John 21:15-19
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John 21:15-19 is a passage from the 21st chapter of the Gospel of John. The verses describe a dialogue between Jesus and Simon Peter. Jesus asks Simon Peter three times if he loves him. Each time, Simon Peter replies that he does, and Jesus asks him to tend his flock. Jesus then tells Simon Peter the manner of his (Simon Peter's) death.
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[edit] Text of the passage
| Verse | Original Greek | King James Bible | World English Bible |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Ὅτε οὖν ἠρίστησαν λέγει τῷ Σίμωνι Πέτρῳ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Σίμων Ἰωάννου, ἀγαπᾷς με πλέον τούτων; λέγει αὐτῷ, Ναὶ κύριε, σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ, Βόσκε τὰ ἀρνία μου. | So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. | So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?"
He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." |
| 16 | λέγει αὐτῷ πάλιν δεύτερον, Σίμων Ἰωάννου, ἀγαπᾷς με; λέγει αὐτῷ, Ναὶ κύριε, σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ, Ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου. | He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. | He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?"
He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." |
| 17 | λέγει αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον, Σίμων Ἰωάννου, φιλεῖς με; ἐλυπήθη ὁ Πέτρος ὅτι εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον, Φιλεῖς με; καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, Κύριε, πάντα σὺ οἶδας, σὺ γινώσκεις ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Βόσκε τὰ πρόβατά μου. | He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. | He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?"
Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, "Do you have affection for me?" He said to him, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. |
| 18 | ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω σοι, ὅτε ἦς νεώτερος, ἐζώννυες σεαυτὸν καὶ περιεπάτεις ὅπου ἤθελες· ὅταν δὲ γηράσῃς, ἐκτενεῖς τὰς χεῖράς σου, καὶ ἄλλος σε ζώσει καὶ οἴσει ὅπου οὐ θέλεις. | Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. | Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself, and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you, and carry you where you don't want to go." |
| 19 | τοῦτο δὲ εἶπεν σημαίνων ποίῳ θανάτῳ δοξάσει τὸν θεόν. καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν λέγει αὐτῷ, Ἀκολούθει μοι. | This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. | Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me." |
[edit] Analysis and commentary
In verses 15 through 17, the author of John 21 was likely signifying Jesus' confirmation of Peter as leader of his church. Unlike the synoptic gospels, this passage is the only such passage in John. A secondary purpose of this passage may have been to symbolically wash Simon Peter of the stain of his repudiation; while Peter had earlier denied Jesus three times before the crucifixion, here, he thrice affirms his belief.
In the original Greek, Jesus uses different Greek words for love between verses 15 and 16 and verse 17. In verses 15 and 16 Jesus uses the word agápē, whereas in verse 17 he uses the word philía.
Verse 18, as the author explicitly states, likely describes the crucifixion and death of Simon Peter. As the verse was most likely written after the death of Simon Peter, this verse is likely the oldest evidence that he was executed in Rome during the reign of the emperor Nero.
[edit] Usage
These verses are used as the Gospel reading at the funerals of Popes, as described in the Vatican's book of liturgical celebrations. They were read at the funeral of Pope John Paul II on April 8, 2005.
[edit] References
- Vawlter, Bruce, c.m. (1967). The Four Gospels: An Introduction. Garden City, New York, USA: Doubleday & Company Inc, pages 307–308.
- World English Bible website
- King James Version text
