JHN 21:20-25

Jesus and the Beloved Disciple

20Having turned, Peter sees the disciple whom Jesus was loving following — who also had reclined at the supper on His bosom and had said, "Lord, who is the one betraying You?"

21Having therefore seen him, Peter says to Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?"

22Jesus says to him: "If I shall desire him to remain until I come, what is it to you? You yourself — follow Me."

23This word therefore went out among the brothers that that disciple does not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he does not die, but: "If I shall desire him to remain until I come, what is it to you?"

24This is the disciple who is bearing witness concerning these things and who having written these things — and we know that his testimony is true.

25Now there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they shall be written one by one, not even the world itself — I suppose — would have space for the books to be written. Amen.

In the world it was spoken into

In the first-century Mediterranean world, the relationship between Jesus and the Beloved Disciple would have been understood through the lens of intimate friendship and discipleship. The mention of reclining at supper evokes the Greco-Roman symposium, where reclining close to the host signified honor and intimacy. The Beloved Disciple’s position at Jesus’ bosom underscores a privileged, familial bond, akin to a son’s closeness to a father. Peter’s question about the Beloved Disciple reflects the competitive honor-shame culture, where status and roles within the group were keenly observed. Jesus’ response, 'If I desire him to remain until I come, what is it to you?' redirects Peter to focus on his own discipleship, avoiding comparisons. The rumor that the Beloved Disciple would not die reflects apocalyptic expectations and the early Christian community’s grappling with eschatology. The hyperbolic statement about the world not containing the books that could be written about Jesus’ deeds highlights the magnitude of his impact, a common rhetorical device in ancient biographical writing.

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How other translations render this

JHN 21:20

KJV: Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
BSB: Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?”
Koinōnos: Having turned, Peter sees the disciple whom Jesus was loving following — who also had reclined at the supper on His bosom and had said, "Lord, who is the one betraying You?

JHN 21:21

KJV: Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
BSB: When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
Koinōnos: Having therefore seen him, Peter says to Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?

JHN 21:22

KJV: Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
BSB: Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
Koinōnos: Jesus says to him: "If I shall desire him to remain until I come, what is it to you? You yourself — follow Me.

JHN 21:23

KJV: Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
BSB: Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus did not say that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?”
Koinōnos: This word therefore went out among the brothers that that disciple does not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he does not die, but: "If I shall desire him to remain until I come, what is it to you?

JHN 21:24

KJV: This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
BSB: This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true.
Koinōnos: This is the disciple who is bearing witness concerning these things and who having written these things — and we know that his testimony is true.

JHN 21:25

KJV: And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
BSB: There are many more things that Jesus did. If all of them were written down, I suppose that not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written.
Koinōnos: Now there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they shall be written one by one, not even the world itself — I suppose — would have space for the books to be written. Amen.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

JHN 21:20

whom:The word translated 'whom' here is a form of the word for 'love,' but it refers to a deep, abiding, and often sacrificial love, distinct from other forms of affection or desire.
also:The word translated 'also' is part of a phrase meaning 'reclined' or 'leaned back,' describing the common posture for dining in the ancient world, not just a casual sitting.

JHN 21:23

saying:The word translated 'saying' is a form of the word for 'word' or 'message,' implying a significant statement or teaching, not just a casual utterance.

JHN 21:25

to have space:The phrase translated 'to have space' literally means 'to contain' or 'to hold,' suggesting the sheer volume of information would be too vast for the world to encompass.