John 17:5
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
Study Note
Study Note
Jesus' petition 'glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was' is one of the New Testament's most explicit statements of pre-existent divine glory, making John 17 a crucial text for high Christology. The phrase 'before the world was' (pro tou ton kosmon einai) places this glory in an eternal, pre-temporal state that cannot be merely anticipatory or adoptive. The verb 'had' (eichon, imperfect) indicates continuous possession rather than a punctiliar event, reinforcing the Johannine Prologue's 'the Word was with God.' The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) drew heavily on this verse and John 1:1 to articulate the Son's eternal co-existence with the Father against Arian subordinationism.
Other Translations
And now, Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
`And now, glorify me, Thou Father, with Thyself, with the glory that I had before the world was, with Thee;
And now, Father, let me have glory with you, even that glory which I had with you before the world was.
Cross References
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom …
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, …
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man …
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
I and my Father are one.
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? …