MANIFESTATION OF THE RISEN LORD TO SEVEN DISCIPLES AT THE SEA OF TIBERIAS. The Fourth Gospel confirms the synoptic tradition that there were appearances in Galilee as well as in Judæa. The date of this appearance cannot be fixed.... [ Continue Reading ]
SUPPLEMENTARY 1-25. Appendix. The Gospel is brought to a definite close, its contents are reviewed, and its purpose stated in John 20:30; John 20:31. The present chapter is therefore probably an appendix added at a later time, but (since all MSS and versions contain it) before the Gospel had been ex... [ Continue Reading ]
SHEWED (RV 'manifested') HIMSELF] see on John 2:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF CANA] A later writer would not have been likely to possess this additional information. THE _sons_ OF ZEBEDEE] i.e. James (called 'the Great'), and St. John the Evangelist. TWO OTHERS] The 'Gospel of Peter' seems to identify them with Andrew and Levi (Matthew).... [ Continue Reading ]
I GO A FISHING] The period of waiting had doubtless tried the Apostles severely, and it was more as a distraction, than as a means of livelihood that St. Peter returned to his nets. THAT NIGHT] At night it is easy to catch fish, because then they cannot see the nets. In daylight it is much more diff... [ Continue Reading ]
KNEW NOT] A certain change had passed over our Lord's body: see on John 20:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHILDREN] cp. John 13:33. From our Lord, St. John learnt to call his own converts by this affectionate title: see on John 13:33; The exact word is in 1 John 2:13; 1 John 2:18, a similar one in John 13:33; 1 John 2:1; 1 John 2:12; 1 John 2:28; 1 John 3:7 [ Continue Reading ]
THAT DISCIPLE] As at the visit to the tomb, so here, the beloved disciple is the first to draw the true inference. This undesigned coincidence speaks for genuineness.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT WERE TWO HUNDRED CUBITS] i.e. 300 ft.... [ Continue Reading ]
COALS] i.e. charcoal. FISH] or a fish. BREAD] or a loaf How Jesus prepared this meal is a mystery, but why He did so is plain. He wished, after the Resurrection, as well as before it, to set Himself forth as the bread of life, or the spiritual food of mankind, and He did so, as in John 6, by a symbo... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THIRD TIME] i.e. the third appearance to any considerable number of Apostles collectively. The appearances, private or semi-private, to Mary Magdalene, the women, the two disciples, Peter, and James, are not reckoned. The appearances on the mountain in Galilee, and to the five hundred, had appar... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON, _son_ OF JONAS] RV 'son of John': see John 1:42. Observe that in this, as in the other Gospels, our Lord does not call him Peter. Luke 22:34 is the only exception. LOVEST THOU ME (_agapâs_) MORE THAN THESE?] i.e. more than these thy brethren love Me? Once (Matthew 26:33; John 13:37) Peter had... [ Continue Reading ]
RESTORATION OF ST. PETER TO HIS APOSTOLIC OFFICE. By his threefold denial Peter had forfeited his position among the apostles. Hence, before restoring him, Jesus required from him a threefold confession of love. Quite baseless is the papal interpretation that St. Peter is here endowed with supreme e... [ Continue Reading ]
FEED (RV 'tend') MY SHEEP] Here the Gk. word indicates authority, so that the meaning is, Exercise discipline and authority over the flock: so Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2; Revelation 2:27; Revelation 7:17, and often in OT.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU KNOWEST] or, rather, 'perceivest' (RM).... [ Continue Reading ]
Prophecy of Peter's Martyrdom. 18. Thou shalt stretch forth thy hands (upon the arms of the cross), AND ANOTHER (i.e. the executioner) SHALL GIRD THEE (viz. with the loin-cloth, the only garment allowed to criminals at their execution) AND CARRY _thee_ WHITHER THOU WOULDEST NOT (viz. to execution).... [ Continue Reading ]
FOLLOW ME] i.e. by dying the death of crucifixion. 'Follow' here is metaphorical.... [ Continue Reading ]
The misunderstood saying about the beloved disciple. 20. Following] viz. in a literal sense. Our Lord, during His conversation with Peter, had walked to a little distance from the others. Peter, happening to turn round, sees John following: 21. WHAT _shall_ THIS MAN _do_?] i.e. Shall he also die a g... [ Continue Reading ]
TARRY] i.e. remain alive. TILL I COME] The reference is not to the destruction of Jerusalem, but to the Last Judgment: cp. John 14:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOULD NOT DIE] In spite of this appendix, the opinion still persisted. One story was that he was translated like Elijah, another that he still breathed in his grave, a fable which even St. Augustine was inclined to believe. 24, 25. CONCLUSION. John 21:24 is full of St. John's own phrases and manne... [ Continue Reading ]
The author apologises for the incompleteness and fragmentary character of his work. _ADDITIONAL NOTE. JOHN AT EPHESUS_ According to the generally received tradition, which dates from at least the former half of the second century, the Apostle John, the son of Zebedee, after the martyrdom of St. Pa... [ Continue Reading ]