17:11a
I will no longer be in the world: In Greek the present tense was often used to refer to something that would happen very soon. The clause I will no longer be in the world therefore here indicates that Christ would soon leave the world. For example:
I won’t be in the world much longer (God’s Word)
-or-
I will remain in the world no longer (New International Version)
in the world: This phrase here means “on this earth” instead of being in heaven with God.
17:11b
but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here introduces a contrast between Jesus’ situation and the disciples’ situation. Jesus was leaving the world but his disciples were remaining. Here are other ways to translate this conjunction:
and yet (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
however
they are in the world: This clause indicates that Jesus’ disciples would remain living on earth. The Greek text emphasizes the word they to contrast it with “I” in 17:11a. Jesus was no longer in the world, but his disciples were. For example:
they are staying in this world (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
as for them, they are still here in this world (Tagbanwa Back Translation)
17:11c
and I am coming to You: This clause indicates that Christ was going to heaven to be with God his Father, God. In a way he was already on his way because he had begun his journey to the cross.
I: The Greek text emphasizes this pronoun. For example:
I myself am coming to you
coming: In some languages it may not be natural to speak of coming to a place where you are not. In those languages it may be more natural for Jesus to speak about “going” because he was leaving where he was. For example:
I am going to you
You: This pronoun is singular and refers to God the Father.
General Comment on 17:11a–c
In some languages it is more natural to put 17:11c before 17:11a. For example:
11c And now I am coming to you; 11a I am no longer in the world, 11b but they are in the world. (Good News Translation)
17:11d
Holy Father: This phrase is used to address God. Jesus called God the Father Holy. God is holy because he is different from those he created. He is different because he is unique, perfect, pure and completely good. Also, he deserves to be worshiped and honored. See Key Biblical Terms Holy A.1, and see how you translated this word in Luke 1:49, Acts 3:14 and Revelation 3:7, 4:8.
In some languages a literal translation of Holy Father may imply that Jesus also had a Father who was not holy. In those languages it may be necessary to avoid this wrong meaning by translating Holy Father as a separate clause. For example:
Father, you who are holy, protect…
-or-
Father, O Holy One! Protect…
Holy: This word indicates that God is morally perfect, divine, unique, and deserving of worship.
Father: This word is one that a child would use when speaking to his father. It indicates affection and respect. See the note and how you translated the word in 17:1.
protect them: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as protect means “keep” or “keep safe (protect).” Jesus asked God to keep his disciples safe, to guard them from harm. The same word is used in 17:6, where it refers to keeping (obeying) God’s word, and in 17:15, where it refers to protecting from Satan. Here it has the same idea as in 17:15 (and probably 17:12). But it could also have the idea of keeping them connected or faithful to God (his name). Here are other ways to translate this phrase here:
keep them safe (Good News Translation)
-or-
take care of them (Uma Back Translation)
-or-
keep them in your name (English Standard Version)
In some languages it may be necessary to say what God would protect the disciples from. If this is true in your language, you should indicate that he should keep them safe from Satan or from evil. For example:
protect them ⌊from Satan/evil⌋
by Your name: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by has more than one possible meaning. There are two main ways to interpret the Greek phrase here that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by Your name.
(1) The first word means “in ” and the phrase “in your name” means “in who God is” (see “your name” in 17:6) or “(keep them) faithful to God.” For example:
Keep those you have given me true to your name. (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
keep them safe in your name (NET Bible)
(English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible)
(2) The first word means “by,” and the phrase by Your name means “by your power.” God’s name is connected with his power (see Psalm 54:1). For example:
by the power of your name (Good News Translation)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This interpretation fits the context better, because John never uses God’s name to represent his power unless he does here. And staying in the truth of God’s character would more naturally result in unity than being protected by his power.
17:11e
the name You gave Me: There is a textual issue here regarding the Greek pronoun that the Berean Standard Bible leaves implicit:
(1) Some Greek manuscripts say “which you have given me.” The pronoun is singular, referring to God’s name. For example:
that you have given me (New Revised Standard Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)
(2) Some Greek manuscripts say “whom you have given to me.” The pronoun is plural, referring to people. For example:
those you have given me (New Jerusalem Bible)
(King James Version, New Jerusalem Bible)
It is recommended that you follow option (1) because it has the best evidence from Greek manuscripts. Also, most English translations follow it.
The clause You gave Me here refers to God’s name in 17:11d. As the note there said, God’s name represents his character, who God is. God had given his name to Jesus, meaning that he revealed who he was in Jesus. The tense of the verb gave indicates that Jesus still possessed God’s name. In some languages it may be necessary to make it clearer what God gave to Jesus. For example:
in your name, the name you gave me
-or-
in your name, ⌊the truth of who you are,⌋ that you have given me
General Comment on 17:11d–e
In some languages it may be natural to rearrange the information in these clauses. Jesus could say first that God had given Jesus his name, and then ask God to protect the disciples. For example:
11d–e Holy Father, you have given me your name; now keep them safe in that name.
17:11f
so that: The Greek connector that the Berean Standard Bible translated as so that introduces Jesus’ purpose in asking God to protect his disciples.
they may be one as We are one: Jesus wanted his disciples to be united. He wanted them to live in unity, just as he and his Father lived in unity. For example:
so that their unity may be like ours (God’s Word)
-or-
so that they will be united just as we are (New Living Translation (2004))
one: The word one here refers to many people living in unity. Try not to imply that people will no longer be individuals or have their own character. In some languages it may not be possible to say that many people are one. Here are other ways to translate this idea:
live as though they are one
-or-
live in unity
-or-
be of one heart
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