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John 17 · a question people ask

Jesus prays, "glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed" (17:5). What is this glory?

In the text

Here are the chapter's own words on it. "Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed" (17:5). "The glory which you have given me, I have given to them, that they may be one, even as we are one" (17:22). "Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world" (17:24). John 17 says no more of this glory than these words, and these notes don't explain it by any view. Favor's chapter on John 1 asks how the Word can be both with God and God; it doesn't explain it, and this chapter doesn't either.

The verses

“Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.”
John 17:5 · World English Bible
“The glory which you have given me, I have given to them, that they may be one, even as we are one,”
John 17:22 · World English Bible
“Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.”
John 17:24 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of John 17

John 17: I pray for them

Jesus's prayer in John 17 has the verb give 17 times: the Father has given the Son authority, people, the work, the words, his name and glory, and the Son has given them the words and the glory (17:2-24).

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Last reviewed October 2, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions