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Selected Verse: John 17:2 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Joh 17:2 |
King James |
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
given--gavest
him power over all flesh--(See on Mat 11:27; Mat 28:18-20).
give eternal life to as many as, &c.--literally, "to all that which thou hast given him." (See on Joh 6:37-40). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
As thou hast given him power - It was on the ground of this power given to Christ that the apostles were commanded to go and teach all nations. See the notes at Mat 28:18-19.
All flesh - All men, Mat 24:22; Luk 3:6.
That he should give eternal life - See the notes at Joh 5:24.
To as many as thou hast given him - See the notes at Joh 10:16; Joh 6:37. To all on whom the Father has purposed to bestow the blessings of redemption through his Son. God has a plan in all he does, extending to men as well as to other objects. One part of his plan was that the atonement of Christ should not be in vain. Hence he promised him that he should see of the travail of his soul and should be satisfied Isa 53:11; and hence the Saviour had the assurance that the Father had given him a portion of the human family, and would apply this great work to them. It is to be observed here that the Saviour in this prayer makes an important distinction between "all flesh" and those who were "given to him." He has power over all. He can control, direct, restrain them. Wicked men are so far under his universal dominion, and so far restrained by his power, that they will not be able to prevent his bestowing redemption on those were given him that is, all who will believe on him. Long ago, if they had been able, they would have banished religion from the world; but they are under the power of Christ, and it is his purpose that there shall be "a seed to serve him," and that "the gates of hell shall not prevail" against his church. Men who oppose the gospel should therefore feel that they cannot prevent the salvation of Christians, and should be alarmed lest they be found "fighting against God." |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
give eternal life
Christ's gifts to those whom the Father gave Him:
Eternal life (Joh 17:2);
the Father's name (Joh 17:6); (Joh 17:26); (Joh 20:17),
the Father's words (Joh 17:8); (Joh 17:14));
His own joy (Joh 17:13);
His own glory (Joh 17:22).
given him
Seven times Jesus speaks of believers as given to Him by the Father (Joh 17:2); (Joh 17:6); (Joh 17:9); (Joh 17:11); (Joh 17:12); (Joh 17:24). Jesus Christ is God's love-gift to the world (Joh 3:16), and believers are the Father's love-gift to Jesus Christ. It is Christ who commits the believer to the Father for safe keeping, so that the believer's security rests upon the Father's faithfulness to His Son Jesus Christ. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Power (ἐξουσίαν)
Rev., rightly, authority. See on Joh 1:12.
All flesh
A Hebrew phrase, denoting the whole of humanity in its imperfection. See Gen 6:12; Psa 65:2; Isa 40:5, etc.
That He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him (ἵνα πᾶν ὃ δέδωκας αὐτῷ, δώσῃ αὐτοῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον)
Literally, that all that Thou hast given Him, to them He should give eternal life. All (πᾶν), singular number, regards the body of Christian disciples collectively: to them, individually. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| As thou hast given him power over all flesh - This answers to glorify thy Son. That he may give eternal life, &c. - This answers to that thy Son may glorify thee. To all whom thou hast given him - To all believers. This is a clear proof that Christ designed his sacrifice should avail for all: yea, that all flesh, every man, should partake of everlasting life. For as the Father had given him power over all flesh, so he gave himself a ransom for all. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
As thou hast given him power - As the Messiah, Jesus Christ received from the Father universal dominion. All flesh, i.e. all the human race, was given unto him, that by one sacrifice of himself, he might reconcile them all to God; having by his grace tasted death for every man, Heb 2:9. And this was according to the promise of the universal inheritance made to Christ, Psa 2:8, which was to be made up of the heathen, and the uttermost parts of the land, all the Jewish people. So that he got all from God, that he might give his life a ransom for the whole. See Co2 5:14, Co2 5:15; Rom 5:21; Ti1 2:4, Ti1 2:6.
That he should have eternal life, etc. - As all were delivered into his power, and he poured out his blood to redeem all, then the design of God is that all should have eternal life, because all are given for this purpose to Christ; and, that this end might be accomplished, he has become their sacrifice and atonement. |
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
24 Father, I will 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.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.