John 17:2
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Original Language Analysis
δώσῃ
he should give
G1325
δώσῃ
he should give
Strong's:
G1325
Word #:
2 of 15
to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)
αὐτοῖς
him
G846
αὐτοῖς
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
3 of 15
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἐξουσίαν
power
G1849
ἐξουσίαν
power
Strong's:
G1849
Word #:
4 of 15
privilege, i.e., (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token o
σαρκός
flesh
G4561
σαρκός
flesh
Strong's:
G4561
Word #:
6 of 15
flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e., (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or
ὃ
to
G3739
ὃ
to
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
9 of 15
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
δώσῃ
he should give
G1325
δώσῃ
he should give
Strong's:
G1325
Word #:
10 of 15
to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)
αὐτοῖς
him
G846
αὐτοῖς
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
11 of 15
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
δώσῃ
he should give
G1325
δώσῃ
he should give
Strong's:
G1325
Word #:
12 of 15
to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)
Cross References
John 6:39And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.John 6:37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.Matthew 28:18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.John 17:24Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.Daniel 7:14And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.1 John 5:20And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.John 17:9I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.John 17:6I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.John 3:35The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.John 4:14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Historical Context
This is part of Jesus's High Priestly Prayer (John 17), prayed in the upper room or en route to Gethsemane on the night before His crucifixion. This prayer reveals the eternal covenant between Father and Son regarding redemption. First-century Jews would have understood 'power over all flesh' as Messianic authority fulfilling Daniel 7:13-14, where the Son of Man receives dominion over all peoples.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Christ's universal authority over 'all flesh' relate to His particular mission to save 'as many as thou hast given him'?
- What assurance does it give you that eternal life comes through Christ's delegated authority from the Father, rather than human merit or decision?
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Analysis & Commentary
As thou hast given him power over all flesh (ἐξουσίαν πάσης σαρκός, exousian pasēs sarkos)—The Father has delegated universal sovereignty to the Son. Exousia means delegated authority, not inherent power; it emphasizes Christ's role as Mediator between God and humanity. All flesh encompasses every human being without exception, Jew and Gentile alike.
That he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him—The purpose of Christ's authority is soteriological: to bestow eternal life (ζωὴν αἰώνιον, zōēn aiōnion) upon the elect. This verse reveals both divine sovereignty (the Father gives people to the Son) and Christ's mediatorial work (He gives them eternal life). The gift is particular, not universal—as many as (πᾶν ὅ, pan ho) distinguishes the elect from 'all flesh' in general. This is the heart of Reformed soteriology: Christ's salvific authority extends to all, but His saving work is effectual only for those given Him by the Father.