John 17:8

For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

For {G3754} I have given {G1325} unto them {G846} the words {G4487} which {G3739} thou gavest {G1325} me {G3427}; and {G2532} they {G846} have received {G2983} them, and {G2532} have known {G1097} surely {G230} that {G3754} I came out {G1831} from {G3844} thee {G4675}, and {G2532} they have believed {G4100} that {G3754} thou {G4771} didst send {G649} me {G3165}.

because the words you gave me I have given to them, and they have received them. They have really come to know that I came from you, and they have come to trust that you sent me.

For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.

for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received them, and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me.

John 17:8 is a profound statement spoken by Jesus during His High Priestly Prayer, offered to the Father just hours before His crucifixion. This verse encapsulates the faithfulness of His disciples and the divine origin of His teachings.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' extended prayer found in John chapter 17, often considered the most intimate glimpse into Jesus' relationship with the Father. Following His final discourses to His disciples, Jesus turns to prayer, first for Himself, then for His disciples, and finally for all future believers. In this specific verse, Jesus affirms that He faithfully delivered the Father's words to His disciples and that they, in turn, received and believed them, acknowledging His divine origin and mission. This sets the stage for His subsequent prayer for their protection and unity.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Source of Jesus' Teaching: Jesus explicitly states, "I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me." This highlights that Jesus' message was not His own invention but directly from God the Father, underscoring His perfect obedience and the ultimate authority of His words. This theme is consistent throughout John's Gospel, where Jesus often asserts that He speaks and acts only as directed by the Father (e.g., John 12:49).
  • Disciples' Reception and Conviction: The verse praises the disciples for having "received [them]" (the words) and having "known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me." This demonstrates that their faith was not superficial but based on a deep conviction stemming from accepting Jesus' divine revelation. They understood His unique relationship with the Father and His purpose as the Messiah.
  • Foundation of True Faith: For the disciples, and for all believers, the bedrock of faith is recognizing Jesus' divine origin ("I came out from thee") and believing in His divine commission ("thou didst send me"). This dual understanding of Jesus as both God incarnate and God's chosen messenger is essential to Christian belief.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "received" (ἐλάβοσαν - elábosan) implies more than just hearing; it signifies an active and intentional acceptance, an inward appropriation of the truth. Similarly, "known surely" (ἔγνωσαν ἀληθῶς - égnōsan alēthōs) suggests a profound, experiential knowledge, not merely intellectual understanding. It's a certainty rooted in revelation and experience, leading to firm belief.

Practical Application

John 17:8 serves as a powerful reminder for us today that the words of Jesus, as recorded in Scripture, are divinely inspired and carry the authority of God the Father. Our response should mirror that of the disciples: to not only hear but to actively "receive" and embrace these truths. As we do, our faith in Jesus' divine identity and mission will deepen, leading to a surer "knowledge" of who He is and what He accomplished. This verse encourages us to value God's Word as the ultimate truth and to allow it to transform our lives, just as it did for the first disciples. It also highlights the importance of hearing and keeping God's word.

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.

  • John 17:14

    I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

  • John 15:15

    Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

  • John 16:30

    Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

  • John 16:27

    For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:13

    ¶ For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

  • John 8:42

    Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

  • 1 John 4:14

    ¶ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.

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