John 17:2 — Community Reflections

JOHN 17:2 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.”

For you granted him authority over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to all whom you have given him — The language of delegation ("granted authority," exousian) echoes Psalm 8 and Daniel 7:14, where the Son of Man receives dominion. "All flesh" (pasan sarka) encompasses all humanity, while "eternal life" (zōēn aiōnion) is not merely endless duration but the very life of God himself, communion with the Father and Son. The phrase "those you have given him" introduces the theme of divine election without negating human responsibility.

Church Fathers on John 17:2

After having said, In the world you shall have tribulation, our Lord turns from admonition to prayer; thus teaching us in our tribulations to abandon all other things, and flee to God.
Chrysostom · 4th century

These things spoke Jesus, those things that He had said at the supper, partly sitting as far as the words, Arise, let us go hence; and thence standing, up to the end of the hymn which now commences, And lifted up His eyes and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Your Son.
Bede · 8th century

Our Lord, in the form of a servant, could have prayed in silence had He pleased; but He remembered that He had not only to pray, but to teach. For not only His discourse, but His prayer also, was for His disciples’ edification, yes and for ours who read the same. Father, the hour is come, shows that all time, and every thing that He did or suffered to be done, was at His disposing, Who is not subject to time. Not that we must suppose that this hour came by any fatal…
Augustine · 4th century

Read all 28 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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