John 17:17
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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John 17:17
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Jesus isn't just asking for his disciples to become more holy; he's praying they be set apart in and by "the truth" – God's word itself. This truth isn't just a set of facts, but the very sphere where their transformation and dedication to God's work will happen.
Jesus, in the intimate setting of the Last Supper, is praying for his disciples. Having just spoken about how they are not of the world, he now asks the Father to set them apart and make them holy. This prayer emphasizes that their separation from the world and their ongoing transformation into Christ's likeness are dependent on God’s truth, which is revealed in His word.
When Jesus prayed for His disciples to be 'sanctified,' it wasn't just about making them feel good or wiping away sins. It was a profound prayer for their purpose and purity.
The word 'sanctify' (Greek: hagiazō) carries a double meaning that’s crucial here:
1. Consecration and Setting Apart
At its core, 'sanctify' means to set apart for a holy purpose, to consecrate. Think of ancient priests or sacred objects being dedicated solely to God's service. Jesus is praying that His followers would be fully set apart for the mission God has for them, distinguished from the world.
2. Progressive Purity
It also means to be made holy, to be cleansed from sin and made more like God. This isn't a one-time event but a lifelong process of growth. As believers embrace God’s truth, they are progressively purified, growing in their ability to overcome sin and worldly attachments.
Jesus asks for both: that His disciples be dedicated to God’s work and be inwardly transformed to live out that calling with genuine holiness.
Jesus doesn't just say what sanctifies us; He points to where it happens. It's not just a doctrine, but a whole new way of living.
Jesus prays, 'Sanctify them in the truth.' This preposition 'in' is key. It suggests that truth isn't just a tool used for sanctification, but the very atmosphere or environment where sanctification takes place.
The New Environment
Believers are called out of the world and into God's truth. This truth—the revelation of God, His character, His will, and His plan through Jesus—becomes the new reality they inhabit. It’s like transplanting a fragile plant into fertile soil where it can thrive and be transformed.
God's Word as Truth Incarnate
Understand the original words
hagiazō · Greek Verb
To be set apart, consecrated, or made holy for God's purposes. It involves both the initial state of being declared righteous in Christ and the ongoing process of moral and spiritual transformation by the Holy Spirit.
alētheia · Greek Noun
The ultimate reality of God's character and revelation. In a biblical context, it is not merely intellectual or factual, but divine reality that sets one free and serves as the objective standard for sanctification.
logos · Greek Noun
The expressed communication of God's mind, will, and character to humanity. It is considered authoritative, infallible, and the primary instrument through which God creates, sustains, and transforms His people.
This passage speaks about God's word being truth and righteous, directly echoing Jesus' statement in John 17:17 and highlighting the inherent purity and sanctifying power of divine revelation.
1 Thessalonians 5:23This verse prays for the complete sanctification of believers by God, mirroring Jesus' prayer for his disciples and emphasizing the ongoing work of spiritual cleansing and consecration.
Ephesians 5:26This verse describes Christ sanctifying the church through the 'washing of water by the word,' directly linking the Word of God to the process of making believers holy, as Jesus asserts in John 17:17.
2 Timothy 3:16-17This passage emphasizes that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, reinforcing the idea that God's Word is the source of truth and the means for spiritual growth and sanctification.
John 1:14This verse states that 'the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,' connecting the divine Word with Jesus Himself, who is the ultimate embodiment of truth and the agent through whom sanctification is ultimately achieved, as implied in John 17:17.
barnesJohn 17:17: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
Sanctify them - This word means to render pure, or to cleanse from sins, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 ; 1 Corinthians 6:11 . Sanctification in the heart of a Christian is progressive. It consists in his becoming more like God and less attached to the world; in his getting the ascendency over evil thoughts, and passions, and impure desires; and in his becoming more and more weaned from earthly objects, and attached to those things which a…
cambridgeJohn 17:17: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
17 . Sanctify ] Or, consecrate . The word expresses God’s destination of them for their work and His endowment of them with the powers necessary for their work. The word is used of God’s consecration of Jeremiah, Moses, and the chosen people ( Jeremiah 1:5 ; Sir 49:7 ; Sir 45:4 ; 2Ma 1:25 ). This prayer has been called “the Prayer of Consecration.” through thy truth ] Rather, in the truth . ‘Thy’ is a gloss, rightly explaining th…
Jesus isn't just asking for his disciples to become more holy; he's praying they be set apart in and by "the truth" – God's word itself. This truth isn't just a set of facts, but the very sphere where their transformation and dedication to God's work will happen.
Jesus, in the intimate setting of the Last Supper, is praying for his disciples. Having just spoken about how they are not of the world, he now asks the Father to set them apart and make them holy. This prayer emphasizes that their separation from the world and their ongoing transformation into Christ's likeness are dependent on God’s truth, which is revealed in His word.
Jesus, in the intimate setting of the Last Supper, is praying for his disciples. Having just spoken about how they are not of the world, he now asks the Father to set them apart and make them holy. This prayer emphasizes that their separation from the world and their ongoing transformation into Christ's likeness are dependent on God’s truth, which is revealed in His word.
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Jesus then clarifies what this truth is: 'your word is truth.' God's Word, encompassing His teachings, commands, and promises, is the ultimate reality check. It’s the reliable standard that shapes our understanding, corrects our misguided views, and guides our steps toward holiness.
"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." — Jesus isn't just asking for his disciples to become more holy; he's praying they be set apart in and by "the truth" – God's word itself. This truth isn't just a set of facts, but the very sphere…