John 17:22
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Christ shares "the glory" the Father gave Him not just as a future reward, but as the very source of present unity for His followers. This shared glory empowers them to be "one" in a way that mirrors God's own perfect unity, transforming them from scattered individuals into a unified body.
Jesus is praying for his disciples, extending his prayer to all future believers, and His ultimate desire is for them to be unified. He has already shared the divine glory the Father gave Him with them, not as a future reward, but as the very source and means by which they can achieve this profound, shared oneness. This unity, mirroring the Father and Son's own relationship, is presented as essential for the world to believe.
Jesus speaks of a 'glory' given to Him by the Father, which He, in turn, gives to believers. What is this glory, and how does it unite us?
In John 17:22, Jesus shares something profound: 'The glory that you have given me I have given to them.' What is this 'glory'? It's not just about future heavenly rewards, though that's part of it. The commentators point to several aspects:
A Glimpse of the Divine
Some see it as a participation in Christ's divine nature, or the very image of God restored within us (2 Corinthians 3:18). It’s about reflecting God’s character and purpose in our lives.
The Power of Christ's Presence
Others highlight the glory of Christ's indwelling Spirit, the divine life He imparts, and the power to live as His adopted children. This is the essence of what it means to be 'in Christ.'
Future Hope and Present Reality
It encompasses both the future hope of being glorified with Christ (Romans 8:17) and the present reality of living in His grace, truth, and love. This shared glory isn't just a reward; it's the foundation for unity.
Jesus' prayer isn't just for peace, but for a profound unity – a unity that mirrors the very oneness between the Father and the Son. How does the 'glory' factor into this?
The ultimate purpose Jesus states for giving His glory to believers is 'that they may be one even as we are one.' This unity is remarkable for several reasons:
A Trinitarian Model
Jesus holds up the unique, unbreakable oneness between Himself and the Father as the model for believer unity. This isn't just about getting along; it's about a deep, shared life and purpose.
Unity Rooted in Shared Glory
The glory Jesus shares with believers is the very thing that binds them together. When we participate in Christ's divine life and reflect His glory, we are naturally drawn into unity with one another. It's a unity that stems from a shared identity in Him.
Understand the original words
doxa · Greek Noun
The reputation, honor, majesty, or manifest presence of God. It is the visible expression of God's character and worth, fully revealed in Jesus Christ.
This passage directly echoes the prayer for unity found in John 17, calling for believers to 'be of the same mind and the same judgment' and avoid divisions, directly relating to the unity Christ prays for and provides the glory for in John 17:22.
Ephesians 4:3-6This passage emphasizes the 'unity of the Spirit' and lists the foundational elements that establish this oneness, much like Christ’s prayer in John 17 highlights the source and model of unity given to believers.
Philippians 2:2-5Paul urges believers to have the same 'mind' and 'love' as Christ, which is the very essence of the unity Christ shares with the Father, the model for the unity He grants His followers in John 17:22.
1 Peter 4:8This verse speaks of love as 'covering a multitude of sins' and is a practical outworking of the unity and selfless love modeled by Christ and His Father, which Christ seeks to instill in His followers.
cambridgeJohn 17:22: "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:"
22 . Having prayed for them with a view to their unity, He states what He Himself has done for them with the same end in view. gavest ] Better, hast given (see on John 17:4 ). The meaning of this gift of ‘glory’ seems evident from John 17:24 ; the glory of the ascended and glorified Christ in which believers are ‘joint-heirs’ with Him (see on Romans 8:17 ). Looking forward with confiden…
jfbJohn 17:22: "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:"
- And the glory which thou gavest—hast given.me I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one—The last clause shows the meaning of the first. It is not the future glory of the heavenly state, but the secret of that present unity just before spoken of; the glory, therefore, of the indwelling Spirit of Christ; the glory of an accepted state, of a holy character, of every g…
Christ shares "the glory" the Father gave Him not just as a future reward, but as the very source of present unity for His followers. This shared glory empowers them to be "one" in a way that mirrors God's own perfect unity, transforming them from scattered individuals into a unified body.
Jesus is praying for his disciples, extending his prayer to all future believers, and His ultimate desire is for them to be unified. He has already shared the divine glory the Father gave Him with them, not as a future reward, but as the very source and means by which they can achieve this profound, shared oneness. This unity, mirroring the Father and Son's own relationship, is presented as essential for the world to believe.
Jesus is praying for his disciples, extending his prayer to all future believers, and His ultimate desire is for them to be unified. He has already shared the divine glory the Father gave Him with them, not as a future reward, but as the very source and means by which they can achieve this profound, shared oneness. This unity, mirroring the Father and Son's own relationship, is presented as essential for the world to believe.
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Witness to the World
This unity, flowing from shared glory, is meant to be a witness to the world, demonstrating that God sent Jesus (John 17:21, 23). It’s a visible manifestation of God's love and Christ's work.
"The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one," — Christ shares "the glory" the Father gave Him not just as a future reward, but as the very source of present unity for His followers. This shared glory empowers them to be "one" in a way that mirrors…
