John 17:11
And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Jesus asks the Father to keep His followers "in your name," which isn't just about knowing God's name, but about abiding in the knowledge and character of God Himself, the very essence He's revealed. This divine indwelling is what will preserve them and enable them to be united, reflecting the Father-Son relationship.
Jesus is about to leave his disciples to return to the Father, and he’s praying for their protection and unity in his absence. He acknowledges that he is leaving them in a world that will challenge them, while he goes to a place of safety with the Father. Therefore, he implores the Father to keep them secure and united, reflecting the oneness they share.
Jesus is about to leave his disciples, but he knows they still face a dangerous world. What does this transition mean for their spiritual safety?
Jesus begins this prayer by stating a profound reality: 'I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world' (John 17:11). His earthly mission is complete, and he is returning to the Father. Yet, his followers remain in a spiritual battleground, exposed to trials and temptations. This isn't a sign of abandonment, but a transition that necessitates a different kind of divine intervention. Jesus isn't leaving them alone; he's entrusting them to the Father's direct care, preparing them for a deeper reliance on God's power and presence.
Jesus asks the Father to 'keep them in your name.' What does it mean to be kept 'in' God's name?
The phrase 'keep them in your name' is rich with meaning. It's not just about divine protection in a general sense. It implies keeping them within the sphere of God's revealed character, His power, and His authority. The 'name' represents the totality of who God is – His perfections, His promises, His very being. Jesus asks that His followers be preserved in the knowledge of God, in obedience to Him, and in the fellowship of His cause. This keeps them from falling away and anchors them in divine truth amidst worldly pressures. It's a plea for them to remain rooted in God's holiness and truth, reflecting His character.
Jesus prays that his followers might 'be one, even as we are one.' How does their unity mirror God's?
The ultimate goal of Jesus' prayer is unity among his followers. This isn't a superficial agreement but a profound, shared life that mirrors the perfect, intrinsic unity between the Father and the Son. This divine unity is characterized by shared purpose, mutual love, and absolute oneness in essence and will. Jesus desires that his disciples embody this oneness in their relationships with each other and in their witness to the world. It’s a unity that flows from being 'kept in the name' of God, transforming them into a unified body that reflects the very nature of the Godhead.
Understand the original words
kosmos · Greek Noun
Often used in the New Testament to denote the present fallen world system that is opposed to God and His kingdom. It refers to the realm of human affairs apart from God, characterized by sin and rebellion.
hagios · Greek Adjective
An attribute of God describing His absolute moral purity, set-apartness, and transcendence. It signifies that God is entirely distinct from all creation and is morally perfect, demanding righteousness from His people.
onoma · Greek Noun
A designation representing God’s authority, character, nature, and revelation. To be 'kept in' or 'baptized in' a name is to be brought into submission to and protection by the authority and presence of that Person.
heis · Greek Number/Adjective
This prayer occurs in the immediate hours before Jesus' crucifixion, as he prepares to depart from his disciples and return to the Father. The context of his imminent physical absence underscores his deep concern for the unity and protection of those he is leaving behind in a hostile world.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Final Passover
Jesus and his disciples gather for the Passover meal in Jerusalem, a time of national and religious significance. This meal, the Last Supper, marks the beginning of Jesus' final hours before his crucifixion.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Arrest and Trial
Following the Last Supper, Jesus is betrayed, arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, and undergoes a series of trials before Jewish and Roman authorities.
c. AD 30
The Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus is crucified at Golgotha. His death is seen as a pivotal event, a sacrifice for humanity's sins.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Resurrection
Three days after his crucifixion, Jesus is resurrected, demonstrating his victory over death and confirming his divine identity.
This verse directly echoes Jesus' prayer in John 17:11, emphasizing the desire for believers to be unified 'that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.'
1 Corinthians 1:10The Apostle Paul urgently calls for unity among believers, aligning with Jesus' prayer for his followers to be one in purpose and spirit, warning against divisions in the church.
Philippians 2:2This passage speaks to the essence of Christian unity that Jesus prayed for in John 17:11, urging believers to 'be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.'
John 10:27-30Jesus speaks about his sheep being eternally secure and inseparable from both Him and the Father, which underpins the Father's ability to 'keep' believers in His name as Jesus prays in John 17:11.
barnesJohn 17:11: "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are."
I am no more in the world - I have finished my work among men, and am about to leave the world. See John 17:4 . These are in the world - They will be among wicked men and malignant foes. They will be subject to trials and persecutions. They will need the same protection which I could give them if…
vincentJohn 17:11: "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are."
I come (ἔρχομαι)I am coming. Spoken of His departure to the Father.Holy (ἅγιε)See on saints, Acts 26:10; also see on 1 Peter 1:15. Compare 1 John 2:20, and righteous Father (δίκαιε), John 17:25. This epithet, now first applied to the Father, contemplates God, the holy One, as the agent of th…
Jesus asks the Father to keep His followers "in your name," which isn't just about knowing God's name, but about abiding in the knowledge and character of God Himself, the very essence He's revealed. This divine indwelling is what will preserve them and enable them to be united, reflecting the Father-Son relationship.
Jesus is about to leave his disciples to return to the Father, and he’s praying for their protection and unity in his absence. He acknowledges that he is leaving them in a world that will challenge them, while he goes to a place of safety with the Father. Therefore, he implores the Father to keep them secure and united, reflecting the oneness they share.
Jesus is about to leave his disciples to return to the Father, and he’s praying for their protection and unity in his absence. He acknowledges that he is leaving them in a world that will challenge them, while he goes to a place of safety with the Father. Therefore, he implores the Father to keep them secure and united, reflecting the oneness they share.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about John 17:11 is available in the Sola app.
The state of spiritual unity among believers, modeled after the perfect unity between the Father and the Son. It is a divine gift that reflects the nature of the Trinity and is intended to be a testimony to the world.
tēreō · Greek Verb
To preserve, protect, or guard against loss or danger. Biblically, it emphasizes the security of the believer in God’s hands and the active role of the Holy Spirit or the Father in sustaining faith.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Ascension
After appearing to his disciples for forty days, Jesus ascends into heaven, returning to the Father. This event marks his physical departure from the world.
"And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." — Jesus asks the Father to keep His followers "in your name," which isn't just about knowing God's name, but about abiding in the knowledge and character of God Himself, the very essence He's revealed.…
