21:23

This verse gives some information that is not part of the main story. The author explained that Jesus’ words to Peter were misunderstood by some of the disciples. He also emphasized what Jesus actually said.

21:23a

Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die: Jesus’ response to Peter caused the other disciples to think that the beloved disciple would not die before Jesus returned. They talked about it with one another, and then with their families and friends. In this way the idea became common knowledge in the community. Here are other ways to translate this sentence:

So a rumor that this disciple wouldn’t die spread among Jesus’ followers. (God’s Word)
-or-
This gave rise to the saying among the brothers that this disciple would not die. (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

Because of this: The conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Because of this here indicates that the spread of this rumor was the result of what Jesus said in 21:22. Here are other ways to translate this conjunction:

So (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
This led to…
-or-
This caused…

the rumor spread among the brothers: The clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the rumor spread is more literally “the saying went out.” It refers to information that one person tells another and then that person tells others. In this case it was incorrect information. Translate the idiom the rumor spread in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

the rumor then went out among the brothers (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the story became widely known among all the disciples of Isa (Yakan Back Translation)
-or-
more and more followers of Jesus began to say/think that

In some languages it may be natural to make the brothers the subject of this clause. For example:

the community of believers began to spread the word that this disciple would not die
-or-
the followers of Jesus began to tell one another that this disciple would not die

the rumor: The expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the rumor is more literally “the word” or “the saying.” It refers to what the believers were telling one another, that John would not die. Use an expression that can refer to an incorrect assumption or piece of gossip. For example:

the saying (NET Bible)
-or-
a story (New Century Version)

among the brothers: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as among the brothers is more literally “to the brothers.” It refers to the believers in general, both men and women. Christians were telling other Christians that Jesus said that the beloved disciple would not die. They thought that he would remain alive until Jesus returned to earth. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

among the community of believers (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
among the other disciples (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
among the brothers and sisters (NET Bible)

this disciple: This phrase refers to the beloved disciple, who was almost certainly John, the author of this Gospel. Refer back to the disciple mentioned in 21:20a–c and 21:22a in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

the disciple Jesus was talking about
-or-
that follower

would not die: This phrase implies that Christ would return before that disciple died, and so he would not have to die. The disciples believed that Jesus’ return would mark the beginning of the age when God’s people would not die.

21:23b

However, Jesus did not say that he would not die: In this clause the author corrected the wrong understanding of Jesus’ words that had become common in the community. Jesus did not promise that the beloved disciple would not die. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Jesus did not promise that that disciple would not die.
-or-
But Jesus never said that he would not die
-or-
But Jesus did not say, “He will not die”

21:23c

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement (21:23b) to a positive statement (21:23c). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

• Use the conjunction but as in the Berean Standard Bible.

yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” (English Standard Version)

• Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

But Jesus did not say to him that he was not going to die, but rather, “If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours?” (NET Bible)

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” (New International Version)
-or-
But Jesus didn’t say that he wouldn’t die. What Jesus said was, “If I want him to live until I come again, how does that concern you?” (God’s Word)

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

But Jesus said, “If it is my will that he remain alive until I come again, you do not need to know that.” He did not say that that disciple would not die.

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?: This quotation repeats exactly the quotation in 21:22a. Translate it as you did there. In some languages, it may be more natural to use an indirect quotation like that in 21:23b. For example:

But Jesus only said that it did not concern Peter if he wanted the other disciple to remain alive until he himself returned.

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