Text -- John 21:20-23 (NET)

Peter and the Disciple Jesus Loved

21:20 Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. (This was the disciple who had leaned back against Jesus’ chest at the meal and asked, “Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?”) 21:21 So when Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 21:22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours? You follow me!” 21:23 So the saying circulated among the brothers and sisters that this disciple was not going to die. 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?”

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Joh 21:20

¹ tn The word “them” is not in the Greek text but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

² tn The words “This was the disciple” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied for clarity.

³ tn Grk “his”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn Grk “and said.”

⁵ sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.

NET Notes: Joh 21:21

¹ tn Grk “saw this one.”

NET Notes: Joh 21:22

¹ tn Grk “Jesus said to him.”

² tn Grk “to stay” or “to remain”; but since longevity is the issue in the context, “to live” conveys the idea more clearly.

³ tn The word “back” is supplied to clarify the meaning.

NET Notes: Joh 21:23

¹ tn Grk “went out.”

² tn Grk “the brothers,” but here the term refers to more than just the immediate disciples of Jesus (as it does in 20:17). Here, as R. E. Brown notes (John [AB], 2:1110), it refers to Christians of the Johannine community (which would include both men and women).

³ tn Grk “to stay” or “to remain”; but since longevity is the issue in the context, “to live” conveys the idea more clearly.

⁴ tn The word “back” is supplied to clarify the meaning.