John 17:21 kjv
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
John 17:21 nkjv
that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
John 17:21 niv
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
John 17:21 esv
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 that you have sent me.
John 17:21 nlt
I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one ? as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
John 17 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 6:4 | "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!" | The absolute unity of God. |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." | Unity in Christ transcends social distinctions. |
| Eph 4:3 | "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." | Actively preserving spiritual unity. |
| Eph 4:4-6 | "one body and one Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God..." | Basis of Christian unity in God and Christ. |
| Phil 2:2 | "make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose." | Unity of mind and purpose. |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | "that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you..." | Call to unity, warning against division. |
| 1 Cor 12:12-13 | "So in Christ we, though many, form one body..." | Believers are one body through the Spirit. |
| Col 3:12-15 | "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness... and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." | Love as the bond of perfect unity. |
| 1 Jn 4:12 | "If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us." | Mutual love enables God's indwelling. |
| Rom 12:4-5 | "For just as each of us has one body with many members... so in Christ we, though many, form one body..." | Diverse members in one body. |
| Jn 10:30 | "I and the Father are one." | Jesus' own declaration of divine unity. |
| Jn 14:10-11 | "Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in Me?" | Mutual indwelling of Father and Son. |
| Jn 14:20 | "On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you." | Believers' indwelling in Christ. |
| Jn 6:56 | "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him." | Christ's indwelling in believers. |
| Matt 28:19 | "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." | Great Commission: unity's evangelistic purpose. |
| Acts 1:8 | "you will be My witnesses... to the ends of the earth." | Power for witness, enabled by unity. |
| Acts 2:44 | "And all who believed were together and had all things in common." | Early church demonstrating tangible unity. |
| Phil 1:27 | "living in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ... striving together as one for the faith of the gospel." | United striving for the Gospel. |
| Titus 3:10 | "Reject a divisive person after a first and second admonition." | Warning against those who disrupt unity. |
| 1 Jn 1:3 | "that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." | Unity leads to fellowship with God. |
| Heb 12:14 | "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." | Pursuit of peace fosters unity. |
| Ps 133:1 | "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" | The blessedness of unity. |
John 17 verses
John 17 21 Meaning
John 17:21 conveys Jesus' profound desire for unity among all believers, modeled on the perfect, inherent unity existing between God the Father and God the Son. This oneness among followers is not merely organizational or external but a deep spiritual and relational unity, enabling believers to participate in the divine fellowship. The ultimate purpose of this extraordinary unity is for the world to witness and believe in the divine mission and authority of Jesus as the sent one from God, serving as a powerful testament to the truth of the Gospel.
John 17 21 Context
John chapter 17 is known as Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, offered shortly before His arrest and crucifixion. It is a powerful intercessory prayer for Himself, His immediate disciples, and all future believers. In verses 1-5, Jesus prays for His own glorification. In verses 6-19, He prays for His current disciples, focusing on their protection, sanctification, and unity in truth. Verses 20-26 extend this prayer to include all who would come to believe through the disciples' message. Verse 21, specifically, sits at the heart of this latter section, emphasizing the central importance of believers' unity, patterned after the divine unity of the Trinity, as a crucial component for the world's belief in Jesus. The historical context includes Jesus preparing His followers for His departure, entrusting them with His mission, and foreseeing the challenges of living as a community of faith in a hostile world.
John 17 21 Word analysis
that they all may be one
- that: hina (ἵνα). A conjunction indicating purpose, intent, or result. It emphasizes the ultimate goal of Jesus' prayer.
- they all: pantes (πάντες). Refers inclusively to all who will believe in Jesus, not just the original disciples. It implies a comprehensive scope of unity, extending through time and across all peoples.
- may be one: hen ōsin (ἓν ὦσιν). "Hen" is neuter singular, emphasizing qualitative unity, essence, and spiritual oneness, not merely numerical identity or external organizational uniformity. It suggests a shared purpose, mind, and spirit, like that of the Godhead.
as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You
- as: kathōs (καθώς). A comparative conjunction indicating "just as," "even as," or "according as." This shows the model and nature of the desired unity. The unity of believers is to be patterned after, not identical to, the unique co-inherence of the Father and Son.
- You, Father, are in Me, and I in You: sy, Pater, en emoi, kago en soi (σὺ, Πάτερ, ἐν ἐμοί, κἀγὼ ἐν σοί). This describes the divine perichoresis or mutual indwelling of the Father and the Son, a concept foundational to Trinitarian theology. It implies perfect communion, love, understanding, and purpose, without loss of distinct personhood. This divine unity serves as the ultimate example and source for believers' unity.
that they also may be one in Us
- that they also: hina kai autoi (ἵνα καὶ αὐτοί). Reinforces the purpose (hina) and extends the object (kai autoi - "they also").
- may be one: hen ōsin (ἓν ὦσιν). Reiterates the spiritual and essential unity.
- in Us: en hēmin (ἐν ἡμῖν). This phrase defines the sphere or source of believers' unity. It's a unity not simply among themselves but a unity rooted in their relationship with and indwelling by the Father and the Son. This points to a unity that is supernatural, derived from participation in the divine life.
that the world may believe that You sent Me
- that the world: hina ho kosmos (ἵνα ὁ κόσμος). The final purpose clause, showing the evangelistic and apologetic outcome. "Kosmos" here refers to humanity outside of faith in God.
- may believe: pisteuē (πιστεύῃ). Not just intellectual assent, but transformative trust and acceptance.
- that You sent Me: hoti sy me apesteilas (ὅτι σὺ μέ ἀπέστειλας). The core message that the world is to believe: Jesus' divine commission and identity as God's Son and Messiah. The unity of believers provides a compelling, visible testimony to this truth.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "that they all may be one": This sets the primary request: a unified body of believers. It's a foundational prayer for the future church, stressing intrinsic oneness rather than just external alignment.
- "as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You": This critical phrase reveals the pattern and paradigm for unity. It's a call to spiritual communion, mutual love, and perfect harmony, mirroring the distinct yet perfectly intertwined relationship within the Godhead. It signifies a profound relational intimacy.
- "that they also may be one in Us": This clarifies the means and sphere of unity for believers. Our unity is not self-generated but derivative, participation in the divine life and fellowship of the Trinity. It emphasizes the dependence on God's presence for authentic unity.
- "that the world may believe that You sent Me": This articulates the ultimate missional purpose of believers' unity. A visibly unified church becomes the most compelling evidence to a watching world of the authenticity of Jesus' claim and the truth of His Gospel, drawing people to faith.
John 17 21 Bonus section
The "one" (hen) here does not imply a single, monolithic ecclesiastical structure, but rather a profound spiritual communion and shared identity in Christ. This spiritual reality should manifest in visible ways, leading to relational harmony and cooperation. The call for unity acknowledges the potential for disunity and sets a high standard, prompting continuous self-examination and repentance within the body of Christ. Furthermore, this unity is directly linked to the love shared within the Godhead, suggesting that it is empowered by and expressed through selfless love among believers. The world's belief hinges not on perfect conformity, but on the living demonstration of divine love through unified disciples.
John 17 21 Commentary
John 17:21 presents a cornerstone of Christian identity and mission: the call to profound unity among believers. This unity is not mere agreement on doctrines or structural organization, but a deep spiritual and relational oneness, flowing from the very life of the Triune God. It mirrors the intimate perichoresis, the mutual indwelling and perfect communion, between the Father and the Son. Believers, by virtue of their shared indwelling by the Spirit, are drawn into this divine circle of love and purpose, becoming "one in Us"—a unity that transcends earthly divisions of race, social status, or background.
The supreme objective of this supernatural unity is evangelistic. When the world observes a community of people loving one another, working together in harmony, and exhibiting a bond that transcends natural understanding, it serves as an undeniable apologetic for the divine origin and truth of Jesus' mission. This unity becomes the visible demonstration of the invisible God, powerfully validating Jesus as the Son sent by the Father. Disunity, conversely, fragments the church's testimony and undermines its credibility. The prayer underscores that Christian unity is not an optional add-on but an essential prerequisite for effective witness to a doubting world.
Examples for practical usage:
- A diverse congregation of different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds coming together to serve their local community, demonstrating mutual respect and love.
- Christians from different denominational traditions collaborating on a project that benefits their city, despite minor theological differences.
- Individuals forgiving past hurts and actively pursuing reconciliation with fellow believers who have wronged them, upholding the bond of peace.