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Verse

John 17:11

ESV And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
NIV I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
NASB I am no longer going to be in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are.
CSB I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by your name that you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one.
NLT Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.
KJV 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.
NKJV Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.

What does John 17:11 mean?

Shortly after He completes this prayer, Jesus will cross over Kidron and enter the garden of Gethsemane (John 18:1). There, He will be arrested, beginning a process leading to His crucifixion and resurrection (John 12:32–34). As these words are spoken, His ministry "in the world" is over, and the apostles will be left to carry the gospel (John 16:5–11). That world will be hostile to their message (John 16:1–4). However, Jesus has already provided comfort by predicting the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 15:26) and His eventual victory (John 16:33).

This verse is another example of Jesus referring to the use of a "name." This is not a reference to magical spells or incantations. To speak "in the name of" someone is to invoke their authority and power. When a police officer says, "stop, in the name of the law!" the command is only as valid as "the law" to which he refers. As Jesus prays for the disciples to be "kept" in their faith by the power and authority of God, He leverages this idea of God's "name."

The reference to unity here is also important. Christ's prayer is most directly applied to His inner circle (Matthew 10:1–4), other than Judas, who has already fallen away (John 17:12). However, the principles also extend to future Christian believers. Christian unity, expressed by love, is the definitive hallmark of saving faith (1 John 4:20). Jesus commanded love for fellow believers (John 13:34–35), and those who truly love Christ will follow that command (John 14:15).
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