I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't praying for His followers to be removed from the world, but for their protection within it. The focus is not on avoiding hardship, but on maintaining their spiritual integrity and not succumbing to the influence of "the evil one," a personal antagonist actively working against God's people.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is praying for his disciples, acknowledging that while He is leaving the world, they will remain in it. He knows they will face opposition and hatred because they are set apart for God, just as He is. His prayer is not to remove them from this difficult environment, but to protect them while they are still in it.
Jesus could have asked for His followers to be removed from all danger and temptation. Why didn't He?
Jesus’ prayer in John 17:15 reveals a profound truth about the Christian life: we are not meant to escape the world, but to engage with it. While it might seem logical to ask for protection by removal, Jesus instead prays that the Father would 'keep them from the evil one.'
A Mission, Not an Escape
This prayer highlights that believers are intentionally left in the world for a purpose. They have a mission to bear witness, to teach, and to serve. As commentators note, removing them would ‘sacrifice the end of the manifestation’ and hinder the spread of the Gospel. Our presence in the world, while fraught with challenges, is essential for God’s kingdom work. It’s about strength for the journey, not an early exit.
Leavening the Lump
Think of it like yeast in dough. The yeast doesn’t disappear from the dough; it stays within and transforms it. Similarly, Christians are called to be a positive influence, a 'leaven,' within the world. We are to live holy lives in the world, not separated from it, allowing God’s light and truth to shine through us.
What does it truly mean to be 'kept from the evil one'?
Jesus’ prayer isn't for a world free of challenges, but for His followers to be empowered to overcome them. The Greek word used for 'keep' (tereo) implies guarding, preserving, and holding fast.
Victory in the Midst of Battle
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The disciples are not shielded from attacks, temptations, or the world’s hatred. Instead, the prayer is for divine preservation through these trials. It’s about having the spiritual resilience to withstand the 'evil one'—Satan himself—and his schemes. The goal isn't to live a life without conflict, but to be equipped with God’s strength to endure and emerge victorious.
Resisting Evil's Influence
Commentators emphasize that this protection is not about physical removal but about spiritual safeguarding. It means being kept 'out of the hands of' or 'free from the permanent influence' of evil. While we live among temptations and face the adversary, God’s power ensures these external forces don't ultimately define or destroy us. We are preserved from being corrupted by the world’s pervasive ungodliness and Satan's deceit.
Understand the original words
ponēros · Greek Adjective/Noun
Refers to Satan, the personal force of malevolence and the adversary of God and His people. It emphasizes the active, deceptive, and destructive work of the enemy in the lives of believers.
These verses directly parallel John 17:15, stating that 'everyone born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are God's children, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.'
1 Peter 5:8-9Peter urges believers to 'be alert and of sober mind' because 'your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion,' directly connecting to Jesus' prayer for protection against the 'evil one' while remaining in the world.
Romans 12:2This passage echoes the prayer by instructing believers not to 'conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,' highlighting the need for internal protection from the world's influence, just as Jesus prayed.
1 Corinthians 10:13Paul reassures believers that 'God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear,' which speaks to the Father's protection that Jesus is asking for on behalf of his disciples in John 17:15.
vincentJohn 17:15: "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil."
From the evil (τοῦ πονηροῦ)Or, the evil one. This rendering is according to John's usage. See 1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:14; 1 John 3:12; 1 John 5:18, 1 John 5:19; and compare John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11. From (ἐκ), literally, out of, means out of the hands of.
cambridgeJohn 17:15: "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil."
15 . I pray not ] See on John 14:16 . The nature of the protection is made clear to the listening disciples; not exemption from attack and temptation, but freedom from the permanent influence of the enemy. from the evil ] Rather, from the evil one ; comp. 1 John 2:13 ; 1 John 3:12 , and especially John 5:18 . ‘From’ = ‘out of:’ just as Christ is that in which His disciples l…
Jesus isn't praying for His followers to be removed from the world, but for their protection within it. The focus is not on avoiding hardship, but on maintaining their spiritual integrity and not succumbing to the influence of "the evil one," a personal antagonist actively working against God's people.
Jesus is praying for his disciples, acknowledging that while He is leaving the world, they will remain in it. He knows they will face opposition and hatred because they are set apart for God, just as He is. His prayer is not to remove them from this difficult environment, but to protect them while they are still in it.
Jesus is praying for his disciples, acknowledging that while He is leaving the world, they will remain in it. He knows they will face opposition and hatred because they are set apart for God, just as He is. His prayer is not to remove them from this difficult environment, but to protect them while they are still in it.
"I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one." — Jesus isn't praying for His followers to be removed from the world, but for their protection within it. The focus is not on avoiding hardship, but on maintaining their spiritual integrity and not s…
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Last reviewed October 2026