John 17:22

What does John 17:22 mean?

A plain-English look at John 17:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 17:22 means

Jesus states that He has granted to His disciples the glory that the Father gave to Him. This is not referring to His pre-incarnate divine glory but the glory of His redemptive mission, His revealed truth, and His intimate fellowship with the Father. He gave them this shared glory so that they might be united with each other, reflecting the perfect unity of the Father and the Son. This shared spiritual status and calling are foundational to their corporate oneness.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we are one;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we are one;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the glory which you have given to me I have given to them, so that they may be one even as we are one;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And I, the glory that thou hast given to me, have given to them, that they may be one as we are one;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the glory which thou hast given me, I have given to them: that, they may be one, as we also are one.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the glory which thou hast given me I have given them, that they may be one, as we are one;

Context

This verse explains *how* the unity prayed for in verse 21 is to be achieved—through the sharing of Christ's glory with believers. It clarifies the nature of this imparted glory and its direct link to the goal of Christian oneness. This explanation of shared spiritual endowment sets the stage for a deeper understanding of the depth and purpose of this divine unity in the following verse.

v.21that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me.

v.22This passage

v.23I 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.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ephesians 2:20

    being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone;

  • Acts 5:41

    They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.

  • John 17:24

    Father, I desire that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

  • John 20:21

    Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:18

    But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.

  • 1 John 1:3

    that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ:

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