| 20. Linguistic Exegesis The sentence opens with οὐ {ou | ou} placed first for strong negation, and περὶ τούτων {peri toutōn | pe-rí toú-tōn} limits the first concern to the immediate disciples. The postpositive δὲ {de | dè} quietly links this statement to the surrounding prayer while allowing ἐρωτῶ {erōtō | e-rō-tô} to remain the controlling verb. μόνον {monon | mó-non} narrows the scope before ἀλλὰ καὶ {alla kai | al-lá kaí} introduces the larger horizon of Jesus’ intercession. The second περὶ {peri | pe-rí} coordinates a parallel object, and τῶν πιστευόντων {tōn pisteuontōn | tôn pis-teu-ón-tōn} functions substantivally, referring to a future community defined by believing. διὰ τοῦ λόγου αὐτῶν {dia tou logou autōn | di-á toû ló-gou au-tôn} marks means, showing that faith comes through the disciples’ spoken witness rather than apart from it. εἰς ἐμέ {eis eme | eis e-mé} gives the goal and personal object of that faith, and the English renderings preserve the forward-looking force by making the implied future scope explicit: Jesus’ prayer already includes those who will come to believe through apostolic proclamation. |