The Holy Father
John 17:11
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father…


The appellation "Holy Father" is in relation with the petition presented. With man holiness is the consecration of his whole being to the task assigned him by the Divine will. In God holiness is the free, deliberate, calm, and immutable affirmation of Himself, who is goodness, or of goodness, which is Himself. The holiness of God, then, so soon as we are associated therewith, draws a deep line of demarcation between us and those who live under the dominion of their natural instincts, and whom Scripture calls the world. The term "Holy Father" here characterizes God as Him who has traced this line of separation between the disciples and the world. "Keep them" has in view the maintenance of this separation. "In Thy name" makes the revelation of the Divine character the enclosing wall in which the disciples are to be kept.

(F. Godet, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

WEB: I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are.




The Divine Keeping
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