This verse literally begins “these things I am commanding you that….” For this kind of structure see verses 8,12, and 13.

This verse repeats the theme of love, and so rounds off this section, which began in verse 12 with that theme. In a sense, verse 17 is transitional to the theme of the following section (15.18_16.4): the reason that the world hates the disciples is that they love one another and belong to Jesus.

Some of the complications involved in the reference of this may be avoided by translating verse 17 “Love one another is what I command you to do” or “What I command you is to love one another” or “My command to you is, Love one another.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .