Neville Goddard on John 17:19

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard interprets the verse, "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth," as a fundamental principle of consciousness: there is no one to change but self. To alter circumstances or the perceived character of others, one must first alter one's own state of being. The act of "sanctifying" is an internal one, where you change your self-concept. This inner transformation is the sole cause of any corresponding change in your external world.

Key Concepts

• The Principle of Self-Change: The only person you can or need to change is yourself.
• Internal Sanctification: To "sanctify" oneself means to establish a new, desired self-concept within your own mind—for example, to feel that you are lovely.
• Reflection in the World: When you successfully change your inner state, your perception of the outer world changes to match. You become incapable of seeing qualities, like unloveliness, that contradict your new state.
• Changing Others Indirectly: To make others holy or good, you do not act upon them directly. Instead, you make yourself holy, and they will reflect that holiness back to you.

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard uses John 17:19 to illustrate his core teaching that all change begins within the individual's own consciousness. The phrase "And for their sakes I sanctify myself" is not about an external ritual, but about a profound internal transformation. The only way to effect change in your world—whether in people or conditions—is to first change yourself.

The process of "sanctifying" is one of altering your own self-concept. If you wish to see a world filled with lovely and holy people, you must begin by establishing within your own mind's eye the fact that you are lovely and holy. You assume the state of being you wish to see expressed around you.

Once this inner assumption is established as truth within you, your perception of the world must conform. You become, as Neville states, "incapable of seeing anything that is unlovely." The people in your world are then "sanctified through the truth" of your new consciousness. They are not changed by force or persuasion, but are seen differently because you are seeing them through a different, sanctified state of mind.

Important Quotes

And for their sake I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

— No One To Change But Self

There is no one to change but self.

— No One To Change But Self

All you need do to make men and women holy in this world is to make yourself holy.

— How To Manifest Your Desires

You are incapable of seeing anything that is unlovely when you establish within your own mind's eye the fact that you are lovely.

— How To Manifest Your Desires

Related Concepts

This interpretation is a direct expression of the Law of Assumption, where what you assume to be true of yourself hardens into fact. The act of "sanctifying" oneself is a change in Consciousness, specifically in one's concept of I AM. By assuming a new State (e.g., the state of being lovely), you alter your reality. The ideal you wish to see in another is a state that you must first enter and occupy yourself.

Common Misunderstandings

A common misunderstanding is to believe that you must change other people through direct action, argument, or persuasion. This teaching corrects that by stating there is "no one to change but self." The change you desire in another is not achieved by focusing on them, but by turning inward and changing your own self-concept. The external world is only a reflection of your inner state.

Practical Applications

To apply this teaching, you must shift your focus from the external to the internal. Instead of trying to alter another person's behavior or character, identify the quality you wish they would express (e.g., kindness, love, health). Then, assume that quality within yourself. Feel yourself to be the embodiment of that ideal. By successfully changing your own state of consciousness, the people and conditions in your world will rearrange themselves to reflect your new inner reality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Neville mean by 'sanctify myself'?

It means to change your own self-concept by establishing in your mind's eye that you embody the qualities you wish to see in the world, such as being holy or lovely.

How does changing myself make other people holy?

By changing your own consciousness to a state of holiness or loveliness, you change your perception. You become incapable of seeing unloveliness, and therefore you see others as holy, reflecting the truth of your new state.

Is the goal to change other people or just my perception of them?

The source material emphasizes that the change is in your perception. By establishing a lovely self-concept, you become "incapable of seeing anything that is unlovely," which in turn changes your experienced reality of others.