John 17:20 kjv
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
John 17:20 nkjv
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
John 17:20 niv
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
John 17:20 esv
"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
John 17:20 nlt
"I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.
John 17 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 28:19-20 | "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, ...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." | Great Commission; evangelism of future believers. |
| Mk 16:15 | "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." | Command to spread the message globally. |
| Lk 24:47 | "and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations..." | Gospel preached to all nations. |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses..." | Disciples empowered to be witnesses. |
| Acts 2:37-41 | "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, ...and about three thousand souls were added..." | Early response to apostolic preaching. |
| Rom 10:14-17 | "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?" | Faith comes by hearing the message. |
| 1 Cor 3:6 | "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." | God causes growth through human instrumentality. |
| Eph 4:11-12 | "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, ...for building up the body of Christ." | Gifts for spreading the Word and building up believers. |
| Col 1:3-6 | "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus..." | News of faith spread through the gospel. |
| Heb 4:2 | "For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them..." | The importance of receiving the Word with faith. |
| 1 Pet 1:8-9 | "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him..." | Believers who have not seen Jesus yet believe. |
| 1 Jn 1:3 | "that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us..." | Apostolic witness for others' fellowship. |
| Jn 17:6 | "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world..." | Jesus' prayer for those the Father gave Him. |
| Jn 17:9 | "I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me..." | Specificity of Jesus' prayer for believers. |
| Jn 17:15 | "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one." | Prayer for preservation of disciples. |
| Jn 17:21 | "that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe..." | Unity of believers for witness to the world. |
| Isa 52:7 | "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace..." | Proclaiming good news, relevant to Rom 10. |
| Joel 2:28-29 | "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy..." | The Spirit's role in empowering witnesses. |
| Lk 10:16 | "The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me." | Authority of the disciples' message. |
| Rom 8:34 | "Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us." | Christ's ongoing intercession for all believers. |
| Heb 7:25 | "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." | Christ's eternal intercession. |
John 17 verses
John 17 20 Meaning
John 17:20 reveals Jesus' expansive prayer, looking beyond His immediate disciples to encompass all future generations who would come to believe in Him. It highlights that faith would spread not through direct, personal encounter with Jesus (as the original disciples had), but primarily through the relayed message and testimony of those disciples. This verse establishes the foundational importance of the apostolic word in the growth and continuation of the Church, affirming Christ's intercession for the entire body of believers across all time.
John 17 20 Context
John 17 is known as Jesus' "High Priestly Prayer." It immediately follows His Farewell Discourse (John 13-16) and occurs on the night before His crucifixion. Jesus is no longer teaching His disciples but directly communing with the Father. The chapter unfolds in three main movements: first, Jesus prays for Himself (vv. 1-5); second, He prays for His immediate disciples (vv. 6-19); and third, in verse 20, He expands His intercession to include all future believers. This verse marks a significant transition, broadening the scope of Christ's prayer to encompass the entire universal Church, looking forward to the fruit of His disciples' ministry and His own redemptive work. Historically, this prayer underscores the grave reality of His imminent suffering while demonstrating His ultimate purpose for the salvation of many.
John 17 20 Word analysis
- I do not ask: (οὐκ ἐρωτῶ - ouk erōtō).
erōtaōhere signifies a request made from a position of intimacy and equality with the Father, rather than a supplication (likedeomai). It shows Jesus, as the Son, making a confident petition to the Father concerning His redemptive plan. This is not a pleading from weakness, but an authoritative and personal address. - for these only: "These" (τούτων - toutōn) refers to the immediate eleven disciples present at that moment, excluding Judas Iscariot. This clause sets a baseline, affirming Jesus' immediate concern for His inner circle before expanding the prayer. It recognizes their foundational role in the spread of the Gospel.
- but also for those: (ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ τῶν - alla kai peri tōn). This phrase is crucial for understanding the universal scope of Christ's work. "Those" explicitly refers to all future believers throughout history. This inclusion demonstrates Jesus' divine foresight and the comprehensive nature of His redemptive love, extending to generations yet unborn.
- who will believe: (πιστευόντων - pisteuontōn). The participle, indicating ongoing belief, implies more than a single event of initial faith. It speaks of a continuous state of believing, trust, and commitment. This faith is the means by which people access the benefits of Christ's work and become part of His people.
- in me: (εἰς ἐμέ - eis eme). The object of saving faith is explicitly Jesus Christ Himself. It’s not belief about Him but belief into Him—a relationship of trust and dependence.
- through their word: (διὰ τοῦ λόγου αὐτῶν - dia tou logou autōn). This phrase defines the instrument or means by which future believers will come to faith. "Their word" refers to the message, teaching, and testimony proclaimed by the apostles and their successors, rooted in the teachings Jesus gave them. This emphasizes the vital role of evangelism and the preached/taught Gospel as the primary means God uses to bring people to Himself, rather than through direct, individual revelations for everyone. It underscores the apostolic foundation of the church.
Words-group analysis:
- "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe": This group of words profoundly broadens the scope of Jesus' High Priestly prayer. It shifts from the immediate circle of disciples (vv. 6-19) to a future, limitless community. It underlines Jesus' identity as Lord of all time and Savior for all humanity who comes to Him, reflecting God's eternal plan for salvation beyond one generation or group.
- "believe in me through their word": This phrase succinctly captures the dynamic of salvation and the growth of the early church and onward. It outlines the process: the "word" (the Gospel message entrusted to the disciples) acts as the channel, leading to "belief in Jesus" as the essential response for salvation. This underscores the authority and efficacy of the apostolic testimony and the necessity of hearing the Gospel proclaimed.
John 17 20 Bonus section
- This verse underpins the concept of the apostolic succession of faith, not necessarily an unbroken chain of human office, but the faithful transmission of the apostolic message—the very content of their "word."
- It highlights the foundational nature of the early disciples' witness; without their faithful reception, preservation, and proclamation of Jesus' teaching, the future growth envisioned in this prayer would not occur.
- Jesus’ prayer here also serves as an answer to the future dilemma of how people could believe in a Savior they had never physically seen. The answer is, through the testimony of those who did see Him.
- The fact that Jesus prayed for this future church implies its certainty in God's plan, yet it also implies that the journey of faith for these future believers would require divine intervention and protection, just as for His immediate disciples.
John 17 20 Commentary
John 17:20 reveals Jesus’ profound, selfless concern for the expansion of His kingdom, stretching across all of history. His prayer is not merely for the preservation and sanctification of the original disciples, but for the vast multitude who would subsequently come to faith. This foresight underscores the efficacy of His sacrifice and the universality of His call to salvation. The phrase "through their word" is pivotal, signifying that the spoken and written testimony of the apostles, the essence of the Gospel message, would be the primary catalyst for belief. It establishes the missionary mandate of the Church and affirms that spiritual transformation largely happens by divine grace through human instrumentality—the faithful proclamation of Christ. This verse highlights Christ’s continuous intercessory work, bridging the gap between His historical ministry and the unfolding story of the global Church, and cementing the apostolic tradition as fundamental to the propagation of faith. It’s a prayer for the church that has grown throughout the ages because of that first message.