Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 17:1-5

Here we have, I. The circumstances of this prayer, John 17:1. Many a solemn prayer Christ made in the days of his flesh (sometimes he continued all night in prayer), but none of his prayers are recorded so fully as this. Observe, 1. The time when he prayed this prayer; when he had spoken these words, had given the foregoing farewell to his disciples, he prayed this prayer in their hearing; so that, (1.) It was a prayer after a sermon; when he had spoken from God to them, he turned to speak to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 17:1-5

17:1-5 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify the Son that the Son may glorify you. Glorify him, just as you gave him authority over mankind, that he may give eternal life to every one whom you have given to him. It is eternal life to know you, who are the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent. I have glorified you upon earth, because I have finished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 17:1-5

(ii) Further, the Cross was the glory of Jesus because it was the completion of his work. "I have accomplished the work," he said, "which You gave me to do." For him to have stopped short of the Cross would have been to leave his task uncompleted. Why should that be so? Jesus had come into this world to tell men about the love of God and to show it to them. If he had stopped short of the Cross, it would have been to say that God's love said: "Thus far and no farther." By going to the Cross... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 17:1-5

There is another important thought in this passage, for it contains the great New Testament definition of eternal life. It is eternal life to know God and to know Jesus Christ whom he has sent. Let us remind ourselves of what eternal means. In Greek it is aionios ( Greek #166 ). This word has to do, not so much with duration of life, for life which went on for ever would not necessarily be a boon. Its main meaning is quality of life. There is only one person to whom the word aionios ( ... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 17:5

Before the world was - That is, from eternity, before there was any creation - so the phrase, and others similar to it, are taken in the sacred writings; see John 17:24 ; Psalm 90:2 ; Ephesians 1:4 . See John 1:1 . Let the glory of my eternal divinity surround and penetrate my humanity, in its resurrection, ascension, and in the place which it is to occupy at thy right hand, far above all creatures, Philemon 2:6 , Philemon 2:9 . read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 17:5

Verse 5 5.The glory which I had with thee. He desires to be glorified with the Father, not that the Father may glorify him secretly, without any witnesses, but that, having been received into heaven, he may give a magnificent display of his greatness and power, that every knee may bow to him, (Philippians 2:10.) Consequently, that phrase in the former clause, with the Father, is contrasted with earthly and fading glory, as Paul describes the blessed immortality of Christ, by saying that he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Group of Brands