{With thine own self} (para seaut(9369)). "By the side of
thyself." Jesus prays for full restoration to the pre-incarnate
glory and fellowship (cf.  1:1 ) enjoyed before the Incarnation
( Joh 1:14 ). This is not just ideal pre-existence, but actual
and conscious existence at the Father's side (para soi, with
thee) "which I had" (h(8869) eichon, imperfect active of ech(935c), I
used to have, with attraction of case of h(886e) to h(8869) because
of dox(8869)), "before the world was" (pro tou ton kosmon einai),
"before the being as to the world" (cf. verse  24 ). It is small
wonder that those who deny or reject the deity of Jesus Christ
have trouble with the Johannine authorship of this book and with
the genuineness of these words. But even Harnack admits that the
words here and in verse  24  are "undoubtedly the reflection of
the certainty with which Jesus himself spoke" (_What Is
Christianity_, Engl. Tr., p. 132). But Paul, as clearly as John,
believes in the actual pre-existence and deity of Jesus Christ
( Php 2:5-11 ).