JOHN 17:21 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
May they all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me — The petition for unity (hina pantes hen, that all may be one) reaches its fullest expression, grounding Church unity in the Father-Son relationship itself. The concentric structure (Father in Son, Son in Father, believers in both) reflects Johannine perichoresis (mutual indwelling). Unity becomes the Church's chief apologetic: the world's belief follows from witnessing organic oneness rooted in divine communion.
Church Fathers on John 17:21
When our Lord had prayed for His disciples, whom He named also Apostles, He added a prayer for all others who should believe on Him; Neither pray I for these alone, but for all others who shall believe of Me through their word.
Another ground of consolation to them, that they were to be the cause of the salvation of others.
As you, Father, are in Me, and I in you, that they also may be one in Us, i.e. that as the Father is in the Son, and the Son in the Father, so after the likeness of this unity, all may be one in the Father and in the Son.
Read all 17 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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