SEV Biblia, Chapter 17:17
¶ Santifícalos en tu verdad; tu palabra es la Verdad.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 17:17
Verse 17. Sanctify them] Æagiason, from a, negative, and gh, the earth. This word has two meanings: 1. It signifies to consecrate, to separate from earth and common use, and to devote or dedicate to God and his service. 2.
It signifies to make holy or pure. The prayer of Christ may be understood in both these senses. He prayed-1. That they might be fully consecrated to the work of the ministry, and separated from all worldly concerns. 2. That they might be holy, and patterns of all holiness to those to whom they announced the salvation of God. A minister who engages himself in worldly concerns is a reproach to the Gospel; and he who is not saved from his own sins can with a bad grace recommend salvation to others.
Through thy truth] It is not only according to the truth of God that ministers are to be set apart to the sacred work; but it is from that truth, and according to it, that they must preach to others. That doctrine which is not drawn from the truth of God can never save souls. God blesses no word but his own; because none is truth, without mixture of error, but that which has proceeded from himself. Our Lord still acts here in reference to the conduct of the high priest, to whom it belonged to sanctify the priests, the sons of Aaron: see on ver. 1.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. Sanctify them through thy truth , etc.] The Syriac version introduces this petition, with the appellation aba , “Abba, Father”: and the sanctification prayed for regards the apostles, either as ministers of the word, and may intend their separation for their work and office; for which though they were sanctified or separated from their mother’s womb, and by Christ when he sent them forth, yet were to have a fresh commission and unction after our Lord’s resurrection, and upon his ascension to heaven; and also their qualification for it, with the truth of grace and doctrine, with holiness of heart and life, and with a preservation in the truth, by being kept faithful to it: or it may also regard them as Christians and believers, and intend a greater degree of the sanctification of the Spirit, which is imperfect in this life; for though sanctification in Christ is perfect, and so it is in the saints, as to parts, yet not as to degrees; which appears from the imperfection of faith, hope, love, and knowledge, from indwelling sin, being in the best of saints, from their necessities, from their disclaiming perfection, and their desires after it. Sanctification is a progressive work, which is carried on gradually; as is clear from the characters of regenerate ones, who are first newborn babes, then young men, and afterwards fathers in Christ; from the similes, by which it is expressed as seed which opens and grows up by degrees, and light which shines more and more unto the perfect day from exhortations to a concern for the growth of it, and prayers for it: and it is indeed continually carrying on, as may be concluded from the hand in which it is; and the progress and finishing of this work, as well as the beginning of it, are entirely the Lord’s; and the way and means in which this is done, are by or through the truth of the Gospel: thy word is truth ; it is “peculiarly” so, as the Arabic version reads it. The Gospel is here meant, and is so called on account of its original, it comes from the God of truth; and because of the concern which Christ, who is the truth, has in it, he being the author, preacher, and sum and substance of it; and because the Spirit of truth has dictated it, leads into it, qualifies men to preach it, and makes it effectual: and because it contains all truth necessary to salvation, and nothing but truth, and particularly that eminent truth, salvation alone by Christ; and because it is opposed to the law, which is but a shadow, of which the good things in the Gospel are the substance: now this is the means both of the beginning, and increasing, and carrying on the work of sanctification in the hearts of God’s people, as well as of an experimental knowledge of it; and an increase of that knowledge does more and more qualify the ministers of it for their ministerial work and service, which seems here chiefly designed.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17-19 - Christ next prayed for the disciples, that they might not only be kep from evil, but made good. It is the prayer of Jesus for all that ar his, that they may be made holy. Even disciples must pray for sanctifying grace. The means of giving this grace is, "through the truth, thy word is truth." Sanctify them, set them apart for thysel and thy service. Own them in the office; let thy hand go with them Jesus entirely devoted himself to his undertaking, and all the parts of it, especially the offering up himself without spot unto God, by the eternal Spirit. The real holiness of all true Christians is the frui of Christ's death, by which the gift of the Holy Ghost was purchased he gave himself for his church, to sanctify it. If our views have no this effect on us, they are not Divine truth, or we do not receive the by a living and a working faith, but as mere notions.
Greek Textus Receptus
αγιασον 37 5657 V-AAM-2S αυτους 846 P-APM εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF αληθεια 225 N-DSF σου 4675 P-2GS ο 3588 T-NSM λογος 3056 N-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM σος 4674 S-2NSM αληθεια 225 N-NSF εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
17. Sanctify (agiason). Constantly used in the Septuagint to express the entire dedication and consecration of both persons and things to God. See Exod. xxix. 1, 36; xl. 13; Lev. xxii. 2, 3. Rev., in margin, consecrate. See on x. 36.Through thy truth (en th alhqeia sou). The best texts omit thy. Through (en) is to be rendered literally, in, marking the sphere or element of consecration. Rev., sanctify them in the truth.
Thy word (o logov o sov). Properly, the word which is thine. See on xv. 9.
