John 21:14-16
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
14 [a]This was now the third time(A) Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
Jesus and Peter.[b] 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,[c] “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”[d] He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 21:14 This verse connects Jn 20 and 21; cf. Jn 20:19, 26.
- 21:15–23 This section constitutes Peter’s rehabilitation and emphasizes his role in the church.
- 21:15–17 In these three verses there is a remarkable variety of synonyms: two different Greek verbs for love (see note on Jn 15:13); two verbs for feed/tend; two nouns for sheep; two verbs for know. But apparently there is no difference of meaning. The threefold confession of Peter is meant to counteract his earlier threefold denial (Jn 18:17, 25, 27). The First Vatican Council cited these verses in defining that Jesus after his resurrection gave Peter the jurisdiction of supreme shepherd and ruler over the whole flock.
- 21:15 More than these: probably “more than these disciples do” rather than “more than you love them” or “more than you love these things [fishing, etc.].”
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