[Propertalk] FW: Gospel Notes - John 17:6-19 (Brian Stoffregen) - Part 1A

[Joe Parrish]

7th Sunday of Easter B

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John 17:6-19




7 Easter B: John 17:6-19 -- exegetical notes

The Gospel readings for 7 Easter all come from John 17:
Year A—vv. 1-11
Year B—vv. 6-19
Year C—vv. 20-26.

While the prayer is a unified whole, it is usually given 2 or 3 subsections, based on whom Jesus is praying for: himself, disciples, or others.

O’Day’s outline (John, New Interpreter’s Bible)


 

1. Jesus Prays for His Glorification (17:1-8)
2. Jesus Prays for the Faith Community (17:9-23)
3. Jesus Prays for the Eschatological Union of Father, Son, and Believers (17:24-26)


Brown’s outline (John, Anchor Bible)


 

1. Jesus, having completed his work, prays for glory (17:1-8)
2. Jesus prays for those whom the Father has given him (17:9-19)
3. Jesus prays for those who believe through the disciples’ word (17:20-26)


Bultmann’s outline (The Gospel of John, slightly adapted)


 

1. The Petition for Glorification (17:1-5)
2. The Intercession for the Community (17:6-26)


 

a) The Founding of the Community (17:6-8)
b) The Petition for the Preservation and Sanctification of the Community (17:9-19)
c) The Petition for the Oneness of the Community (17:20-23)
d) The Petition for the Perfecting of the Believers (17:24-26)


 

 

 


ARE “THEY” PAST OR PRESENT BELIEVERS?

There are different interpretations for the pronouns in this prayer. In v. 9, Jesus prays for them (Gk & NIV) = NRSV’s “on their behalf”. This may refer to the original disciples or to all present believers.

Verse 20b has two pronouns: “those believing in me through their word” (v. 20). If “their” refers to the original believers, then “those” refers to all the believers since the original disciples. We would be part of this group who believe because of “their,” that is, the original disciples’ word. Brown (John, Anchor Bible Commentary) makes this distinction.

O’Day (John, New Interpreters Bible) suggests that v. 9 refers to all believers, past and present (including us). Then “those” in v. 20 refers to people who are not presently believing, and “their” refers to all believers, including us. It is through our word that an unbelieving world may come to believe in Jesus.

Since our text continues the use of the pronouns “they,” “them,” the interpreter/preacher needs to decide whether Jesus is praying just for the original disciples or for all of us believers in these verses. The second option seems more preachable to me.

Throughout John, God uses “mediators” to bridge gaps. Jesus comes as the Word and is between humanity and God. John is a mediator whose words bring his disciples to Jesus. Andrew is a mediator whose words bring his brother Peter to Jesus. Philip is a mediator whose words bring Nathanael to Jesus. The entire gospel is described as a mediator whose words are written so that the readers may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that through believing they may have life in his name.

None of us have come to faith on our own. There were others whose words—both spoken and acted—brought us to faith in Jesus. However the pronouns are interpreted, we who believe now, are the ones who have the word that is necessary to bring others to faith in Jesus.

AN OVERHEARD PRAYER

By using a prayer form, both the disciples and readers are outsiders overhearing Jesus’ words—and it follows the typical pattern of a farewell discourse. A contrast can be made between this prayer of Jesus and his prayer at Gethsemane in the Synoptics—both coming just before he is arrested. In the Synoptics Jesus asks that he might not face the hour of suffering. In John, this hour of “glory” completes the work God has given him to do (17:4). There is a different attitude as Jesus approaches his death between the synoptics and John.

ΔΙΔΩΜΙ DIDŌMI

17 times in this prayer Jesus uses the word “given” (δίδωμι didōmi) -- (3 times in our verses).

13 times God gives something to Jesus


 

people (vv. 2, 6, 6, 9, 12, 24)
glory (vv. 22, 24)
authority (v. 2)
the work (v. 4)
everything (v. 7)
the word (v. 8)
God’s name (v. 11)

 

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