RSV ~ John 21 Notes

Jn 21:1 | ISB Notes

Sea of Tiberias: Another name for the Sea of Galilee. See note on Jn 6:1.

Jn 21:2 | ISB Notes

At least five of these seven disciples are apostles. John, who is one of the sons of Zebedee (Mt 10:2), remains consistent until the end in withholding his name from the Gospel narrative. See introduction: Author and chart: The Twelve Apostles at Mk 3.

Jn 21:3 | ISB Notes

that night: Net fishing was done at night (Lk 5:5). The most popular fish were tilapias, now called “Peter’s fish”.

Jn 21:7 | ISB Notes

It is the Lord!: John is the first to recognize Jesus on the shore. It is unclear whether his identity was veiled because of the distance, the lingering darkness, or a dullness of spiritual insight (20:14, Lk 24:16; CCC 645).

• Allegorically (St. Gregory the Great, Hom. in Evan. 24): the presence of Christ on land signifies the stability and peace of his Resurrection life, as distinct from the instability and commotion of mortal life still experienced by the disciples as they labor upon the waves of the sea.

Jn 21:9 | ISB Notes

charcoal fire: This expression, used only here and in 18:18 in the NT, sets up the following conversation between Jesus and Peter. The point is that Peter is given a second chance to affirm his love for Christ in front of a fire after three times denying him in front of a fire (18:15-18, 25-27).

Jn 21:11 | ISB Notes

a hundred and fifty-three: The number of fish hauled ashore is symbolic. St. Jerome claims that Greek zoologists had identified 153 different kinds of fish (Comm. in Ez. 14, 47). If this is the background, the episode anticipates how the apostles, made fishers of men by Christ (Mt 4:19), will gather believers from every nation into the Church (Mt 28:18-20).

Jn 21:13 | ISB Notes

took … gave: The breakfast recalls the feeding of the 5,000 in 6:1-14, since these are the only two meals in John eaten beside the Sea of Galilee and the only two where bread and fish are served. See note on Jn 6:11.

Jn 21:14 | ISB Notes

the third time: i.e., that Jesus appears risen to the group of disciples. Individual encounters like the one in 20:16 are not included in this numbering.

Jn 21:15-17 | ISB Notes

Three times Peter reaffirms his love for Jesus as personal restitution for the three times he denied him (13:38; 18:15-18, 25-27). The dialogue in Greek makes use of several synonyms: two different nouns are used for sheep, and two different verbs are used for feed, know, and love. Although this may be a stylistic feature to avoid redundancy, others think it more significant, especially with the verb love. In his first two questions, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him with “willing love” (Gk. agapaō), but in the third question he asks if Peter loves him with merely “friendly affection” (Gk. phileō), which is the word Peter uses in all three of his responses. An intended distinction between these terms would indicate that Jesus, desirous of a complete and heroic love from Peter, was willing by the end of the conversation to settle for his friendship.

Jn 21:15 | ISB Notes

more than these?: Peter is challenged to live up to his own words, since earlier he declared that even if the other disciples should fall away from Christ, his commitment would never falter (Mt 26:33).

Feed my lambs: Jesus entrusts to Peter the task of shepherding his entire flock. This supreme leadership position over the Church gives him a unique share in the authority of Christ, who is still acknowledged by Peter as the “chief Shepherd” (1 Pet 5:4). It is important to recognize that no tension exists in the mind of Jesus between his own role as the “good shepherd” and the delegation of pastoral authority to Peter (Jn 10:11; CCC 553, 881).

• Vatican I declared that in this episode Christ made Peter the visible head and chief pastor over the universal Church (Pastor aeternus, chap. 1). See note on Mt 16:13-20.

Jn 21:18 | ISB Notes

stretch out your hands: An allusion to Peter’s martyrdom by crucifixion. Tradition holds that it took place in Rome around A.D. 67.

Jn 21:23 | ISB Notes

The saying spread: This verse is included to correct a misunderstanding among believers that the Apostle John would remain alive until Christ returns in glory.

Jn 21:24 | ISB Notes

This is the disciple: Equivalent to the evangelist’s personal signature.

See introduction: Author.

we know: Apparently this comment was inserted, not by the evangelist, but by other Christians who knew the facts about Jesus as John did and willingly testified to the veracity of his Gospel.

Jn 21:25 | ISB Notes

many other things: John claims that his Gospel is accurate, not that it is comprehensive or exhaustive (19:35). He has given enough information about the life and ministry of Jesus to elicit faith from his readers (20:30-31; CCC 515).