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Verse

John 17:23

ESV I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
NIV I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
NASB I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me.
CSB I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.
NLT I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
KJV I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
NKJV I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

What does John 17:23 mean?

For those who are not saved (1 Corinthians 2:14), the only way to "see" God and His influence is through the example of Christian believers (Matthew 5:13–16). Jesus previously indicated that His actions demonstrated that He was sent by God (John 14:11, 31). The same is meant to be true of born-again believers (John 17:21). Those who sincerely love God will obey God (John 14:15), and that means showing Christian love for other believers (Colossians 3:14). As much as Christians are obligated to rebuke those who teach false things (Galatians 1:8; 1 Corinthians 5:11), there is also a command to be lovingly unified (Romans 14:1).

In this High Priestly Prayer (John 17:1), it's important to note this emphasis. When Jesus began to pray specifically for those who would come to faith through the work of the apostles (John 17:20), the main request He makes is for unity. While in other passages, Jesus is more direct about His divine nature (John 8:58–59; 10:30; 14:9), this reference to being "in" is part of this ongoing prayer for harmony between fellow Christians (John 17:22).
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