Final answer:
Jesus' high priestly prayer in John 17 is focused on praying for the unity of His disciples, not their worldly success, political dominance, or ritual expansion. This prayer emphasizes relational unity to reflect the unity between Jesus and God the Father. Therefore, the correct option is C.
Step-by-step explanation:
In John 17, known as Jesus' high priestly prayer, Jesus prays for c) the unity of his disciples. He does not pray for worldly success, political dominance of the church, or the expansion of church rituals. Rather, this chapter is focused on the spiritual well-being and harmony among those who follow Him. The emphasis is on their unity as a reflection of the unity between Jesus and the Father, so that the world may believe in their message.
The historical context provided regarding the Council of Nicaea and the debates about Jesus's divinity illustrates early Christian leaders' efforts to clarify and unify beliefs about Jesus, emphasizing the importance of theological consensus. However, Jesus's prayer in John 17 is more about relational unity among believers rather than theological disputes or ecclesiastical power struggles as seen in the later history of the church.