John 17:20

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Neither {G1161}{G3756} pray I {G2065} for {G4012} these {G5130} alone {G3440}, but {G235} for {G4012} them also {G2532} which shall believe {G4100} on {G1519} me {G1691} through {G1223} their {G846} word {G3056};

“I pray not only for these, but also for those who will trust in me because of their word,

I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message,

Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word;

John 17:20 is a profoundly significant verse within what is often called Jesus' "High Priestly Prayer," offered just hours before His crucifixion. Here, Jesus expands the scope of His intercession beyond His immediate disciples to include all future believers throughout history.

Context

This verse follows Jesus' fervent prayers for Himself (John 17:1-5) and for the protection and sanctification of His eleven apostles (John 17:6-19). In a pivotal shift, Jesus looks beyond His immediate circle, demonstrating His divine foresight and boundless love. He anticipates the spread of the Gospel through the testimony of His disciples, recognizing that countless others would come to faith through their witness. This prayer underscores His eternal concern for the entire Church, past, present, and future.

Key Themes

  • Christ's Intercessory Ministry: This verse highlights Jesus' ongoing role as our great High Priest, interceding on behalf of His followers. It reassures believers that Christ's prayers are not limited to a select few but encompass all who would ever believe in Him. This intercession is a source of comfort and security for the Church.
  • The Power of Testimony: Jesus specifically prays for those "which shall believe on me through their word." This emphasizes the crucial role of the apostles' preaching and teaching (both spoken and written, forming the New Testament) in spreading the Gospel. It underscores the foundational importance of faithful witness in bringing others to Christ.
  • The Unity of Future Believers: While not explicitly stated in this verse, it sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent prayer for the unity of all believers (John 17:21-23). His prayer for future disciples is intrinsically linked to His desire for their oneness, reflecting the unity He shares with the Father.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "through their word" (Greek: διὰ τοῦ λόγου αὐτῶν - *dia tou logou autōn*) signifies the means by which future generations would come to faith. "Word" here refers to the message, teaching, or testimony of the apostles. It's not just their personal presence but their communicated truth about Jesus Christ that would be the instrument of belief. This highlights the enduring power and authority of the apostolic message.

Significance and Application

John 17:20 offers immense encouragement to every believer. It means that Jesus prayed specifically for you, personally, if you have placed your faith in Him through the message passed down from the apostles. It demonstrates His deep and abiding love for His Church throughout all ages.

  • Assurance for Believers: Knowing that Christ prayed for you personally before His crucifixion provides profound comfort and assurance of His care and commitment to your salvation.
  • The Call to Witness: This verse implicitly validates and empowers the mission of the Church. Just as people believed through the apostles' word, so too are believers called to share the Gospel, trusting that God will use their testimony to bring others to faith, fulfilling the Great Commission.
  • Foundation of Faith: It underscores that genuine Christian faith is founded on the authoritative and reliable testimony of the apostles, preserved for us in the Scriptures.

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of Christ's all-encompassing love and His active, ongoing intercession for His people, ensuring the continuation and growth of His Church until His return.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 2:41

    Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls.

  • John 17:6

    I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

  • John 17:11

    And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we [are].

  • Acts 4:4

    Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

  • Romans 15:18

    For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

  • Romans 15:19

    Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

  • Ephesians 4:11

    And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

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