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)
Jesus isn't just talking about future heavenly glory; He's sharing a present, divine glory He received from the Father. This shared glory is the very foundation for the unity He prays for, enabling believers to be "one" as He and the Father are one.
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)
Jesus has just finished praying for the apostles and now expands his prayer to include all future believers who will come to faith through their witness. He declares that he has given his disciples the very glory the Father gave him, not for individual exaltation, but so that they might be united, mirroring the perfect unity between the Father and the Son. This divine unity, empowered by Christ's presence and the Father's love, is intended to be a compelling sign to the world.
Jesus prays for unity, and in this verse, He reveals a stunning secret: He's already given His followers a divine 'glory.' What exactly is this glory, and how does it bind us together?
In John 17:22, Jesus speaks of 'the glory that you have given me' and how He has 'given to them.' This isn't just about a future heavenly reward, though that's part of it. It's about a present, transformative reality.
More Than Sparkle
Several scholars suggest this 'glory' isn't merely outward radiance or even just the power to perform miracles. Instead, it points to:
This shared glory is a foundational gift, essential for the unity Jesus desires.
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Jesus doesn't just pray for unity; He points to the ultimate model for it. What does it look like for humanity to be 'one even as we are one'?
The phrase 'that they may be one even as we are one' is the heart of Jesus' desire for His followers. This isn't just about getting along; it's about reflecting the very nature of God.
The Divine Blueprint
Jesus uses the inseparable unity between Himself and the Father as the pattern for believers. This unity is characterized by:
When believers share in the glory Christ gives, they are empowered to live out this divine model of unity. It’s a unity that testifies to the world about God’s love and the reality of His kingdom.
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 speaks of sharing in Christ's sufferings and the subsequent joy in His glory, paralleling how Christ shares His divine glory with believers so they can be united.
Romans 8:17It describes believers as 'heirs with Christ' who will be glorified with Him, directly linking to the concept of Christ imparting His glory for unity, as mentioned in John 17:22.
1 Corinthians 1:10This verse is a powerful plea for unity among believers, echoing Jesus' prayer in John 17 for His followers to be 'one,' making the union a central theme in Christian life.
Galatians 3:28It highlights the unity found in Christ where distinctions are dissolved, reflecting the profound unity Jesus prays for in John 17, grounded in shared identity in Him.
Ephesians 4:4This passage emphasizes the 'one Spirit' as the foundation for the 'one body' and 'one hope' of believers, underscoring the divine source of unity that Jesus invokes in His prayer.
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…
Jesus isn't just talking about future heavenly glory; He's sharing a present, divine glory He received from the Father. This shared glory is the very foundation for the unity He prays for, enabling believers to be "one" as He and the Father are one.
Jesus has just finished praying for the apostles and now expands his prayer to include all future believers who will come to faith through their witness. He declares that he has given his disciples the very glory the Father gave him, not for individual exaltation, but so that they might be united, mirroring the perfect unity between the Father and the Son. This divine unity, empowered by Christ's presence and the Father's love, is intended to be a compelling sign to the world.
Jesus has just finished praying for the apostles and now expands his prayer to include all future believers who will come to faith through their witness. He declares that he has given his disciples the very glory the Father gave him, not for individual exaltation, but so that they might be united, mirroring the perfect unity between the Father and the Son. This divine unity, empowered by Christ's presence and the Father's love, is intended to be a compelling sign to the world.
"The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one," — Jesus isn't just talking about future heavenly glory; He's sharing a present, divine glory He received from the Father. This shared glory is the very foundation for the unity He prays for, enabling b…
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Last reviewed October 2026