John 17:15 kjv
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
John 17:15 nkjv
I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
John 17:15 niv
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
John 17:15 esv
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
John 17:15 nlt
I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.
John 17 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 17:14 | I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them... | The disciples are in the world but distinct and hated by it. |
| Jn 17:16 | They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. | Direct statement reinforcing believers' non-belonging to the world system. |
| Jn 17:18 | As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. | Believers are sent into the world for mission, not removed from it. |
| Jn 17:11 | Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me... | Earlier plea for God to "keep" them, emphasizing divine preservation. |
| 1 Jn 5:18 | We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. | Assurance of divine protection for those born of God from the wicked one. |
| Jas 4:4 | ...whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. | Contrast: warns against adopting the world's values. |
| Rom 12:2 | And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind... | Exhortation to live distinctly within the world. |
| 2 Cor 6:17 | Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord... | Call for separation in practices, not physical withdrawal from society. |
| Eph 6:11-12 | Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood... | Recognizes spiritual battle against evil forces. |
| Phil 2:15 | That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. | Believers as lights within a dark, twisted world, showing blameless living. |
| Col 2:8 | Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world... | Warning against worldly philosophies that can mislead. |
| Gal 1:4 | Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. | Christ's work for salvation includes deliverance from the power of the "evil world." |
| Matt 6:13 | And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom... | Petition in the Lord's Prayer for deliverance from evil (or the Evil One). |
| 2 Thess 3:3 | But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. | Paul's prayer mirroring Jesus's, seeking divine keeping from evil. |
| Rev 3:10 | Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world... | God's promise to "keep" those who keep His word through trials. |
| Heb 2:18 | For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. | Jesus' understanding and ability to help those facing temptation. |
| Psa 121:7-8 | The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in... | Old Testament assurance of God's comprehensive preservation. |
| Prov 2:11-12 | Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man... | Wisdom leading to preservation from wicked individuals and paths. |
| 1 Pet 5:8 | Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. | Highlights the constant threat of the adversary. |
| Jude 1:24 | Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy... | Affirmation of God's power to preserve His people blameless. |
John 17 verses
John 17 15 Meaning
John 17:15 encapsulates Jesus' intercessory prayer for His disciples and future believers. It signifies that His desire is not for their physical removal from the world, which is a place of fallen human systems and opposition to God, but rather for their spiritual preservation and protection from its corrupting influences and from the "evil one." This verse highlights the tension and calling of believers: to live within the world as agents of God's purpose, yet remain distinct from its ungodly nature, relying on divine guardianship to navigate its perils.
John 17 15 Context
John chapter 17 is known as Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, His longest recorded prayer, uttered just before His arrest, crucifixion, and departure. The prayer moves from Jesus' request for His own glorification (v. 1-5), to intercession for His immediate disciples (v. 6-19), and finally for all future believers (v. 20-26). Verse 15 specifically falls within His intercession for the disciples, highlighting their unique position in the world after His departure. He recognizes that they must remain in the world to continue His mission, yet the world itself is hostile to God and those who follow Him. The historical context reflects a time when Jesus' followers would face increasing persecution from both Jewish and Roman authorities. The prayer implicitly acknowledges the spiritual dangers and pressures disciples would face in a fallen world system. There is no polemic here in the sense of directly arguing against a specific belief, but rather a direct declaration of God's preservation strategy contrasting with the worldly approach of escapism or conformity.
John 17 15 Word analysis
- I pray (οὐκ ἐρωτῶ - ouk erōtō): "I do not ask/request." Jesus, as the Son of God, is not simply begging but making a firm, declarative request as the divine Mediator. The Greek verb ἐρωτῶ (erōtō) can mean "to ask a question" or "to make a request." In John, it is often used for a request to God by one who is on an equal footing or making a definite, purposeful request (contrast with αἰτέω, aiteō, often used for general requests from an inferior to a superior).
- not that thou shouldest take them (ἵνα ἄρῃς αὐτοὺς - hina arēs autous): The verb αἴρω (airō) means "to lift, take up, take away, remove." Jesus clarifies His prayer's exclusion: He does not desire a physical or literal removal of His followers from their earthly existence. This directly contrasts any idea of escaping the world's physical dangers by supernatural extraction.
- out of the world (ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου - ek tou kosmou): The "world" (κοσμος - kosmos) in Johannine theology often refers to the organized human society alienated from God, under the dominion of darkness, often hostile to Christ and His followers (Jn 1:10; 12:31; 14:30; 1 Jn 2:15-17). It's not the physical planet, but the system of values, beliefs, and practices contrary to God's will.
- but (ἀλλ’ - all'): A strong adversative conjunction, emphasizing a sharp contrast between what Jesus does not ask and what He does ask.
- that thou shouldest keep them (ἵνα τηρήσῃς αὐτοὺς - hina tērēsēs autous): The verb τηρέω (tēreō) means "to watch over, guard, preserve, keep safe." This is the positive request: divine preservation. It implies an active, ongoing, vigilant protection rather than mere passive observation. This guardianship extends to their spiritual integrity, preventing apostasy and corruption.
- from the evil (ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ - ek tou ponērou): This phrase is debated among scholars.
- It can mean "from evil" (neuter: evil as an abstract concept or general malevolence).
- It can mean "from the Evil One" (masculine: Satan).Given the Johannine context, where "the ruler of this world" (Satan) is frequently mentioned (Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), and in line with similar petitions (e.g., Matt 6:13), the interpretation "from the Evil One" is strongly favored by many theologians and commentaries. It suggests protection from the personal spiritual adversary who seeks to harm, deceive, and destroy believers. It encompasses deliverance from temptation and spiritual corruption instigated by Satan.
Words-group analysis:
- "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world": This phrase rejects a common human inclination or religious ideal of escaping societal dangers by retreating into isolation. Jesus affirms that believers are called to engagement, not isolation, for the purpose of testifying to God's truth. This directly challenges ascetic monasticism or the pursuit of an "unspotted" existence through physical withdrawal.
- "but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil": This clause sets the essential boundary for Christian life within the world. Believers are to be in the world but not of it (as reinforced in John 17:16). Their presence serves God's purpose, but their protection is entirely dependent on divine grace and power against the corrupting influence of the world system and the direct attacks of Satan, the "Evil One." This divine keeping guards their faith, their witness, and their character.
John 17 15 Bonus section
The concept of being "in the world but not of the world" (John 17:16) is a defining principle for Christian existence. This verse, John 17:15, directly sets up that principle by clarifying how believers are to remain: not through their own strength or through escapism, but through divine keeping. The "Evil One" interpretation for "εκ του πονηρου" ties this prayer directly into Jesus' earlier pronouncements about Satan as "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), highlighting that the Christian life is an ongoing spiritual battle against a personal adversary who seeks to "steal, and to kill, and to destroy" (Jn 10:10). This prayer is Jesus' foundational petition for our spiritual safety in this struggle. It implicitly establishes the ongoing need for dependence on God's power for sustained faithfulness, rather than relying on isolationist tactics or human effort to withstand temptation and sin. It also provides comfort, knowing that despite being surrounded by evil, we have a High Priest continually interceding for our divine preservation.
John 17 15 Commentary
Jesus' prayer in John 17:15 lays bare a fundamental tension and divine strategy for the believer's life. He explicitly states that God's plan for His followers is not their immediate removal from a fallen world. This counters any notion that true spirituality demands withdrawal from society or that God desires His people to be untouched by the challenges of human existence. Instead, believers are to remain, bearing witness to His light amidst darkness.
The core of the petition is for divine keeping (τηρέω). This isn't passive safeguarding, but an active, watchful, and powerful preservation from "the evil," or more precisely, "the Evil One," Satan. This underscores the reality of spiritual warfare: believers face a real adversary in the world system. Jesus understands this threat and thus petitions for active divine protection. This preservation ensures their faithfulness, prevents spiritual corruption, and empowers them to fulfill their mission in a hostile environment. It’s a prayer for spiritual resilience and integrity while immersed in worldly spheres. This "keeping" applies to our character, our commitment, our mission, and our ultimate perseverance.
- Example 1: A Christian in a cutthroat business environment is not called to abandon their job but to operate with integrity, praying for God's protection from corrupt practices and the temptation to compromise their faith for gain.
- Example 2: A believer navigating online social media is called to be a light and share truth, while simultaneously seeking God's guarding against the platform's potential for gossip, divisiveness, and immoral content.