Thessalonian Faith

Our Lord’s Prayer-For All His Disciples (John 17.20-26)

(43-53a)

For this week’s study: (See details below)

  1. Read the Passage. (Click HERE for tips on reading the Bible.)
  2. Study the Passage. (Click HERE for tips on studying the Bible.)

Read the Passage

Berean Standard Bible
(BSB)

Prayer for All Believers

<20>I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, <21>that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

<22>I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one— <23>I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.

<24>Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

<25>25Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me. <26>26And I have made Your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love You have for Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Word Come Alive
(WCA)
(An extended translation)*

Jesus prays for all his followers

<20>‘I am praying not only for them. I am also praying for those who will come to trust in me through the message they speak, <21>so that all of them may stand together as one in love and purpose, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the whole world may come to believe that you have sent me as the Messiah. <22>I have given them the brilliant life you gave me. I did this so that they may all become completely united, perfectly one, just as we are one: <23>I in them and you in me. My ultimate goal is that they may all be brought to complete unity. When that happens, everyone will come to know that you sent me and have loved my followers even as you have loved me.

<24>‘Father, I long for all my followers, the people you have given me, to be with me where I am, in my presence. I long for them to gaze in awe on my royal majesty, which you have given me because you loved me even before the world was created.

<25>‘Righteous Father, although the people of the world who are against me do not know you, I know you and my followers know that you have sent me. <26>I have revealed all that you are to them. I will continue to do so in order that the love you have for me may be poured into their lives and that I myself may be completely in them.’

* Words in italics are not translated from the original Greek text. They have been added to explain and at times apply the text, much as a preacher does on a Sunday or notes do at the foot of the page in a study Bible. These additions are integrated with the text itself, and are in italics, so readers can see what has been explained, changed or added.

Study the Passage

NOTE: The most important part of this study guide, after the Bible passage above, are the questions below on the left side. The resources on the right side are offered to help you answer the questions on the left side.

Study Guide

Based on verses 20, which two groups of people did Jesus pray for?

Based on John 17:9, which group of people did Jesus NOT pray for?

If Jesus did not pray for that third group, why did He mention them in verses 21 and 23?

What does Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25 tell us about Jesus’ prayer life?

The word “in” is used 8 times in the BSB translation above. Read the whole passage and write down what you think Jesus means by using the word “in” each time.

What would you say is the main lesson God wants us to learn from this passage?

Study Resources

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https://www.bibleref.com/John/17/John-17-20.html. Read the commentary for each verse in the study passage.  (Also read the Context Summary and the Chapter Summary.)

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https://www.gotquestions.org/ and explore the results.

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Footnotes: