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John 17:2
ESV since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
NIV For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.
NASB just as You gave Him authority over all mankind, so that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.
CSB since you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.
NLT For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.
KJV As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

What does John 17:2 mean?

Jesus is praying for Himself in these early verses of the High Priestly Prayer. However, His focus is on obeying the will of God. What Christ asked for in verse 1 is explained exactly that way here in verse 2. Any glory Jesus obtains, in fulfilling His mission, is ultimately glory given to God the Father (John 8:54). For this reason, God the Father gave all His authority to Jesus (John 5:19–20, 26–29).

The purpose of Jesus' earthly ministry was to bring glory to God, with His sacrifice enacting the means of salvation by grace through faith (John 12:27–33). This is how humanity can be reconciled to God (John 3:16–18); this is, in fact, the only way anyone can be saved (John 14:6). Soon, Jesus will be arrested, falsely convicted, and executed, only to be raised from death after three days (Mark 8:31). This is necessary as part of God's plan to make salvation possible (Titus 3:5).

This verse is also notable for being another reference to God "giving" certain people to Christ for the purposes of salvation. This is a point Jesus has made before (John 6:37; 10:29), and which will be echoed in other portions of the New Testament (Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1:5; 2 Peter 1:10).

Christ also uses the term "eternal life" here, and again in the following verse, where He defines it.
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