John 17:12

“While I was with them in the world, etc.] This does not imply that Christ was not in the world now, for he was; but signifies that he was just going out of it; and that his continuance in it was very short: nor that he was, and would be no longer with his disciples; for this is to be understood of his bodily, not of his spiritual presence; in which respect Christ is with his people whilst they are on earth, and they are with him when he is in heaven: I kept them in thy name; by his Father’s authority and power, in his doctrine: those that thou gavest me I have kept; that is, those that were given him to be his apostles; and none of them is lost; these he kept close to himself, and from the…”

“I kept--guarded. them in thy name--acting as Thy Representative on earth. none of them is lost, but the son of perdition--It is not implied here that the son of perdition was one of those whom the Father had given to the Son, but rather the contrary (Joh 13:18) [WEBSTER and WILKINSON]. It is just as in Luk 4:26-27, where we are not to suppose that the woman of Sarepta (in Sidon) was one of the widows of Israel, nor Naaman the Syrian one of the lepers in Israel, though the language--the same as here--might seem to express it. son of perdition--doomed to it (Th2 2:3; Mar 14:21).”

“While I was with them in the world - While I was engaged with them among other men - surrounded by the people and the temptations of the world. Jesus had now finished his work among the men of the world, and was performing his last offices with his disciples. I kept them - By my example, instructions, and miracles. I preserved them from apostasy. In thy name - In the knowledge and worship of thee. See John 17:6-11. Those that thou gavest me ... - The word “gavest” is evidently used by the Saviour to denote not only to give to him to be his real followers, but also as apostles. It is used here, probably, in the sense of giving as apostles. God had so ordered it by his providence that they had…”

“Those whom thou hast given me I have guarded, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition - So one even of them whom God had given him is lost. So far was even that decree from being unchangeable! That the Scripture might be fulfilled - That is, whereby the Scripture was fulfilled. The son of perdition signifies one that deservedly perishes; as a son of death, Sa2 12:5; children of hell, Mat 23:15, and children of wrath, Eph 2:3, signify persons justly obnoxious to death, hell, wrath. Psa 109:8. John 17:13”

“17:12-13 Until now, Jesus had guarded his followers. Now he was concerned for their strength and survival in his absence, because the world would be hostile toward them (15:18-27) and their mission of challenging the world by heralding the truth (16:8-11). After Jesus’ departure, the Spirit would protect them (15:26) and bring them joy.”

“I kept: Joh 6:37, Joh 6:39, Joh 6:40, Joh 10:27, Joh 10:28; Heb 2:13 and: Joh 13:18, Joh 18:9; Luk 4:26, Luk 4:27; Jo1 2:19 the son: Joh 6:70, Joh 6:71, Joh 13:18; Th2 2:3 that: Psa 109:6-19; Act 1:16-20, Act 1:25 John 17:13”