John 21

Jesus's Appearance to the Disciples in Galilee

¹ After those [things] Jesus again revealed himself to the disciples upon the sea of Tiberias; now he revealed himself thus. ² There were together Simon Peter and Thomas the [one] being called Didymus and Nathanael the [one] from Cana of Galilee and the [sons] of Zebedee and two others of his disciples. ³ Simon Peter says to them: I go to be fishing. They say to him: We also come with you. They went out and embarked into the boat, and in that night they caught nothing.

⁴ Now when dawn already came to pass Jesus stood upon the shore, though the disciples did not know that it is Jesus. ⁵ Jesus therefore says to them: Children, don't you have any fish? They answered him: No.

⁶ So he said to them: Throw the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find. They therefore threw [the net], and were not strong enough to pull¹ it from the multitude of fish.

⁷ The disciple whom Jesus agape-loved therefore says to Peter: It is the Lord. Simon Peter therefore having heard that it is the Lord, put on his outer garment, for he was naked, and threw himself into the sea. ⁸ But the other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from the land but [were] [about] two hundred cubits², dragging the net of fish.

⁹ As therefore they came to the land, they see [a] coal fire lying, and fish lying upon [it] and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus says to them: Bring some of the fish that you now caught. ¹¹ Simon Peter went up and pulled¹ the net onto the land full of large fish, one hundred fifty three. And being so many [fish] it didn't tear the net. ¹² Jesus says to them: Come, eat. None of the disciples dared to ask him: "Who are you?" knowing that it is the Lord. ¹³ Jesus comes and takes the bread and gives [it] to them, and the fish likewise. ¹⁴ This already Jesus thrice to the disciples was revealed, having been raised from the dead.

Peter's Restoration

¹⁵ When therefore they had eaten breakfast, Jesus says ³ to Simon Peter: Simon [son] of John, do you agape-love me more than these⁴? He says to them: Yes, Lord, you know that I philia-love you. He says to him: Be tending⁵ my lambs. ¹⁶ He says to him again [a] second time: Simon [son] of John, do you agape-love me? He says to him: Yes Lord, you know that I philia-love you. He says to him: Be shepherding⁶ my sheep. ¹⁷ He says to him the third time: Simon [son] of John, do you philia-love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time: Do you philia-love me? And he said to him: You know everything, you know that I philia-love you. Jesus says to him: Be tending⁵ my sheep. ¹⁸ Truly truly I say to you, when you were young, you were girding yourself and were walking [about] where you were wishing. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will gird you and take [you] where you do not wish. ¹⁹ Now he said this indicating by what sort of death he will glorify God. And having said this he says to them: Be following me.

Peter and the Disciple Jesus Loved

²⁰ Peter turning sees the disciple whom Jesus agape-loved following, who also reclined at dinner upon his breast and said: Lord, who is the [one] delivering you up? ²¹ Peter therefore seeing this [one] says to Jesus: Lord, but what [about] this [one]? ²² Jesus says to him: If I wish him to be remaining until I come, what [is it] to you? You be following me. ²³ This word therefore went out to the brothers that this disciple will not die. But Jesus did not say to him that he will not die, but: If I wish him to be remaining until I come, what [is it] to you?

A Final Note

²⁴ This is the disciple witnessing concerning these [things] and the [one] having written these [things], and we know that his witness is true. ²⁵ But there are also many other [things] that Jesus did which if it be written in one, I do not suppose the world itself could hold the scrolls written.

¹ELKUO (ελκυω) `Tug', `draw'; of persons it can mean `compel'. It is used of a magnet (by Eubulos). It is a powerful impulse. It occurs in John.6:44, John.12:32, John.18:10, John.21:11, Acts.16:19

²cubit = 18 inches

³ Note that Jesus asks Peter "do you love me?" three times—the same number of times that Peter denied him.

⁴ Who `these' (TOUTON (τoυτoν) are is ambiguous. The options are:

TOUTON (`these') can be understood as neuter, "these things", referring to the boats, nets—being a fisherman. In other words: "Do you agape-love me more than being a fisherman"?
TOUTON (`these') refers to the other disciples, meaning "Do you agape-love me more than you love these other disciples?"
Or TOUTON (`these') refers to the other disciples in the sense of "Do you agape-love me more than these other disciples do?"

⁵BOSKO (βoσκω) to tend to the needs of animals: to herd, tend, graze

⁶Verb form of 'sheperd' as in "I am the good sheperd" John.10:15