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 |
|---|---|---|
| John 17:21 | That they all may be one... | Unity of believers |
| Ephesians 4:3 | Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Striving for unity |
| 1 Corinthians 1:10 | That there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together... | Avoiding division |
| Romans 12:5 | So we, being many, are one body in Christ... | Corporate identity in Christ |
| Acts 2:42 | And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship... | Early church unity in teaching/fellowship |
| Galatians 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity beyond earthly distinctions |
| 1 Peter 4:8 | And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves... | Love as basis of unity |
| John 1:12 | But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God... | Becoming children of God through belief |
| John 14:20 | At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. | Intimate union with Christ |
| John 15:4-5 | Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself... | Fruitfulness through abiding in Christ |
| 1 John 5:11-12 | And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life... | Life through the Son |
| Colossians 3:11 | Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. | Christ as the unifying factor |
| Hebrews 12:14 | Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: | Pursuing peace and holiness |
| Ephesians 2:14 | For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; | Christ bringing reconciliation |
| 1 Corinthians 6:17 | But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. | Union of believers with Christ |
| Romans 8:1 | There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. | Freedom from condemnation in Christ |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:7 | For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. | Call to holiness |
| Philippians 2:2 | Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. | Call for like-mindedness |
| John 10:30 | I and my Father are one. | Unity of Jesus and the Father |
| 1 John 4:7 | Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God... | Love originating from God |
| Genesis 1:27 | So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him... | Humanity's original design |
| John 1:14 | And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us... | Incarnation |
| 1 Corinthians 12:12 | For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body... | Body of Christ metaphor |
John 17 verses
John 17 20 Meaning
This verse states Jesus' concern extends beyond the immediate disciples to all future believers, praying for their unity in truth. It highlights the eternal nature of God's plan, encompassing all who will believe through the apostles' message. The core desire is for believers to be one, mirroring the unity within the Godhead, and this unity is rooted in knowing and experiencing God through Jesus Christ.
John 17 20 Context
In John 17, Jesus prays the "High Priestly Prayer" before His crucifixion. He prays for Himself, for His immediate disciples, and for all future believers. John 17:20 specifically focuses on the intercession for those who will believe through the apostles' preaching. This chapter reveals the depth of Jesus' love and concern for the Church, His desire for its unity, and its eternal relationship with the Father. The historical context is Jesus' final hours, offering a profound moment of intimate communion and prayer for His followers' spiritual well-being and their ongoing witness in the world.
John 17 20 Word Analysis
- καὶ (kai): "and". A conjunctive particle linking clauses and ideas.
- οὐκ (ouk): "not". Negative particle.
- περὶ (peri): "concerning", "about". Preposition indicating the subject of the prayer.
- τούτων (toutōn): "these" (genitive plural of οὗτος, houtos). Refers to the disciples.
- μόνον (monon): "only", "alone". Adverb modifying "these", highlighting Jesus' scope beyond the immediate.
- ἀλλὰ (alla): "but", "rather". Contrasting conjunction.
- καὶ (kai): "and".
- περὶ (peri): "concerning", "about".
- τῶν (tōn): "the" (genitive plural of ὁ, ho). Article preceding "believing".
- καὶ (kai): "and".
- πιστευόντων (pisteuontōn): "believing" (present participle, genitive plural of πιστεύω, pisteuō). Indicates continuous belief by those who receive the Word.
- διὰ (dia): "through", "by means of". Preposition indicating agency or means.
- τοῦ (tou): "the" (genitive singular of ὁ, ho). Article preceding "word".
- λόγου (logou): "word" (genitive singular of λόγος, logos). Refers to the apostolic message and testimony.
- αὐτῶν (autōn): "their" (genitive plural of αὐτός, autos). Possessive pronoun referring to the disciples.
- εἰς (eis): "into", "unto". Preposition indicating direction or result.
- ἐμὲ (eme): "me" (accusative singular of ἐγώ, egō). Refers to Jesus.
Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:
- "οὐκ περὶ τούτων μόνον": "not concerning these only". Jesus explicitly broadens His prayer from the disciples present to all future believers.
- "ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ τῶν καὶ πιστευόντων": "but also concerning those who believe". Emphasizes that the intercession is inclusive.
- "διὰ τοῦ λόγου αὐτῶν": "through their word". Identifies the means by which future believers will come to faith – the testimony of the apostles.
- "εἰς ἐμὲ": "into me". The goal of their belief is a relationship with Jesus Himself.
John 17 20 Bonus Section
This verse is central to understanding the universal scope of the Christian Church. It links the disciples' role as messengers of the Word to the salvific process for all generations. The "word" of the apostles, which continues through Scripture and preaching, is the catalyst for belief, and that belief leads to a profound union with Christ, mirroring His union with the Father. The enduring unity of believers is the ultimate evidence that God has sent Jesus, a concept central to John's Gospel as a whole (John 17:21, 23).
John 17 20 Commentary
Jesus’ prayer in this verse is remarkable for its foresight and comprehensiveness. He sees beyond the current generation of disciples to all who would come to believe through the proclamation of the Gospel. This prayer underscores the vital importance of the apostolic witness; it is through the divinely inspired "word" of the apostles that humanity encounters Jesus Christ. The unified faith and fellowship of believers is the ultimate expression of the truth of Jesus’ divine mission, meant to be a testament to the world of His connection to the Father.