[QUOTE="studier, post: 5336639, member: 330481"
NKJ John 17:20-23 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
The bold underlined are purpose clauses. Jesus' prayer in those clauses is for the world.
The first underlined portion is for future believers which follows Jesus' statement about then current believers.
The way I read all this, it conforms very nicely to 1Tim4:10 and all the Scriptures in my above linked for your convenience post that compare to 1Tim4:10.[/quote]
John 17:6
6
"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.
NIV
John 17:9
9
I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
NIV
Jesus took his disciples OUT OF the world because his Father had given them to the Son.
John 17:14
14 I have given them your word and
the world has hated them, for they are
not of the world any more than I am of the world.
NIV
And again for reinforcement:
John 17:16
16
They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
NIV
Then Jesus continued to pray for the second flock of sheep who would become one with the first flock:
John 17:20
20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message
NIV
Now to your "proof texts" that contradict v, 9:
John 17:21b-23
May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
NIV
This passage says nothing about the world believing in Jesus for salvation. Jesus is praying for his elect sheep whose purpose is to go out into the world that HATES them and Christ, and to be lights in that dark world and to testify to the world, through their gospel preaching, that their deeds are evil and tht the world desperately needs Christ. Through the Great Commission this dark, fallen world will come to "know" that the Father sent the Son and that He loved his elect as as He loved his Son. That's all the passage is saying.
This following passage bears my interpretation out:
John 16:7-9
7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;
NASB
The only way God could justly punish the ultimate sin of unbelief is if the world "knew' of Christ and His Father as stated in vv 21b-23. But of course, without God effectual grace, no one is able to believe! So...these people will perish in their sin because they did not want to believe the gospel.
Jesus did not contradict himself. He clearly drew a distinction between Himself and the world, between his disciples (both flocks) and the world and between being "IN" the world and "OF" it. Jesus very clearly did not pray for this latter group. He prayed only for his two flocks would be sent INTO the world to preach the Gospel.
How totally dishonest and disingenuous of you to conveniently bypass v.9, as though it's not even in this chapter. You made no attempt to reconcile your contradiction. And, yet, here you are, all full of yourself, the proverbial pot calling the kettle black by constantly accusing me of eisegesis!