John 21
Encyclopedia
The chapter John 21 in the Bible
contains an account of the post-Resurrection appearance
in Galilee
, which the text describes as the third time Jesus
had appeared to his disciples. In the course of this chapter, there is a miraculous catch of 153 fish
, the confirmation of Peter
's love for Jesus, a foretelling of Peter's death by crucifixion
, and a comment about John
's future.
, the text summarizes the many signs that Jesus performed for his followers, not all of which could be recorded in the Gospel. John 21 begins with the Johannine transition, After these things... that is used throughout the Fourth Gospel, leading some scholars to suggest that John 21 was appended in the same way as Mark 16:9-20
. Peter's ecclesiastical role is emphasized, but this is similar to Peter's commissioning in John 1. The Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece (27th ed.) as well as the major translations of the New Testament
(KJV, NASB
, NIV, RSV
, NRSV) retain this chapter in their editions as original, and no manuscripts have been discovered that end at John 20 without John 21.
One point of view is that the author simply decided to add an additional incident at some time after writing the book, but before final publication. Westcott
stated,
But Donald Guthrie
writes:
The Church Father Tertullian
wrote, "And wherefore does this conclusion of the gospel affirm that these things were written unless it is that you might believe, it says, that Jesus Christ is the son of God?", which describes the end of Chapter 20, not Chapter 21. However, the Nestle-Aland critical text
of the New Testament lists no surviving copies of the Gospel that omit this chapter.
The description of the "beloved disciple's" (normally assumed to be John) fate is presented as an aside to Peter. Jesus says that it is not Peter's concern, even if Jesus should wish that that disciple remain alive until the end of time. The following verse clarifies that Jesus did not say "This disciple will not die", but that it was not for Peter to know.
Many scholars have proposed that John's Prologue, as Signs Document and Glory Document and John 21 represent modifications to the Gospel of John but no manuscripts or convincing evidence has proved any of these positions.
In other words, ancient manuscripts that contain the end of John 20 also contain text from John 21. So if John 21 is an addition, it was so early and so widespread, that no evidence of the prior form has survived.
Both Novum Testamentum Graece
(NA27) and the United Bible Societies
(UBS4) provide critical text for John 21.
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
contains an account of the post-Resurrection appearance
Resurrection appearances of Jesus
The major Resurrection appearances of Jesus in the Canonical gospels are reported to have occurred after his death, burial and resurrection, but prior to his Ascension. Among these primary sources, most scholars believe First Corinthians was written first, authored by Paul of Tarsus along with...
in Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
, which the text describes as the third time Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
had appeared to his disciples. In the course of this chapter, there is a miraculous catch of 153 fish
Catch of 153 fish
The miraculous catch of fish is either of two miracles attributed to Jesus in the early Christian canonical literature known as the Gospels. The miracles are reported as taking place years apart from each other, but in both miracles apostles are fishing unsuccessfully in the Sea of Galilee when...
, the confirmation of Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
's love for Jesus, a foretelling of Peter's death by crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
, and a comment about John
John the Apostle
John the Apostle, John the Apostle, John the Apostle, (Aramaic Yoħanna, (c. 6 - c. 100) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of James, another of the Twelve Apostles...
's future.
Appendage
In the 20th chapter of the Gospel of JohnGospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
, the text summarizes the many signs that Jesus performed for his followers, not all of which could be recorded in the Gospel. John 21 begins with the Johannine transition, After these things... that is used throughout the Fourth Gospel, leading some scholars to suggest that John 21 was appended in the same way as Mark 16:9-20
Mark 16
Mark 16 is the final chapter of the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It begins with the discovery of the empty tomb by Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome — there they encounter a man dressed in white who announces the Resurrection of Jesus.Verse 8 ends...
. Peter's ecclesiastical role is emphasized, but this is similar to Peter's commissioning in John 1. The Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece (27th ed.) as well as the major translations of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
(KJV, NASB
New American Standard Bible
The New American Standard Bible , also informally called New American Standard Version , is an English translation of the Bible....
, NIV, RSV
Revised Standard Version
The Revised Standard Version is an English translation of the Bible published in the mid-20th century. It traces its history to William Tyndale's New Testament translation of 1525. The RSV is an authorized revision of the American Standard Version of 1901...
, NRSV) retain this chapter in their editions as original, and no manuscripts have been discovered that end at John 20 without John 21.
One point of view is that the author simply decided to add an additional incident at some time after writing the book, but before final publication. Westcott
Brooke Foss Westcott
Brooke Foss Westcott was a British bishop, Biblical scholar and theologian, serving as Bishop of Durham from 1890 until his death.-Early life and education:...
stated,
- It is impossible to suppose that it was the original design of the Evangelist to add the incidents of chapter 21 after the verses which form a solemn close of his record of the great history of the conflict of faith and unbelief in the life of Christ.
But Donald Guthrie
Donald Guthrie
Donald Guthrie was a British New Testament scholar. Guthrie was a graduate of the University of London . From 1949 until his retirement in 1982 Guthrie was lecturer in New Testament studies at London Bible College , and from 1978 until 1982 he served as vice-principal of the college.Guthrie wrote...
writes:
- It is unlikely that another author wrote this section since there are several points of contact in it with the style and language of previous chapters...(IVPInter-Varsity PressInterVarsity Press is a publisher of evangelical Christian books. IVP is linked to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and is headquartered in Westmont, Illinois.-History:...
New Bible Commentary)
The Church Father Tertullian
Tertullian
Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, anglicised as Tertullian , was a prolific early Christian author from Carthage in the Roman province of Africa. He is the first Christian author to produce an extensive corpus of Latin Christian literature. He also was a notable early Christian apologist and...
wrote, "And wherefore does this conclusion of the gospel affirm that these things were written unless it is that you might believe, it says, that Jesus Christ is the son of God?", which describes the end of Chapter 20, not Chapter 21. However, the Nestle-Aland critical text
Novum Testamentum Graece
Novum Testamentum Graece is the Latin name editions of the original Greek-language version of the New Testament.The first printed edition was the Complutensian Polyglot Bible by Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, printed in 1514, but not published until 1520...
of the New Testament lists no surviving copies of the Gospel that omit this chapter.
The description of the "beloved disciple's" (normally assumed to be John) fate is presented as an aside to Peter. Jesus says that it is not Peter's concern, even if Jesus should wish that that disciple remain alive until the end of time. The following verse clarifies that Jesus did not say "This disciple will not die", but that it was not for Peter to know.
Many scholars have proposed that John's Prologue, as Signs Document and Glory Document and John 21 represent modifications to the Gospel of John but no manuscripts or convincing evidence has proved any of these positions.
Verses 24-25
The chapter is closed by two verses referring to the author of the gospel (whoever it might be) in the 3rd person ("We know that his testimony is true").Manuscript evidence
In an essay, contributed on behalf of scholars unconvinced of any decisive sense of "originality" to John 21 (published in 2007), Felix Just wrote: "We (unfortunately!) do not possess any ancient manuscript of John that actually ends at 20:31."In other words, ancient manuscripts that contain the end of John 20 also contain text from John 21. So if John 21 is an addition, it was so early and so widespread, that no evidence of the prior form has survived.
Both Novum Testamentum Graece
Novum Testamentum Graece
Novum Testamentum Graece is the Latin name editions of the original Greek-language version of the New Testament.The first printed edition was the Complutensian Polyglot Bible by Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, printed in 1514, but not published until 1520...
(NA27) and the United Bible Societies
United Bible Societies
The United Bible Societies is a worldwide association of Bible societies. In 1946 delegates from 13 countries formed the UBS, as an effort to coordinate the activities of the bible societies. The first headquarters were London and in Geneva...
(UBS4) provide critical text for John 21.
See also
- Mark 16Mark 16Mark 16 is the final chapter of the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It begins with the discovery of the empty tomb by Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome — there they encounter a man dressed in white who announces the Resurrection of Jesus.Verse 8 ends...
- Pericope Adulterae
- Textual CriticismTextual criticismTextual criticism is a branch of literary criticism that is concerned with the identification and removal of transcription errors in the texts of manuscripts...