Section 21:15–19
Jesus restored Peter
After breakfast Jesus spoke with Simon Peter, restoring him and encouraging him. Three times he asked if Peter, calling him Simon, loved him. When Peter said that he did, Jesus told him to feed or care for his sheep, meaning his followers.
Here are other possible section headings:
Jesus asked Peter if he loved him
-or-
Jesus again gave Peter a ministry
-or-
Jesus asked Peter to feed his sheep
Paragraph 21:15–19
Just before Jesus’ death, Peter had denied knowing him. Now Jesus spoke with Peter. He restored their relationship and gave him a ministry in which Peter could serve him.
In this paragraph Jesus asked Peter three questions, and Peter replied each time. Each question and answer used one of two different Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “love.” Jesus used one word (agapaō) when he asked the first two questions. He used the other Greek word (phileō) when he asked the third question. Peter used the second word in all his answers. There are two ways to interpret the word choice here:
(1) Both words mean the same thing. In this context (as in other places in John) they are used as synonyms. For example:
“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” (New Century Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, NIV2011, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, God’s Word, New Century Version, Contemporary English Version)
(2) One Greek word refers to a stronger love than the other. Jesus used the stronger word (agapaō) in his first two questions. All the other times that the word “love” appears, it is the weaker Greek word. This second word (phileō) means “to be fond of” or “to be a friend.” For example:
Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” (New International Version (1984))
(New International Version (1984))
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and most Bible scholars. You may follow this interpretation by using the same word for love or by using synonyms. Do what is more natural in your language. For example:
do you love me?…am I dear to you?
21:15a
When they had finished eating: This clause introduces the next event in the story, after the men finished eating. The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they had finished eating is from the same verb root as “have breakfast” in 21:12a. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
When they had finished breakfast (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
When they had eaten (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
After breakfast (New Living Translation (2004))
they: Because this is a new paragraph, it may be natural to say whom the pronoun they refers to. For example:
Jesus and his disciples (Contemporary English Version)
21:15b
Jesus asked Simon Peter: This phrase introduces the conversation between Jesus and Peter. Refer to Peter with both his names, as in 21:2.
Simon son of John: Jesus addressed Peter using his Hebrew name and the name of his father. His father’s name is slightly different than the name given in Matthew 16:17 (“Jonah”), but you should use John here.
do you love Me more than these?: Jesus asked Peter about the strength of his love for him. For a discussion of the word love, see the note on Paragraph 21:15–19 above. There are two ways to understand what the phrase more than these means here:
(1) It means more than the other disciples love me. For example:
do you love me more than these others do? (Good News Translation)
(Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, NET Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Jerusalem Bible, God’s Word)
(2) It means more than you love anything else, including fish and fishing, and the other disciples.
If it is natural to leave the meaning ambiguous, as in the Greek, the Berean Standard Bible, and many other English translations, that is good. But if you must choose one interpretation, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). That is the interpretation that many Bible scholars and English translations follow.
21:15c
Yes, Lord: Peter indicated that he loved Jesus even more than the other disciples did. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord means “master, one who has authority over others.” See how you translated this word in 6:68, 9:38, and 21:12. Here are other ways to translate this word:
Chief
-or-
⌊My⌋ Master
he answered: The pronoun he refers to Peter. It may be helpful to make this pronoun explicit. For example:
Peter replied to Jesus
-or-
Peter answered him
You know I love You: The Greek text emphasizes the first You in this clause. Peter believed that Jesus already knew that he loved Jesus. Peter used a different Greek word for love than Jesus used, but in this context its meaning is the same. See the note on Paragraph 21:15–19 above. If it is natural to use a synonym (another word that means the same thing), that is acceptable. But use a word or phrase that has the same basic meaning. For example:
you know that I care about you deeply
-or-
you know that you are dear to me
21:15d
Feed My lambs: This clause is a metaphor. The word lambs refers to Jesus’ people, his followers. The word Feed here refers to taking care of Jesus’ people’s spiritual needs. Jesus wanted Peter to lead, teach, encourage, and advise his other followers. Here are other ways to translate this metaphor:
• Keep the metaphor. For example:
Feed my young sheep.
• Explain all or part of the meaning of the metaphor. For example:
Take care of my lambs. (Good News Translation)
• Change all or part of the metaphor into a simile. For example:
Take care of my people as a shepherd takes care of his lambs.
-or-
Act as/like a shepherd to my people. They are like my lambs.
Feeding Jesus’ lambs was what Peter should do because he loved Jesus. You may want to indicate the connection with 21:15c by using a connector. For example:
Then feed my lambs. (New Living Translation (2004))
Feed: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Feed means to take care of animals, including feeding them. See Matthew 8:33 and Luke 15:15, where the same verb is used. Here is another way to translate this word:
Take care of (Good News Translation)
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