Paragraph 21:24–25

The author closed his Gospel by saying that he was the beloved disciple. He also said that his readers could trust what he wrote because he witnessed it. He concluded by saying that Jesus had done too many miracles to include them all in this book.

21:24a

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down: The author of the Gospel identified himself as the disciple Jesus just spoke about. He was the beloved disciple. In writing this Gospel he recorded what had happened, things he had seen and heard himself. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

This disciple was an eyewitness of these things and wrote them down (God’s Word)
-or-
That follower is the one who is telling these things and who has now written them down. (New Century Version)

who testifies to these things: The word testifies refers to giving an accurate report of something one has seen or heard oneself. (That kind of report is called a “testimony.”) The beloved disciple John had actually seen and heard these things and so was an eyewitness. He testifies about the things he saw and heard by writing them in his Gospel. See how you translated the verb “testify” in 1:8, 15, and 34. For example:

an eyewitness of these things (God’s Word)
-or-
who is recording his testimony
-or-
who tells what he witnessed

to these things: The phrase these things may refer to all of the events in the Gospel of John. Or it may be referring mainly to the events recorded in this chapter. It is good to translate this in a general way, which could refer to either set of events. That is what very many translations have done. For example:

to these events (New Living Translation (2004))

and who has written them down: This phrase indicates that John had written down the things that he had seen and heard. The things that he wrote are recorded in this Gospel. Some scholars suggest that John asked a secretary to write down what he told him. It is good to use an expression that can include this possibility. Use the verb form and tense that is natural in your language. For example:

and has written these things (NET Bible)
-or-
and wrote them down (God’s Word)

21:24b

And we know that his testimony is true: The author assured his readers that they could trust his testimony, his record of Jesus’ life and death. He continued to speak of himself in the third person (his testimony). Here are other ways to translate this clause:

We know that what he says is true. (New Century Version)
-or-
And we know that his account of these things is accurate. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
and we know he is telling the truth (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
and we (excl.) know that everything that is here is true (Kankanaey Back Translation)

we: This pronoun is exclusive. It could refer to John the author and the other elders in Ephesus where John served. Or it could just be a humble way to say “I.” Because it is not clear who it refers to, it is best to translate this pronoun literally.

General Comment on 21:24a–b

In 21:24a, John identified himself as the beloved disciple that 21:20–23 talks about. Because the author is writing about himself, in some languages it may be more natural to use first person pronouns. For example:

I am the disciple that Jesus spoke about. I can testify about the things that I have written here and we (excl.) know that everything that is here is true.
-or-
I am that disciple that he was talking about. I am telling about what I saw and I am the one who wrote it down. And we (excl.) assure you (plur.) that what I wrote is true.

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