John 17:16 · Clearspring

Your notes

Private to you. Anything you write on this verse, here or while reading, shows up here and in My study.

Other translations

WEBBE

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

BSB

They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

KJV

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

ASV

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

BBE

They are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

Original Greek

Look up a word

Tap a word to see what it means and everywhere else it's used.

ἐκ ek Of G1537 τοῦ tou the G3588 κόσμου kosmou world G2889 οὐκ ouk not G3756 εἰσὶν eisin they are G1510 καθὼς kathōs even as G2531 ἐγὼ egō I myself G1473 οὐκ ouk not G3756 εἰμὶ eimi am G1510 ἐκ ek of G1537 τοῦ tou the G3588 κόσμου kosmou world G2889

The early church

"They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." How then saith He in another place, "Which Thou gavest Me out of the world; Thine they were"? There He speaketh of their nature; here of wicked actions. And He putteth together a long encomium of them; first, that "they were not of the world"; then, that "the Father Himself had given them"; and that "they had kept His word;" and that on this account "they were hated." And if He saith, "As I am not of the world," be not troubled; for the "as" is not here expressive of unvarying exactness. For as, when in the case of Him and the Father the "as" is used, a great Equality is signified, because of the Relationship in Nature; so when it is used of us and Him, the interval is great, because of the great and infinite interval between the respective natures. For if He "did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth," how could the Apostles be reckoned equal to Him? What is it then that He saith, "They are not of the world"? "They look to another world, they have nothing common with earth, but are become citizens of heaven." And by these words He showeth His love, when He commendeth them to the Father, and committeth them to Him who begat Him. When He saith, "Keep them," He doth not speak merely of delivering them from dangers, but also with regard to their continuance in the faith.

John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on John

(Tr. cviii) He repeats the same thing again; They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Then He repeats the same statement: "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth." For thus are they kept from the evil, as He had previously prayed that they might be. But it may be inquired how they were no more of the world, if they were not yet sanctified in the truth; or, if they already were, why He requests that they should be so. Is it not because even those who are sanctified still continue to make progress in the same sanctification, and grow in holiness; and do not so without the aid of God's grace, but by His sanctifying of their progress, even as He sanctified their outset? And hence the apostle likewise says: "He who hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Tractates on John

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

1

Topics

Minister, Christian