I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't praying for a spiritual escape from the world, but for divine protection within it. The protection isn't about avoiding hardship, but about being preserved from the corrupting influence of the evil one, so his followers can complete the work God has for them.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is praying for his followers, acknowledging that while he is leaving the world, they will remain in it. He knows they face the world's hatred and temptation because they are set apart, just as he is. His prayer isn't for their physical removal from the world's dangers but for their spiritual preservation amidst the ongoing struggle against evil.
Ever feel like the Christian life is just about avoiding trouble? Jesus had a different idea for His followers.
Jesus' prayer in John 17:15 is striking because He doesn't ask for His disciples to be removed from the world.
Why Not Take Them Out?
Jesus prayed for His followers to be protected, but from what specifically? The answer is both personal and powerful.
The second part of Jesus' prayer is crucial: 'keep them from the evil one.' This isn't a prayer for general protection from all bad things, but a specific plea against a personal adversary.
The Target: The Evil One
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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.
kosmos · Greek Noun
Refers to the fallen, rebellious state of humanity and the organized systems of society that are alienated from God and opposed to His kingdom. It encompasses the worldly values, desires, and philosophies that stand in direct contradiction to God's holiness.
This prayer was spoken by Jesus just hours before His crucifixion, while His disciples were still with Him in the upper room. It addresses their future ministry in a world hostile to them, a world they are not to leave but within which they are to live and bear witness.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' final days with disciples
Jesus delivers His final teachings and prayers to His disciples in the hours before His crucifixion, including the High Priestly Prayer recorded in John 17.
c. AD 30
Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection
Jesus is crucified and then resurrected, fulfilling His mission and paving the way for the disciples' ongoing ministry.
c. AD 30-33
The Holy Spirit descends
After Jesus' ascension, the Holy Spirit empowers the disciples, enabling them to carry out their mission to spread the Gospel.
c. AD 40-60
Early spread of the Gospel
The apostles and early Christians begin to spread the Christian message throughout the Roman Empire, facing significant opposition and persecution.
This passage directly echoes John 17:15, stating that those born of God do not continue to sin because the 'evil one' cannot touch them, highlighting the spiritual protection Christ prays for.
Matthew 6:13Jesus teaches his disciples to pray 'lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,' which parallels His own prayer in John 17 that they be kept from the evil one, not removed from the world.
1 Peter 1:6-7Peter speaks of believers being tested through various trials, emphasizing that these experiences refine their faith, much like Christ's prayer that the disciples remain in the world but be protected from its corrupting influence and the adversary.
Ephesians 6:10-13Paul describes the spiritual armor needed to stand against the schemes of the devil, underscoring the reality of spiritual warfare that Christ acknowledges in His prayer for protection, not exemption, from the evil one.
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 a spiritual escape from the world, but for divine protection within it. The protection isn't about avoiding hardship, but about being preserved from the corrupting influence of the evil one, so his followers can complete the work God has for them.
Jesus is praying for his followers, acknowledging that while he is leaving the world, they will remain in it. He knows they face the world's hatred and temptation because they are set apart, just as he is. His prayer isn't for their physical removal from the world's dangers but for their spiritual preservation amidst the ongoing struggle against evil.
Jesus is praying for his followers, acknowledging that while he is leaving the world, they will remain in it. He knows they face the world's hatred and temptation because they are set apart, just as he is. His prayer isn't for their physical removal from the world's dangers but for their spiritual preservation amidst the ongoing struggle against evil.
"I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." — Jesus isn't praying for a spiritual escape from the world, but for divine protection within it. The protection isn't about avoiding hardship, but about being preserved from the corrupting influence…
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Last reviewed October 2026