Section 17:1–26
Jesus prayed to his Father
In this section, chapter 17, Jesus prayed to God his Father. He asked his Father to restore the glory that he had before he came to earth. He also asked his Father to protect his disciples from evil. He prayed for people in the future who would believe in him. He also told his Father that he wanted his disciples to always be with him.
Sometimes it is difficult to know to whom the pronouns “they” and “them” refer. Most of the time, Jesus was praying for the 11 disciples with him. However, he also prayed for all Christians, including those who would believe in him in the future. And even some of the prayers for the 11 disciples could also be thought to be prayers for future believers.
Here are some other possible Section Headings:
Jesus Prays for Himself, His Disciples, and His Church (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus’ prayer for his disciples
Paragraph 17:1–5
In this paragraph Jesus asked his Father to restore the glory that he had before he came to earth.
17:1a
When Jesus had spoken these things: This clause refers to all that Jesus said in chapters 14–16. Jesus finished talking to his disciples and then began to talk to God his Father. This clause acts as a conclusion to the previous section and a link to the following section, Jesus’ prayer. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
When Jesus had finished saying these things (NET Bible)
-or-
After saying this (God’s Word)
-or-
After Jesus had finished speaking to his disciples (Contemporary English Version)
17:1b
He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said: This clause indicates that Jesus looked up toward God in heaven to pray. Jewish people usually looked up when they prayed. (See 11:41.)
heaven: This word refers to where God lives. People thought that heaven was physically “up,” in or beyond the skies. See the notes on John 1:32, 51, 3:13, 6:32–33.
Father: This word indicates that Jesus was speaking to God the Father as a child would speak to his father. The word indicates affection as well as respect. Use whatever expression a person would use to speak to his father and show love and respect. See also 11:41 and verses 5, 11, 21, 24, and 25 in this chapter. In some languages it may be natural to include a possessive pronoun. For example:
My Father
the hour has come: This clause means “it is now the right time.” This refers to the time that God set for Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and return to heaven. See how you translated this clause in 12:23 and 13:1b. For example:
the time has come (NET Bible)
-or-
now is the time
-or-
the time ⌊that you have set/established⌋ has arrived
17:1c
Glorify Your Son: The word Glorify here means “cause to be honored.” Here it refers to God causing Jesus to receive honor, the honor that he deserved. God would reveal Jesus’ true greatness. Translate this clause in a way that does not make Jesus seem proud. His real motive is to glorify his Father, not to seek praise for himself. See Key Biblical Terms Glory, Glorious, Glorify C.3. See how you translated similar clauses in 13:31–32. For example:
Give glory to your Son (Good News Translation)
-or-
bring glory to your Son (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Reveal the greatness of your Son
Glorify: This verb is a request to God. Use a form that you would use in prayer to ask God to do something.
Your Son: This phrase here refers to Jesus as the Son of God. This title indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. It also indicates that the relationship between God the Father and Jesus, his Son, is similar in some way to the relationship between human fathers and sons. God the Father does not have a physical body. He did not have a sexual relationship that resulted in Mary becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus.
See how you translated the phrase “the Son of God” at 1:34. For further information, see the note on this phrase at 1:34.
Jesus was referring to himself in the third person. See the General Comment on 17:1–3.
General Comment on 17:1b–c
In some languages it may be natural to make it explicit what hour/time had come by linking 17:1b–c. For example:
the time has come for you to bring glory to your Son (Contemporary English Version)
17:1d
that Your Son may glorify You: This is a purpose clause. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as that introduces the reason why God should glorify Jesus, his Son. In glorifying (honoring) his Son, God the Father will also receive honor. Translate the word glorify the same way that you did in 17:1c.
Your Son may glorify You: There is a textual issue here.
(1) Some Greek manuscripts have “the Son” here. For example:
that the Son may give glory to you (Good News Translation)
(English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)
(2) Some Greek manuscripts have Your Son here. For example:
that your Son may glorify you (New Jerusalem Bible)
(Berean Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, New International Version, God’s Word, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version)
It is recommended that you follow option (1). But both options refer to Jesus, the Son of God, who is speaking to his Father. See the General Comment on 17:1–3.
Your Son: Translate this phrase in a way that makes clear that it refers to the same person as “your Son” in 17:1c. See the note there. You may want to use a pronoun here. For example:
in order that he may bring glory to you (Contemporary English Version)
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