The Meaning of John 17:23 Explained

John 17:23

KJV: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

YLT: I in them, and Thou in me, that they may be perfected into one, and that the world may know that Thou didst send me, and didst love them as Thou didst love me.

Darby: I in them and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me.

ASV: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I  in  them,  and  thou  in  me,  that  they may be  made perfect  in  one;  and  that  the world  may know  that  thou  hast sent  me,  and  hast loved  them,  as  thou hast loved  me. 

What does John 17:23 Mean?

Study Notes

perfect (See Scofield " Matthew 5:48 ") .
world kosmos = mankind.
world
The Greek word kosmos means "order," "arrangement," and so, with the Greeks, "beauty"; for order and arrangement in the sense of system are at the bottom of the Greek conception of beauty.
When used in the N.T. of humanity, the "world" of men, it is organized humanity-- humanity in families, tribes, nations--which is meant. The word for chaotic, unorganized humanity--the mere mass of man is thalassa, the "sea" of men (e.g.) Revelation 13:1 (See Scofield " Revelation 13:8 ") . For "world" (kosmos) in the bad ethical sense, "world system" John 7:7 .

Verse Meaning

This verse advances the thought of John 17:21. Jesus wanted the unity among believers to be so great and so clear that the world would believe Jesus" message. The world would also see that God had poured out His love on believers as well as Jesus. Notice that Jesus implied that He would indwell believers as the Father indwelt Him. All three members of the Godhead indwell the Christian ( John 14:23; Romans 8:9; Colossians 1:27). God"s indwelling presence unites Christians in the body of Christ and glorifies God.

Context Summary

John 17:18-26 - The Master's Commission
In John 10:36 we are told that the Father consecrated our Redeemer to the great work by which He had brought nigh them that were far off, Ephesians 2:13. What a scene that must have been when Jesus was set apart to destroy the works of the devil, bring in everlasting salvation, and gather into one family the scattered children of God! In that act we were included. We are bound, therefore, to a life of consecration and devotion to the world's redemption.
True unity is spiritual. When we abide in Christ, we abide in each other. Men do not recognize it, but the spiritual unity exists already. If we are one with our Lord, we must be one with all who are members of His mystical body. In different ages the Church has varied outward organization, but there has always been the unity of the one body, the one flock, the one temple. We cannot make that unity, but we must endeavor to keep it, always remembering it, especially when dealing with our fellow-believers. If we are one on earth, we must be with Him forever. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 17

1  Jesus prays to his Father

Greek Commentary for John 17:23

That they may be perfected into one [ινα ωσιν τετελειωμενοι εις εν]
Purpose clause again with ινα — hina (nineteen times in this prayer, this the fifteenth) with the periphrastic perfect passive subjunctive of τελειοω — teleioō (John 17:4), permanent state, with εις εν — eis hen (into one) as the goal and final result. That the world may know Present active subjunctive of γινωσκω — ginōskō with ινα — hina like the present tense of πιστευω — pisteuō in John 17:21, “that the world may keep on knowing” with the same pregnant phrase “that thou me didst send” Timeless aorist, but love shown by sending Christ (John 3:16) and illustrated and proven by the way Christians love one another. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 17:23

John 17:3 Might know [γινώσκωσι]
Might recognize or perceive. This is striking, that eternal life consists in knowledge, or rather the pursuit of knowledge, since the present tense marks a continuance, a progressive perception of God in Christ. That they might learn to know. Compare John 17:23; John 10:38; 1 John 5:20; 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:8.“I say, the acknowledgment of God in ChristAccepted by thy reason, solves for thee All questions in the earth and out of it,-DIVIDER-
And has so far advanced thee to be wise. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Wouldst thou improve this to reprove the proved?-DIVIDER-
In life's mere minute, with power to use that proof,-DIVIDER-
Leave knowledge and revert to how it sprung?-DIVIDER-
Thou hast it; use it, and forthwith, or die. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
For this I say is death, and the sole death,-DIVIDER-
When a man's loss comes to him from his gain,-DIVIDER-
Darkness from light, from knowledge ignorance,-DIVIDER-
And lack of love from love made manifest.”Robert Browning, “A Death in the Desert.” The relation of perception of God to character is stated in 1 John 3:2, on which see note. [source]

John 10:30 One [εν]
Neuter, not masculine Not one person (cf. εις — heis in Galatians 3:28), but one essence or nature. By the plural συμυς — sumus (separate persons) Sabellius is refuted, by υνυμ — unum Arius. So Bengel rightly argues, though Jesus is not referring, of course, to either Sabellius or Arius. The Pharisees had accused Jesus of making himself equal with God as his own special Father (John 5:18). Jesus then admitted and proved this claim (John 5:19-30). Now he states it tersely in this great saying repeated later (John 17:11, John 17:21). Note εν — hen used in 1 Corinthians 3:3 of the oneness in work of the planter and the waterer and in John 17:11, John 17:23 of the hoped for unity of Christ‘s disciples. This crisp statement is the climax of Christ‘s claims concerning the relation between the Father and himself (the Son). They stir the Pharisees to uncontrollable anger. [source]
John 13:35 By this [εν τουτωι]
Locative case with εν — en “In this way,” viz., “if ye have love” See John 17:23 where Jesus prays for mutual love among the disciples “that the world may know” that the Father sent him. Jerome (ad Galat. vi. 10) says that in his extreme old age John repeated often this command of Jesus and justified it: “Because it is the Lord‘s commandment; and if it be fulfilled it is enough.” See also John 14:31. Tertullian (Apol. 39) urges it also as proof of being disciples. Hatred of one another per contra, is an argument that we are not disciples (learners) of Jesus. [source]
John 16:26 I say not [ου λεγω]
“I speak not.” Christ did pray for the disciples before his death (John 14:16; John 17:9, John 17:15, John 17:24) and he prays also for sinners (Luke 23:34; 1 John 2:1). Here it is the special love of God for disciples of Jesus (John 14:21, John 14:23; John 17:23; 1 John 4:19). Note αιτεω — aiteō and ερωταω — erōtaō used in practically the same sense as in John 16:23. [source]
John 17:8 The words [τα ρηματα]
Plural, each word of God, as in John 3:34, and of Christ (John 5:47; John 6:63, John 6:68), while the singular Second aorist active indicative of γινωσκω — ginōskō like ελαβον — elabon in contrast with εγνωκαν — egnōkan (perfect) in John 17:7. They definitely “received and recognized truly” There was comfort to Christ in this fact. They believed Another aorist parallel with ελαβον — elabon and εγνωσαν — egnōsan The disciples believed in Christ‘s mission from the Father (John 6:69; Matthew 16:16). Note απεστειλας — apesteilas here as in John 17:3. Christ is God‘s Apostle to man (Hebrews 3:1). This statement, like a solemn refrain (Του διδστ σενδ με — Thou didst send me), occurs five times in this prayer (John 17:8, John 17:18, John 17:21, John 17:23, John 17:25). [source]
John 3:16 For so [ουτως γαρ]
This use of γαρ — gar is quite in John‘s style in introducing his comments (John 2:25; John 4:8; John 5:13, etc.). This “Little Gospel” as it is often called, this “comfortable word” (the Anglican Liturgy), while not a quotation from Jesus is a just and marvellous interpretation of the mission and message of our Lord. In John 3:16-21 John recapitulates in summary fashion the teaching of Jesus to Nicodemus. Loved First aorist active indicative of αγαπαω — agapaō the noble word so common in the Gospels for the highest form of love, used here as often in John (John 14:23; John 17:23; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:10) of God‘s love for man (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:16; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4). In John 21:15 John presents a distinction between αγαπαω — agapaō and πιλεω — phileō Αγαπαω — Agapaō is used also for love of men for men (John 13:34), for Jesus (John 8:42), for God (1 John 4:10). The world The whole cosmos of men, including Gentiles, the whole human race. This universal aspect of God‘s love appears also in 2 Corinthians 5:19; Romans 5:8. That he gave The usual classical construction with ωστε — hōste and the indicative (first aorist active) practical result, the only example in the N.T. save that in Galatians 2:13. Elsewhere ωστε — hōste with the infinitive occurs for actual result (Matthew 13:32) as well as purpose (Matthew 10:1), though even this is rare. His only begotten Son “The Son the only begotten.” For this word see note on John 1:14, note on John 1:18; and John 3:18. The rest of the sentence, the purpose clause with ιναεχηι — hina -εις αυτον — echēi precisely reproduces the close of John 3:15 save that εν αυτωι — eis auton takes the place of πιστευων — en autōi (see John 1:12) and goes certainly with εχηι — pisteuōn (not with εν αυτωι — echēi as μη αποληται αλλα — en autōi in John 3:15) and the added clause “should not perish but” The same contrast between “perish” and “eternal life” (for this world and the next) appears also in John 10:28. On “perish” see also John 17:12. [source]
John 8:55 And ye have not known him [και ουκ εγνωκατε αυτον]
Adversative use again of και — kai = “and yet.” Perfect active indicative of γινωσκω — ginōskō the verb for experiential knowledge. This was true of the κοσμος — kosmos (John 1:10; John 17:25) and of the hostile Jews (John 16:3). Jesus prays that the world may know (John 17:23) and the handful of disciples had come to know (John 17:25). But I know him Equipped by eternal fellowship to reveal the Father (1:1-18). This peculiar intimate knowledge Jesus had already claimed (John 7:29). Jesus used οιδα — oida (John 8:19; John 15:21) or γινωσκω — ginōskō (John 17:23, John 17:25) for the knowledge of the Father. No undue distinction can be drawn here. And if I should say Third-class condition (concession), “even if I say,” with και εαν — kai ean Apodosis of the condition. ομοιος — Homoios (like) is followed by the associative-instrumental case υμιν — humin The word πσευστης — pseustēs (liar), in spite of the statement that they are the children of the devil, the father of lying (John 8:44), comes with a sudden jolt because it is a direct charge. This word liar is not considered polite today in public speech when hurled at definite individuals. There is a rather free use of the word in 1 John 2:4, 1 John 2:22; 1 John 4:20; 1 John 5:10. It is not hard to imagine the quick anger of these Pharisees. [source]
1 John 4:4 In you []
The Christian society. Compare John 6:56; John 14:20; John 15:4-10; John 17:23, John 17:26; Galatians 2:20(of the individual). [source]

What do the individual words in John 17:23 mean?

I in them and You Me that they may be perfected in unity so that may know the world that You Me sent loved them even as Me You loved
ἐγὼ ἐν αὐτοῖς καὶ σὺ ἐμοί ἵνα ὦσιν τετελειωμένοι εἰς ἕν ἵνα γινώσκῃ κόσμος ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας ἠγάπησας αὐτοὺς καθὼς ἐμὲ ἠγάπησας

ἐμοί  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
ὦσιν  they  may  be 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
τετελειωμένοι  perfected 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: τελειόω  
Sense: to make perfect, complete.
ἕν  unity 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
γινώσκῃ  may  know 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γινώσκω  
Sense: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel.
κόσμος  world 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κόσμος  
Sense: an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
με  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἀπέστειλας  sent 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἀποστέλλω 
Sense: to order (one) to go to a place appointed.
ἠγάπησας  loved 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἀγαπάω  
Sense: of persons.
καθὼς  even  as 
Parse: Adverb
Root: καθώς  
Sense: according as.
ἐμὲ  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἠγάπησας  You  loved 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἀγαπάω  
Sense: of persons.