John 17:8-9

17:8 because I have given them the words you have given me. They ¹  accepted ²  them ³  and really ⁴  understand ⁵  that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 17:9 I am praying ⁶  on behalf of them. I am not praying ⁷  on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those you have given me, because they belong to you. ⁸ 

John 17:20

Jesus Prays for Believers Everywhere

17:20 “I am not praying ⁹  only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe ¹⁰  in me through their testimony, ¹¹ 

[17:8]  ¹ tn Grk And they.” The conjunction καί (kai, “and”) has not been translated here in keeping with the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences.

[17:8]  ² tn Or “received.”

[17:8]  ³ tn The word “them” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

[17:8]  ⁴ tn Or “truly.”

[17:8]  ⁵ tn Or have come to know.”

[17:9]  ⁶ tn Grk “I am asking.”

[17:9]  ⁷ tn Grk “I am not asking.”

[17:9]  ⁸ tn Or “because they are yours.”

[17:20]  ⁹ tn Or “I do not pray.”

[17:20]  ¹⁰ tn Although πιστευόντων (pisteuontwn) is a present participle, it must in context carry futuristic force. The disciples whom Jesus is leaving behind will carry on his ministry and in doing so will see others come to trust in him. This will include not only Jewish Christians, but other Gentile Christians who are “not of this fold” (10:16), and thus Jesus’ prayer for unity is especially appropriate in light of the probability that most of the readers of the Gospel are Gentiles (much as Paul stresses unity between Jewish and Gentile Christians in Eph 2:10-22).

[17:20]  ¹¹ tn Grk “their word.”