THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN - Chapter 17 - Verse 6

Verse 6. Have manifested thy name. The word name here includes the attributes or character of God. Jesus had made known his character, his law, his will, his plan of mercy -- or, in other words, he had revealed GOD to them. The word name is often used to designate the person, John 15:21; Mt 10:22; Ro 2:24; 1 Ti 6:1.

Which thou gavest me. God gave them to him in his purpose. He gave them by his providence. He so ordered affairs that they heard him preach and saw his miracles; and he gave them by disposing them to follow him when he called them.

Thine they were. All men are God's by creation and by preservation, and he has a right to do with them as seemeth good in his sight. These men he chose to designate to be the apostles of the Saviour; and he committed them to him to be taught, and then commissioned them to carry his gospel, though amid persecutions, to the ends of the world. God has a right to the services of all; and he has a right to appoint us to any labour, however humble, or hazardous, or wearisome, where we may promote his glory and honour his name.

{k} "manifested" Psalms 22:22; John 17:26 {l} "the men which thou gavest" Ro 8:30; John 17:2,9,11

{m} "they have kept thy word" Hebrews 3:6