John 17:20–21

Jesus Prays for Believers Everywhere

17:20 “I am not praying57 only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe58 in me through their testimony,59 17:21 that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray60 that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me.

57	tn Or “I do not pray.”
58	tn Although πιστευόντων (pisteuontōn) 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).
59	tn Grk “their word.”
60	tn The words “I pray” are repeated from the first part of v. 20 for clarity.