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William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 17:9-19

The great interest of this passage is that it tells us of the things for which Jesus prayed for his disciples. (i) The first essential is to note that Jesus did not pray that his disciples should be taken out of this world. He never prayed that they might find escape; he prayed that they might find victory. The kind of Christianity which buries itself in a monastery or a convent would not have seemed Christianity to Jesus at all. The kind of Christianity which finds its essence in prayer and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:1

These words spake Jesus ,.... Referring to his sermons and discourses, his words of comfort, advice, direction, and instruction, delivered in the three preceding chapters: and lift up his eyes to heaven ; the seat of the divine majesty, the throne of his Father. This is a prayer gesture. It is said F3 Vajikra Rabba, sect. 34. fol. 174. 4. of R. Tanchuma, that הגביה פניו לשמים , "he lift up his face to heaven", and said before the holy blessed God, Lord of the world, &c.;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:2

As thou hast given him power over all flesh ,.... All men, in distinction from angels; and these as fallen, as weak, frail, sinful, and mortal creatures; men of every nation, Jew or Gentile, and of every character, elect or non-elect: not but that he has also a power over angels; nor is his power over men limited to their "flesh" or bodies, but reaches to their spirits or souls also: which power is a governing, disposing, and judicial one; he rules them with a sceptre of righteousness, he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:3

And this is life eternal ,.... That is, the beginning and pledge of it, the way unto it, and means of it, and what will certainly issue in it: that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent . The knowledge of God here spoken of, is not the knowledge of him by the light of nature, and works of creation; for a man may know God in this sense, and not know him in Christ, nor anything of Christ; yea, may know God and profess him in words, and in works deny... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:4

I have glorified thee on the earth ,.... This is made use of as a reason and argument, why the Father should glorify him: Christ glorified his Father personally, as he held forth and expressed the glory of his person; and verbally, by ascribing, on all occasions, praise and glory to him; and really, or by deeds, and that by various ways: as in and by his ministry; by asserting he had his mission, qualifications, and doctrine, from him as a prophet; his principal work was to declare his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:5

And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self ,.... Not with his perfections, these he had, they dwelt bodily in him; or with his nature, in which he was one with him; but as Mediator, with his glorious presence in heaven, by setting him at his right hand, and crowning him with glory and honour. The Jews have a notion that God will give to the King Messiah, מן הכבוד של מעלה , "of the supreme glory" F7 Midrash Tillim in Psal. 20 apud Galatin. de Arcan. Cathol. Ver. l. 3.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:6

I have manifested thy name ,.... Not the "Nomen Tetragrammaton", the name of four letters, the name "Jehovah", and which the Jews call "Shemhamphorash", and say is ineffable, and to be pronounced by Adonai; who also speak of other names, and say F9 Shaare ora, fol. 1. 3. , "truly the former wise men had holy names, which they received from the prophets, as the name of "seventy two" letters, and the name of "forty two" letters, and the name of "twelve" letters, and many other holy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:7

Now they have known ,.... The Syriac version reads it ידעת , "I have known"; and so the Persic and Gothic versions, contrary to most copies and other versions, which read, as we render, "they have known", that is, the disciples and apostles of Christ: that all things whatsoever thou hast given me ; all temporal things, the world and the fulness of it; all power in heaven, and in earth, or a power of disposing of all things for his own service, as Mediator; all spiritual things, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:8

For I have given unto them the words ,.... Not commands, but doctrines; and these not the doctrines of men; nor any of the divers and strange doctrines; but what are called in Scripture the doctrine of God, of Christ, of the apostles, are agreeably to the Scriptures, and according to godliness; and are styled the word of truth, of faith, of righteousness, of peace and reconciliation, of life and salvation, and of the Gospel; and which Christ gave to his disciples, and gifts along with them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:9

I pray for them ,.... This is to be understood of Christ, not as God; for as such he is the object of prayer; nor need he pray to any other; nor is there any superior to him under that consideration to pray unto; but as man and Mediator: nor is his praying any argument against his deity; nor proof of inferiority to his Father with respect to his divine nature; since it is not in that, but in his human, nature, that he prayed; though this may be ascribed to his whole person as Godman; hence... read more

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