John 17:2-3 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:1-5

(1) With reference to himself . read more

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:1-5

Christ's intercessory prayer. The great High Priest appears on the eve of his final sacrifice of himself for his people. He prays, first, for restoration to his Divine glory. I. THE ATTITUDE AND SPIRIT OF THIS PRAYER . "He lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father." 1. His attitude , as he looked upwards , bespoke his reverence for God , whose throne is in heaven , his confidence in God , and his expectation of help and comfort from on high . 2. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:1-26

4. The high-priestly intercession . Audible communion of the Son with the Father . The prayer which now follows reveals, in the loftiest and sublimest form, the Divine humanity of the Son of man, and the fact that, in the consciousness of Jesus as the veritable Christ of God, there was actually blended the union of the Divine and human, and a perfect exercise of the prerogatives of both. The illimitable task which writers of the second century must have set themselves to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:2

Even as thou gavest him authority —an indefeasible claim of influence and intimate organic relations with humanity— over all flesh . [This phrase answers to ( col bosor ) the Old Testament term for the whole of humanity, the entire race, and is one adopted by New Testament writers ( Matthew 24:22 ; Luke 3:6 ; 1 Corinthians 1:29 ; Galatians 2:16 ).] This authority was implied in his incarnation and sacrifice, and in the recapitulation of all things in him. St. Paul says,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:2

Christ's consciousness of power. The early discourses of our Lord show us that he commenced his ministry with the conviction that he was anointed and consecrated by the Father for the greatest work of all ages. And as his ministry drew to its close, he retained the same assurance. Even although he was aware of the approach of the awful end of his earthly career, of the apparent victory of his foes, his faith did not falter. He still anticipated the complete fulfillment of the purpose of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:3

The life eternal , of which Jesus has just spoken, is this (cf. for construction, John 15:12 ; 1 John 3:11 , 1 John 3:23 ; 1 John 5:3 ), that £ they might know —should come to know— thee, the only veritable God . All ideas of God which deviate from or fall short of "the Father" revealed to us by Christ, are not the veritable God, and the knowledge of them is not life eternal. The Father is here set forth as the fens Deitatis . This does not exclude "the Son," but is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:3

Knowledge and life: a sermon for the young. We cannot doubt that God knows us. We cannot conceive of him otherwise than as knowing all things. "He telleth the number of the stars;" and at the same time he reads the secrets of every heart. The psalmist took a just view of his God when he exclaimed, "Thou art acquainted with all my ways: for there is not a word in my tongue, but lo Lord, thou knowest it altogether." But whilst God knows us perfectly, we can only know him imperfectly. Yet it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:3

What eternal life is given for. By the faculties inherent in natural life there comes the knowledge of every natural object. If there is to be the knowledge of more, there must be something more whereby to know. Hence it seems not enough here to take "eternal life" as but another way of expressing the knowledge of the only true God and of his Son. Rather is it true of him who has the life of eternity in him that he thereby gets that glorious knowledge which God and Jesus want him to have.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 17:2

As thou hast given him power - It was on the ground of this power given to Christ that the apostles were commanded to go and teach all nations. See the notes at Matthew 28:18-19.All flesh - All men, Matthew 24:22; Luke 3:6.That he should give eternal life - See the notes at John 5:24.To as many as thou hast given him - See the notes at John 10:16; John 6:37. To all on whom the Father has purposed to bestow the blessings of redemption through his Son. God has a plan in all he does, extending to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 17:3

This is life eternal - This is the source of eternal life; or it is in this manner that it is to be obtained. The knowledge of God and of his Son Jesus Christ is itself a source of unspeakable and eternal joy. Compare John 11:25; John 6:63; John 12:50.Might know thee - The word “know” here, as in other places, expresses more than a mere speculative acquaintance with the character and perfections of God. “It includes all the impressions on the mind and life which a just view of God and of the... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:1-26

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:2

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:2

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:3

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:3

The Pulpit Commentary - John 17:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 17:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 17:3

Group of Brands