John 17:22-24
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easily missed is that Jesus isn't just praying for his followers to become one, but declaring that he has already given them the very "glory" from the Father that makes this unity possible. This "glory" isn't just future heavenly reward, but the present reality of sharing in God's divine life and love, which is the essential foundation for Christian unity.
Jesus has just prayed for the apostles and for all future believers, extending his prayer to encompass everyone who will come to faith through their witness. He then declares that he has already given believers the glory the Father gave him, not for personal gain, but so that they might experience unity, mirroring the perfect oneness he shares with the Father. This shared glory is the foundation and power for that profound unity among them.
Jesus prays for a unity among His followers that mirrors the divine unity of the Father and Himself. But what is this 'glory' He's talking about?
In John 17:22, Jesus speaks of the 'glory' the Father has given Him and that He, in turn, has given to His disciples. This isn't just about future heavenly splendor, though that's part of it. Commentators suggest it encompasses:
Jesus is imparting a share in the divine life and mission, enabling His followers to live in a way that reflects God's own unity.
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The ultimate goal of this shared glory is profound unity. But how can human beings achieve unity that mirrors the Godhead?
Jesus explicitly states the purpose of sharing this glory: 'that they may be one even as we are one.' This 'oneness' isn't about erasing individuality or creating a monolithic bloc. Instead, it's a deep, relational unity, modeled on the perfect union within the Trinity:
This divine blueprint for unity is not just an ideal; it's made possible by the very glory Christ imparts.
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.
agapaō · Greek Verb
The divine attribute of deep, self-sacrificial, and unconditional commitment. It is the core of God's nature and the primary motivation for His redemptive work.
katabolē tou kosmou · Greek Noun
The beginning of the created order; in biblical usage, it often refers to God's eternal plan and purpose established before the creation of the universe.
This verse describes Jesus as 'full of grace and truth,' which aligns with the idea in John 17:22 that Christ shares 'glory' with believers, implying a sharing of His divine nature and blessings.
Romans 8:17It speaks of believers as 'heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,' connecting to the idea in John 17:22 that Christ gives His glory to believers, enabling them to share in His divine inheritance.
1 Corinthians 1:10This passage calls for believers to be 'of the same mind and same judgment,' directly echoing the prayer for unity in John 17:22 and showing the importance of this unity within the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:4It emphasizes that there is 'one body and one Spirit,' paralleling the prayer for unity in John 17:22 and highlighting the divine source and reality of that oneness.
Colossians 3:11This verse states that in Christ, 'there is not Greek and Jew... but Christ is all, and in all,' underscoring the unifying power of Christ that transcends earthly divisions, a unity that Christ prays for in John 17:22.
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…
What's easily missed is that Jesus isn't just praying for his followers to become one, but declaring that he has already given them the very "glory" from the Father that makes this unity possible. This "glory" isn't just future heavenly reward, but the present reality of sharing in God's divine life and love, which is the essential foundation for Christian unity.
Jesus has just prayed for the apostles and for all future believers, extending his prayer to encompass everyone who will come to faith through their witness. He then declares that he has already given believers the glory the Father gave him, not for personal gain, but so that they might experience unity, mirroring the perfect oneness he shares with the Father. This shared glory is the foundation and power for that profound unity among them.
Jesus has just prayed for the apostles and for all future believers, extending his prayer to encompass everyone who will come to faith through their witness. He then declares that he has already given believers the glory the Father gave him, not for personal gain, but so that they might experience unity, mirroring the perfect oneness he shares with the Father. This shared glory is the foundation and power for that profound unity among them.
"The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. F…" — What's easily missed is that Jesus isn't just praying for his followers to become one, but declaring that he has already given them the very "glory" from the Father that makes this unity possible…
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