John 17 is the seventeenth chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the ChristianBible. It portrays a prayer of Jesus Christ addressed to His Father, placed in context immediately before His betrayal and crucifixion, the events which the gospel often refers to as His glorification.[1]Methodist theologian Joseph Benson calls this prayer "Our Lord’s Intercessory Prayer", because "it is considered as a pattern of the intercession he is now making in heaven for his people".[2] The book containing this chapter is anonymous, but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that John composed this Gospel.[3]
Jesus refers to His Father six times in this chapter, calling God "Father" (Greek: πατηρ, pater), "Holy Father" (Greek: πατηρ ἅγιε, pater hagie, John 17:11) and "Righteous Father" (Greek: πατηρ δικαιε, pater dikaie, John 17:25). These are the only occurrences in the New Testament of the vocative forms αγιε and δικαιε, used in direct address to God.[4]
Verse 1
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You".[5]
Alternatively, "After Jesus had spoken these words ..." (to his disciples, in chapter 16),[6], namely:
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."[7]
Benson suggested that "these words" refers to "the words recorded in the three preceding chapters" (chapters 14 to 16).[2]
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.[8]