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)
Jesus calls the Father "Holy Father," highlighting the Father's perfect character as the reason His protection is sought. The prayer isn't just for general safety, but specifically to keep them in God's name, meaning within the sphere of His revealed truth and power, which is key to their unity.
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)
Jesus is about to leave his disciples, who will remain in a hostile world, and he is returning to the Father. In this transition, he entrusts them to God's care, asking the Father to protect them by His own name, which He has given to Jesus, so that they might remain united as Jesus and the Father are one.
Jesus is leaving, but His followers are just stepping into the thick of it. Where do they find safety when the world is hostile?
Jesus contrasts His imminent departure from the world with His disciples' continued presence within it. He acknowledges they will face trials and opposition, being left in a spiritual battleground.
A Hostile Environment
The Divine Shield
Jesus prays for His followers to be 'one.' What does this 'oneness' truly look like, and why is it so vital?
Jesus’ prayer for unity isn't about organizational sameness but a deep, shared life rooted in God.
A Divine Model
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The Goal for Believers
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
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.
This prayer comes in the immediate hours before Jesus' arrest and crucifixion. He is leaving his disciples, who will face immense challenges, and he is entrusting them to the Father's care, asking for their unity in the face of worldly opposition.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Farewell Discourse
Jesus delivers his final teachings to his disciples before his crucifixion, including the Upper Room Discourse and this prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion and Burial
Jesus is betrayed, arrested, tried, and crucified. His followers are left in a state of shock, grief, and fear.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Resurrection
Jesus is raised from the dead, appearing to his disciples over a period of 40 days, confirming his victory over death.
c. AD 30
The Ascension of Jesus
Jesus ascends into heaven, returning to the Father, leaving his disciples to carry on his mission.
c. AD 33
Pentecost and the Coming of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples, empowering them to spread the Gospel and uniting them in a new fellowship.
This verse directly echoes Jesus' prayer for unity in John 17:11, emphasizing that the disciples' oneness should be a reflection of the Father and Son's unity, thereby showing the world the Father's love.
1 Corinthians 1:10Paul urges the Corinthian church to be perfectly united, a concept that directly relates to Jesus' prayer in John 17:11 for His followers to be one, free from divisions.
Ephesians 4:3This passage calls believers to 'maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,' which aligns with Jesus' plea in John 17:11 to keep His disciples one, highlighting the spiritual nature of this unity.
John 10:30Jesus states, 'I and the Father are one,' which provides the divine model for the unity Jesus prays for His disciples to possess in John 17:11, underscoring the deep connection He seeks for them.
1 John 2:20This verse speaks of believers having an 'anointing from the Holy One,' which is the divine enablement and truth that helps them remain in God's name and in unity, as Jesus prayed 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 calls the Father "Holy Father," highlighting the Father's perfect character as the reason His protection is sought. The prayer isn't just for general safety, but specifically to keep them in God's name, meaning within the sphere of His revealed truth and power, which is key to their unity.
Jesus is about to leave his disciples, who will remain in a hostile world, and he is returning to the Father. In this transition, he entrusts them to God's care, asking the Father to protect them by His own name, which He has given to Jesus, so that they might remain united as Jesus and the Father are one.
Jesus is about to leave his disciples, who will remain in a hostile world, and he is returning to the Father. In this transition, he entrusts them to God's care, asking the Father to protect them by His own name, which He has given to Jesus, so that they might remain united as Jesus and the Father are one.
"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 calls the Father "Holy Father," highlighting the Father's perfect character as the reason His protection is sought. The prayer isn't just for general safety, but specifically to keep them in…
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Last reviewed October 2026