John 21:22-24

21:22 Jesus replied, ¹  “If I want him to live ²  until I come back, ³  what concern is that of yours? You follow me!” 21:23 So the saying circulated ⁴  among the brothers and sisters ⁵  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 ⁶  until I come back, ⁷  what concern is that of yours?”

A Final Note

21:24 This is the disciple who testifies about these things and has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

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.

⁴ tn Grk “went out.”

⁵ 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).

⁶ tn Grk “to stay” or “to remain”; but since longevity is the issue in the context, “to live” conveys the idea more clearly.

⁷ tn The word “back” is supplied to clarify the meaning.