The Epilogue or Appendix This Epilogue to a certain extent balances the Prologue, the main body of the Gospel in two great divisions lying in between them; but with this difference, that the Prologue is part of the original plan of the Gospel, whereas the Epilogue is not. It is evident that when th... [ Continue Reading ]
The Manifestation to the Seven and the Miraculous Draught of Fishes 1. _After these things_ This vague expression (see on John 5:1; John 6:1; John 19:38) suits an afterthought which has no direct connexion with what immediately precedes. _shewed himself_ Better, MANIFESTED _Himself_. The rendering... [ Continue Reading ]
_There were together_ Probably all seven belonged to the neighbourhood; we know this of four of them. _Thomas_ See on John 11:16; John 14:5; John 20:24. All particulars about him are given by S. John [4]. _Nathanael_ See on John 1:45: the descriptive addition -of Cana of Galilee" occurs here only.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Simon Peter_ As so often, he takes the lead. In the interval of waiting for definite instructions the disciples have returned to their usual employment. Once more we have precise and vivid details, as of an eye-witness. _We also go_ Rather, _we also_ COME. _went forth_ From the town or village, p... [ Continue Reading ]
_morning was now come_ The better reading gives, DAWN _was now_ BREAKING. _stood on the shore_ Literally, _stood_ ON TO _the_ BEACH, i.e. He came and stood on the beach. _but_ NEVERTHELESS, or HOWBEIT (_mentoi_, a particle rare in N.T. outside this Gospel); implying that this was surprising. Comp.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Jesus Jesus_ THEREFORE; because they did not recognise Him. _Children_ Perhaps a mere term of friendly address (_paidia_); not the affectionate term used John 13:33 (_teknia_). _Paidia_occurs 1Jn 2:14; 1 John 2:18; _teknia_occurs 1Jn 2:1; 1 John 2:12; 1Jn 2:28; 1 John 3:7; 1Jn 3:18; 1 John 4:... [ Continue Reading ]
_They cast therefore_ Perhaps they thought the stranger saw fish on the right side. Fish are at times seen "in dense masses" in the lake.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore that disciple_ The characteristics of the two Apostles are again most delicately yet clearly given (comp. John 20:2-9). S. John is the first to apprehend; S. Peter the first to act [9]. _Now when Simon Peter heard Simon Peter_ THEREFORE HAVING _heard_. _fisher's coat_ The Greek word (_e... [ Continue Reading ]
_in a little ship_ Rather, _in_ THE BOAT, whether -the ship" of John 21:3 or a smaller boat attached to it, we cannot determine. _two hundred cubits_ About 100 yards.... [ Continue Reading ]
_As soon as … they saw_ Better, WHEN THEREFORE … _they_ SEE. _a fire of coals_ See on John 18:18: the word occurs only there and here in N.T. [10]. -There" is literally LAID. _fish laid thereon, and bread_ Or possibly, A _fish laid thereon and_ A LOAF. But the singulars may be collectives as in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_fish_ The same word as in John 21:9, but in the plural. _caught_ See on John 21:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
_went up_ Better, with the best texts, _went up_ THEREFORE: the meaning probably is -went on board" the vessel, now in shallow water. The details in this verse are strong evidence of the writer having been an eye-witness: he had helped to count these -great fishes" and gives the number, not because... [ Continue Reading ]
_Come and dine_ The meal indicated is not the principal meal of the day (_deipnon_) which was taken in the afternoon, but the morning meal (_ariston_) or BREAKFAST. See on Luke 11:37. _And none_ Omit -and." There is a solemn simplicity in the narrative. The sentences from John 21:10 to John 21:14 h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus then cometh_ Omit -then." They are afraid to approach, so He comes to them. -Bread" and -fish" are in the singular, as in John 21:9, but with the definite article, which points back to John 21:9; - _the_bread" and - _the_fish" which had been mentioned before. Of course this is not the fish th... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is now the third time_ We have a similar construction 2 Peter 3:1. The two previous manifestations are probably those related John 20:19-23; John 20:26-29: but we have not sufficient knowledge to arrange the different appearances in chronological order. See on Luke 24:49. _shewed himself_ MAN... [ Continue Reading ]
The Commission to S. Peter and Prediction as to his death 15. _dined_ See on John 21:12. _saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas_ For -Jonas" read John here and in John 21:16, as in John 1:42. Note that the writer himself calls him Simon Peter, but represents the Lord as calling him -Simon son o... [ Continue Reading ]
_lovest thou me?_ Jesus drops the -more than these," which the humbled Apostle had shrunk from answering, but retains His own word for -love." S. Peter answers exactly as before. _Feed my sheep_ Better, TEND, or _shepherd, My sheep_. The word rendered -feed" in John 21:15_; John 21:17_(_boskein_) me... [ Continue Reading ]
_the third time_ He had denied thrice, and must thrice affirm his love. This time Jesus makes a further concession: He not only ceases to urge the -more than these," but He adopts S. Peter's own word, _philein_. The Apostle had rejected Christ's standard and taken one of his own, about which he coul... [ Continue Reading ]
_Verily, verily_ This peculiarity of S. John's Gospel (see on John 1:51) is preserved in the appendix to it [13]. _wast young_ Literally, _wast_ YOUNGER than thou art now. He was now between youth and age. _stretch forth thy hands_ For help. _shall gird thee_ As a criminal. _whither thou wouldes... [ Continue Reading ]
This high charge will involve suffering and even death. In spite of his boastfulness and consequent fall the honour which he once too rashly claimed (John 13:37) will after all be granted to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_This spake he_ NOW this He spake. _signifying by what death Signifying by_ WHAT MANNER OF _death_. This comment is quite in S. John's style (comp. John 12:33; John 18:32) [14]. It will depend on the interpretation of John 21:18 whether we understand this to mean crucifixion or simply martyrdom. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
The Misunderstood Saying respecting the Evangelist 20. _Peter, turning about, seeth_ Omit -then." The graphic details are those of an eyewitness. _leaned_ Better, _leaned_ BACK. The allusion is to the momentary change of posture (John 13:25) in order to ask who was the traitor, not to the position... [ Continue Reading ]
_Peter seeing him Peter_ THEREFORE _seeing him_. Once more we see the intimacy between these two Apostles. When S. Peter is told to follow, S. John does so also unbidden; and S. Peter having received his own commission asks about that of his friend. Comp. John 18:15; John 20:1 [15]. _and what shall... [ Continue Reading ]
_If I will_ Christ died and rose again that He might become the Lord and Master both of the dead and the living (Romans 14:9). He speaks here in full consciousness of this sovereignty. For the use of -I will" by Christ comp. John 17:24; Matthew 8:3 and parallels, Matthew 26:39. While the -I will" as... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then went this saying This saying_ THEREFORE _went_. _abroad among_ Literally, _forth unto:_comp. Matthew 9:26; Mark 1:28; Romans 10:8. _the brethren_ This phrase, common in the Acts (John 9:30; John 11:1; John 11:29; John 15:1; John 15:3;... [ Continue Reading ]
_which testifieth_ Better, _which_ BEARETH WITNESS. Whether -these things" refers to the whole Gospel, or only to the contents of chap. 21 cannot be determined. _wrote_ Note the change from present to aorist. The witness still continues at the present time; the writing took place once for all in th... [ Continue Reading ]
Concluding Notes Again the question of authorship confronts us. Are these last two verses by the writer of the rest of the chapter? Are they both by the same hand? The _external_evidence, as in the case of the preceding verses, is in favour of their being both by the same hand, and that the writer... [ Continue Reading ]
_every one_ Literally, ONE BY ONE. _I suppose_ The Greek word (_oimai_) occurs nowhere else in N.T. excepting Philippians 1:17; James 1:7. The use of the first person singular is very unlike S. John. If this verse is an addition by an unknown hand it appears to be almost contemporary. The wording... [ Continue Reading ]