The Greek verb translated loved in the phrase the disciple whom Jesus loved, is agapaō. This same verb is used in verse 20, as it is in 13.23 and 19.26. In 20.2 (the other disciple, whom Jesus loved) the Greek verb for loved is phileō. John uses these two verbs synonymously, which is important for the exegesis of verses 15-19. The Living Bible has gone far beyond the bounds of legitimate translation by rendering the disciple whom Jesus loved as “I.” This version maintains the first person pronoun in the earlier part of the chapter, but in verse 20 it introduces the third person (“the disciple Jesus loved”). The use of “I” presupposes a particular view of the authorship of this chapter, a view not substantiated by the evidence. Moreover, the shift from the first person (“I”) to the third person (“the disciple Jesus loved”) is bad English style. The third person reference should be maintained wherever this particular phrase occurs.

It may be necessary in some languages to make specific the antecedent of it in the sentence It is the Lord! A literal translation could be confusing. Accordingly, one may translate “The person on the shore is the Lord” or “The one who spoke to us is the Lord.”

Similarly, in translating the clause When Peter heard that it was the Lord, it may be necessary to say “When Simon Peter heard that the person on the shore was the Lord” or “… that the person who had spoken to them was the Lord.” The expression in the second sentence of this verse must be consistent with that used in the first sentence.

He wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken his clothes off) is translated in various ways. Revised Standard Version has “he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work”; New English Bible “he wrapped his coat about him (for he had stripped)”; Jerusalem Bible “… who had practically nothing on, wrapped his cloak round him”; Moffatt “Simon Peter threw on his blouse (he was stripped for work)”; Goodspeed “he put on his clothes, for he had taken them off”; Phillips “slipped on his clothes, for he had been naked”; Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has simply “he put on his outer garment.” Anchor renders “tucked in his outer garment (for he was otherwise naked).”

For he had taken his clothes off is literally “for he was gumnos.” The Greek adjective gumnos usually means “naked,” but it can also mean “lightly clothed.” This second meaning is indicated here, since a Jew would never disrobe completely while fishing. Most commentators and translators suppose that Peter was fishing with only a loincloth on; before leaping into the water he put on his outer garment. However, this interpretation has been challenged on three counts: (1) The Greek verb diazōnnumai means properly not “put on” but “tuck in” or “tie up.” It occurs twice in 13.4-5: he … tied a towel around his waist … and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. The purpose of the action in 21.7 is to give Peter greater freedom of movement. (2) Outer garment (Greek ependutēs) designates a garment worn over the underclothing. In this context it refers to the fisherman’s smock that Peter was wearing to ward off the chill of the morning air. Peter in his fisherman’s smock is described as “lightly clad.” (3) Peter would not have put on an additional garment before jumping into the water, since this would have made swimming more difficult. Rather he tucked in the garment that he already had on.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .