John 17:23 kjv
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
John 17:23 nkjv
I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
John 17:23 niv
I in them and you in me?so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
John 17:23 esv
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.
John 17:23 nlt
I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
John 17 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Joh 17:21 | ...that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I in you... | Jesus' preceding prayer for unity. |
| Eph 4:3 | ...eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Exhortation to preserve spiritual unity. |
| Eph 4:13 | ...until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood... | Goal of spiritual growth into unity. |
| Col 1:27 | ...Christ in you, the hope of glory. | Christ's indwelling as source of hope. |
| 2 Cor 13:5 | ...Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you...? | Believers possess Christ's indwelling. |
| Gal 2:20 | I have been crucified with Christ...Christ lives in me. | The life of Christ lived through the believer. |
| Joh 14:20 | In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. | Mutual indwelling in the triune God. |
| Psa 133:1 | Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! | Old Testament appreciation for unity. |
| Rom 15:5-7 | ...grant you to live in harmony...welcome one another... | Practical unity glorifying God. |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | ...that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you... | Apostolic call for unity in the church. |
| Joh 13:35 | By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. | Love as the distinguishing mark for the world. |
| Acts 1:8 | ...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses... | Believers empowered to be witnesses to the world. |
| Mat 5:16 | ...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father.. | Christian conduct as a witness to God. |
| 1 Pet 2:12 | ...they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. | Believers' good works attracting others to God. |
| 1 Joh 4:7-8 | Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God... | Foundation of love for all unity and witness. |
| 1 Joh 4:13 | By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. | Knowing God's indwelling through the Spirit. |
| 1 Joh 3:1 | See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God... | Magnitude of the Father's love for believers. |
| Rom 8:38-39 | ...nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus... | Assurance of God's unwavering love for believers. |
| Joh 3:35 | The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. | Father's eternal love for the Son. |
| Heb 12:23 | ...to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, | Eschatological perfection of believers. |
| Col 3:14 | And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. | Love as the ultimate bond of unity. |
| Phil 1:6 | And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. | God's work of perfecting believers. |
| Eph 2:4-5 | But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us... | God's great love as the basis for salvation. |
| 1 Pet 5:10 | ...The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. | God's work in bringing believers to completeness. |
John 17 verses
John 17 23 Meaning
John 17:23 reveals Jesus' profound prayer that believers, by sharing in His spiritual indwelling (Christ in them) and rooted in the eternal union of the Father and the Son (Father in Christ), would attain a complete and mature unity. The ultimate purpose of this perfected oneness is to serve as an irrefutable testament to the world, demonstrating that the Father indeed sent Jesus and, astonishingly, loves His followers with the same measure of love He bestows upon His own Son.
John 17 23 Context
John chapter 17 is often referred to as Jesus' "High Priestly Prayer." Offered just hours before His crucifixion, it is a heartfelt intercession on behalf of Himself, His immediate disciples, and all future believers throughout history. The prayer transitions from Jesus' own glorification (vv. 1-5), to His concern for the protection and sanctification of His disciples (vv. 6-19), and finally, in verses 20-26, to the profound theme of unity for those who will believe through the disciples' word. Verse 23 is a culmination of this section, detailing the pattern, purpose, and result of the desired unity. The immediate context of Jesus' imminent departure and the impending mission of His followers imbues this prayer with urgent significance. Historically, Jewish society was often fragmented, and the emerging Christian community would face both internal and external pressures. Jesus' emphasis on unity was not merely a spiritual ideal but a practical necessity for evangelistic effectiveness in a skeptical and diverse world.
John 17 23 Word analysis
- I in them: (ἐγὼ ἐν αὐτοῖς, egō en autois) Signifies Christ's spiritual indwelling, a mystical and life-giving union with believers through the Holy Spirit. It means Christ's life and nature are truly present and active within the believer. It is the dynamic power for new life.
- and you in me: (καὶ σὺ ἐν ἐμοί, kai sy en emoi) Describes the eternal, perfect, and unshakeable union between God the Father and God the Son. This relationship is the foundational template and source for the unity believers are to experience. It highlights the divine nature of the union Jesus desires for His followers.
- that they may be perfected: (ἵνα ὦσιν τετελειωμένοι, hina ōsin teteleiōmenoi) teleioō means "to complete," "to bring to maturity," "to fulfill." This is a passive perfect participle, implying a completed state or purpose achieved through divine action. It indicates a process leading to an ultimate state of wholeness, maturity, and spiritual completeness, not necessarily sinlessness in a moral sense at this point, but completeness in their function and being as the body of Christ.
- in unity: (εἰς ἕν, eis hen) Literally, "into one" or "for oneness." It signifies the outcome or goal of being perfected. It refers to a profound spiritual and relational oneness that mirrors the oneness within the Godhead, far beyond mere agreement or organizational cohesion. It is a unity of spirit, purpose, and heart.
- so that the world may know: (ἵνα ὁ κόσμος γινώσκῃ, hina ho kosmos ginōskē) Introduces the outward, missional purpose of this unity. ginōskō means "to know experientially," "to perceive," "to recognize." The world's recognition is a critical consequence, indicating the apologetic power of a united church. It is an understanding gained not just intellectually, but by observation of a living reality.
- that you sent me: (ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας, hoti sy me apesteilas) The core message validated by Christian unity. It is the declaration of Jesus' divine origin, mission, and authority as the Son sent by the Father to redeem humanity. The church's unity acts as a credible sign that Jesus' claims are true.
- and loved them: (καὶ ἠγάπησας αὐτούς, kai ēgapēsas autous) This is an astonishing revelation of the Father's affection. It means the Father's love is actively directed towards believers.
- just as you loved me: (καθὼς ἐμὲ ἠγάπησας, kathōs eme ēgapēsas) kathōs ("just as," "even as") is a powerful comparative. This states that the Father's love for believers is of the same nature, quality, and intensity as His eternal love for His Son. This is an unparalleled assertion of divine favour and sonship by adoption, establishing a profound, intimate, and unconditional bond.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "I in them and you in me": This phrase defines the triune flow of divine life and presence as the internal engine and pattern for the believers' unity. It establishes that their unity is rooted in God's own being and action, not merely human effort.
- "that they may be perfected in unity": This reveals the specific purpose and immediate spiritual outcome of the divine indwelling. The completion or maturity of believers is expressed through their collective, integral oneness, mirroring God's character.
- "so that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, just as you loved me": This passage articulates the ultimate, external, and evangelistic aim. The church's visible unity serves as undeniable evidence to the world regarding Jesus' divine mission and the extraordinary, unparalleled love of God for His people, which is akin to His love for His only Son.
John 17 23 Bonus section
The Father's love, articulated in the breathtaking phrase "just as you loved me," is the ultimate theological grounding for all these connections. It elevates the believer's status to that of one loved in Christ, sharing in the Beloved's privilege. This love is the deepest motivation for the Son's mission and the ultimate goal for believers' lives. Furthermore, while the Holy Spirit is not explicitly named in this verse, His role is undeniably implied as the divine agent who indwells believers and effects this spiritual unity (cf. 1 Joh 4:13, Rom 8:9-11). The unity Jesus prays for is not manufactured but Spirit-enabled and Spirit-maintained. The scandalous nature of disunity among professing Christians stands in stark contrast to this profound prayer, undermining the church's witness and grieving the heart of God.
John 17 23 Commentary
John 17:23 distills the very essence of Christian communal life and its ultimate purpose. True Christian unity is not a mere organizational strategy or social agreement, but a profound spiritual reality that flows from the intimate indwelling of Christ within believers and the perfect union between the Father and the Son. This verse makes it clear that believers are drawn into the divine family dynamic. The "perfection in unity" speaks of a comprehensive wholeness and maturity achieved when Christ's followers function as one body, truly reflecting His presence. This perfected oneness is not for their benefit alone, but serves as a compelling and authentic witness to a skeptical world. A unified church powerfully demonstrates two truths: that Jesus was genuinely sent by God and, perhaps even more astoundingly, that God loves His children on earth with the very same perfect and infinite love that He has for His beloved Son. Disunity, therefore, not only hinders the church's spiritual growth but also diminishes its crucial witness, obscuring the profound love and truth of God to a world in need.Examples for practical usage:
- A diverse group of believers overcoming cultural and denominational differences to serve a community need together.
- Churches in a city collaborating on a unified evangelistic outreach or social justice initiative.
- Individual believers forgiving each other and seeking reconciliation, demonstrating Christ's reconciling work to outsiders.