often summarized key themes at the end of a section or work; Jewish sources often report a dying figure’s final advice to his children or followers; and in genuine farewell speeches people in general could emphasize key advice before dying or departing. This prayer of Jesus to the Father pulls together many important themes from Jesus’ teaching found throughout John’s Gospel.

17:2 authority . . . eternal life. Both eternal life and eternal authority belonged to the future age (cf. Da 7:13–14; 12:2). Those who believe in Jesus recognize that the climactic future era of promise has already begun (cf. Ps 110:1–2).

17:3 that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ. For knowing God in a covenant relationship, see note on 10:14–15; for life dependent on divine life, cf. note on 15:4.

17:5 glorify me in your presence. Moses reflected God’s glory (Ex 34:29–35), but Jesus reflects God’s glory in a greater sense, closer to the way that Jewish thought often applied to divine Wisdom (cf. Wisdom of Solomon 7:25–27). He shared the Father’s glory before the world began. On Jesus’ preexistence, see notes on Jn 1:1; 8:58. Wisdom was held to exist before the world, but because God does not share his glory with another (Isa 42:8; 48:11), such language implies Jesus’ deity.

17:6 I have revealed you. Lit. “I have revealed your name,” but the sense is close to what appears in the NIV. Revealing God’s name included revealing his character (Ex 33:19; 34:5, 14). Many Jewish people prayed daily for God’s name to be shown holy in all the world and thus honored, as the prophets had promised.

17:8 I gave them the words you gave me. Some Jewish hearers might think of how Moses revealed God’s words; but Jesus is greater than Moses (cf. note on v. 5).

17:10 All I have is yours. Ideally those who were intimate shared everything; it also expressed commitment to act in concert (1Ki 22:4; 2Ki 3:7).

17:12 the one doomed to destruction. Lit., “the son of destruction,” but the NIV correctly renders this idiom. The Psalms often speak of the enemies of the righteous sufferer perishing (e.g., Ps 9:3; 37:20); the betraying friend of Ps 41:9 would also not triumph (Ps 41:11).

17:15 not that you take them out of the world. Some groups, such as some Essenes, probably the group responsible for the major Dead Sea Scrolls, physically withdrew from the world into the wilderness. Jesus instead prays for protection for his people (as Jewish people often did).

17:17 Sanctify. . .your word is truth. God’s word is truth (Ps 119:142, 160), and Jewish tradition declared that God had consecrated (sanctified) Israel, separating them from the rest of the world, by giving them his law.

17:22 I have given them the glory. God was glorified or honored by his glory or honor among his people (Isa 44:23; 46:13; 49:3; 55:5; 60:1–2).

17:23 complete unity. Division was common in ancient politics and life; unity was a common exhortation. loved them. Jewish people celebrated God’s special love for his people, a love here applied to all believers (v. 20).