John 21

The text of the Gospel of John appears to reach a conclusion at the end of chapter 20, as the text summarizes the many signs that Jesus performed for his followers, not all of which could be recorded in the Gospel. As such, most scholars of textual criticism hold that John 21 is a later addition to the work, normally called the "Appendix" to the Gospel by scholars.

The chapter in question begins simply with "After these things..." (Greek: Μετὰ ταῦτα) and continues with the description of another post-Resurrection appearance in Galilee, which the text describes as the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples. In the course of the chapter, there is a miraculous catch of 153 fish, the confirmation of Peter's love for Jesus, a foretelling of Peter's death by crucifixion, and a comment about John's future. The chapter is closed by two verses that appear to be an even later addition, as they clarify the comment about John and take on a first person plural subject.

Various theories have been suggested as to why the chapter was added. Westcott stated, "It is impossible to suppose that it was the original design of the Evangelist to add the incidents of chapter 21 after the verses which form a solemn close of his record of the great history of the conflict of faith and unbelief in the life of Christ." One point of view is that the author simply decided to add an additional incident at some time after writing the book, but before final publication.

The general nature of the chapter is that it does not fit in with the carefully planned scheme of the previous 20 chapters, which are otherwise balanced in style and discourse around a central chapter. It is thought that the chapter was added to explain the death of Peter, which was either an event not known about by the author, or that had not happened until some time after the original version of the Gospel was completed, or that the original author had not considered it important. Some consider that the addition is to emphasise the importance of Peter, against that of the unnamed beloved disciple.

The Church Father Tertullian wrote, "And wherefore does this conclusion of the gospel affirm that these things were written unless it is that you might believe, it says, that Jesus Christ is the son of God?", which describes the end of Chapter 20, not Chapter 21. Thus many scholars hold that the book existed without the last chapter at that time. However, the Nestle-Aland critical text of the New Testament lists no surviving copies of the Gospel that omit this chapter.

Further doubt on the last chapter is cast by differences of literary style, which is said to resemble the Gospel of Luke more closely than that of John, and theological orientation. In particular, this chapter is much more ecclesiastically oriented than the rest of the book, stressing the role of Peter as the shepherd.

The description of the "beloved disciple's" (normally assumed to be John) fate is presented as an aside to Peter. Jesus says that it is not Peter's concern, even if he should wish that that disciple remain alive until the end of time. The following verse clarifies that Jesus did not say "This disciple will not die", but that it was not Peter's affair to know. Many critics presume that this disciple must have died before the addition of the section.

The last two verses sit incongruously with the remainder of the chapter and seem to be written from a different point of view. For this reason, the last two verses are known as "The Appendix to the Appendix." The statement within these two verses that "we know what he says is true" refers to the author of the book in the third person, implying either that the writer of the verses is not the writer of the remainder, or that the writer perceives that there will be significant doubt about the authorship of the work (or the chapter), which is in itself an indicator that the work is not written by the claimed author. Those who doubt the authenticity of the Gospel might think that these last verses are an attempt to imply that authorship of the Gospel was by an apostle and eyewitness. This aims to make John's Gospel more important than the synoptic Gospels, of which only the Gospel of Matthew was considered an eyewitness report by the ancients. It also aims to support the Gospel's superiority where it conflicts with the others.

John 21

See also