Neville Goddard on John 17:7

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard presents the statement in John 17:7, "All things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee," as a fundamental promise. He teaches that this is the same promise made to Joshua in the Old Testament, which states that any place one can mentally occupy has already been given. The core idea is that all things, including your desires, are gifts from God, and the only condition for their experience is your acceptance of this promise.

Key Concepts

• John 17:7 is interpreted as a divine promise that all things originate from God.
• This promise is presented as a parallel to the one made to Joshua in the Old Testament (Joshua 1:3).
• The "all things" given by God are equated with the "places" one can mentally tread upon, or the states one can assume.
• The fulfillment of the promise hinges on one's ability to analyze and accept that what they desire is already given.

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard interprets the words of Jesus in John 17:7, "All things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee," as a profound and universal promise. This statement declares that everything a person can possibly conceive of or desire is a gift originating from God, not something that must be earned or created from scratch.

To illustrate the timeless nature of this principle, Neville draws a direct parallel between this New Testament verse and a promise made in the Old Testament book of Joshua. He equates the promise to Jesus with the one given to Joshua: "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you." By linking these two scriptures, he teaches that the "all things" given by God are the various states of consciousness or experiences that a person can mentally occupy or "tread upon."

This interpretation shifts the focus from seeking or creating to claiming and accepting. The desired state—be it health, wealth, or happiness—is a pre-existing territory, a gift already given by God. The crucial step, as Neville emphasizes, is for the individual to "analyze the promise and see if you can accept it." The power lies not in the struggle to attain, but in the faith to accept that the desired reality is already a divine gift.

Important Quotes

All things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

— How To Manifest Your Desires

And all mine are thine, and thine are mine.

— Assumptions Harden Into Fact

Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you.

— How To Manifest Your Desires

analyze the promise and see if you can accept it

— Assumptions Harden Into Fact

Related Concepts

• Desire: The teaching implies that desires are not random personal whims but are part of the "all things" that are given by God. They are divine gifts waiting to be claimed.
• Law of Assumption: The challenge to "accept" the promise is the core of the Law of Assumption. To receive the gift, one must assume the state of already having it, which is the mental equivalent of treading upon the promised land.
• Consciousness: The "place" that one's foot treads upon is a state of consciousness. To claim the promise of a new reality, one must first occupy that state within their own consciousness.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: One must work to earn or deserve good things from God.
• Correction: The source material presents all things as already "given." The only requirement is to accept the promise that what you desire is already yours.

Practical Applications

To apply this teaching, a student should first identify a desire, which is understood as one of the "all things" already given by God. The next step is to mentally "tread upon" this state by assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled. The primary work is internal: to analyze the promise that this state is a gift and to fully accept it in consciousness, regardless of external circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Neville Goddard connect John 17:7 to the Old Testament?

He presents John 17:7 as the same promise made to Joshua in Joshua 1:3. Both scriptures convey the idea that all conceivable states or desires are already given by God and are available to be claimed by mental occupation.

What is the source of our desires, according to this interpretation?

The verse "All things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee" suggests that desires are gifts that originate from God ("thee").

What is the key to experiencing the things that are 'given'?

The key is one's ability to "analyze the promise and see if you can accept it." One must accept in faith that the desired state is already a completed gift from God.