John 17:15

I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.

BSB

I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.

KJV

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

ASV

I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil [one].

BBE

My prayer is not that you will take them out of the world, but that you will keep them from the Evil One.

Original Greek

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οὐκ ouk Not G3756 ἐρωτῶ erōtō I do ask G2065 ἵνα ina that G2443 ἄρῃς arēs You may take G142 αὐτοὺς autous them G846 ἐκ ek out of G1537 τοῦ tou the G3588 κόσμου kosmou world G2889 ἀλλ all᾽ but G235 ἵνα ina that G2443 τηρήσῃς tērēsēs You may keep G5083 αὐτοὺς autous them G846 ἐκ ek from G1537 τοῦ tou (the) G3588 πονηροῦ ponērou evil G4190

The early church

"I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil." Again He simplifieth His language; again He rendereth it more clear; which is the act of one showing, by making entreaty for them with exactness, nothing else but this, that He hath a very tender care for them. Yet He Himself had told them, that the Father would do all things whatsoever they should ask. How then doth He here pray for them? As I said, for no other purpose than to show His love.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on John
(Tr. cviii) But though they were no longer of the world, it was still necessary that they should be in the world: I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world.
Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
"I pray not," He adds, "that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil." For they still accounted it necessary to be in the world, although they were no longer of it.
Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Tractates on John
As if to say, The time is now at hand, when I shall be taken out of the world; and therefore it is necessary that they should be still left in the world, in order to preach Me and Thee to the world. But that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil; every evil, but especially the evil of schism.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 11–16

Christ does not pray that they might be rich and great in the world, but that they might be kept from sin, strengthened for their duty, and brought safe to heaven. The prosperity of the soul is the best prosperity. He pleaded with his holy Father, that he would keep them by his power and for his glory, that they might be united in affection and labours, even according to the union of the Father and the Son. He did not pray that his disciples should be removed out of the world, that they might escape the rage of men, for they had a great work to do for the glory of God, and the benefit of mankind. But he prayed that the Father would keep them from the evil, from being corrupted by the world, the remains of sin in their hearts, and from the power and craft of Satan. So that they might pass through the world as through an enemy's country, as he had done. They are not left here to pursue the same objects as the men around them, but to glorify God, and to serve their generation. The Spirit of God in true Christians is opposed to the spirit of the world.

Read Matthew Henry on John 17 →

Cross-references

16

Topics

Jesus, The ChristGrace Of God

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.