Jesus' Threefold Question to Peter in John 21
After Jesus' resurrection, John 21 recounts a significant interaction between Jesus and Peter, where Jesus questions Peter three times about his love. The passage begins with Jesus asking, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" (John 21:15 ESV). This threefold questioning directly mirrors Peter's three denials of Jesus before the crucifixion [2, 5].
The literary context of this exchange is a post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Following a miraculous catch of fish, Jesus shares breakfast with them. It is in this intimate setting that Jesus addresses Peter directly [8]. The repetition of the question serves to re-establish Peter's commitment and to commission him for future ministry [2].
A notable detail in the Greek text is the variation in the word for "love" used by Jesus and Peter. In the first two questions, Jesus uses agapaō, often understood as a higher, unconditional love. Peter, in his responses, uses phileō, which can denote brotherly affection or friendship. In the third question, Jesus also uses phileō [2]. While some scholars have historically debated the nuanced differences between these terms, many Greek scholars today view them as largely synonymous in this context, emphasizing that the focus of the exchange is Peter's commission to care for Jesus' flock rather than the specific quality of his love [2]. John Gill notes that Peter was grieved by the third question, recognizing it as a reminder of his past denials and feeling that his sincere love was being questioned [3]. Augustine also connects the threefold questioning to Peter's threefold denial, seeing it as a restoration [4].
Following this restoration, Jesus then speaks of Peter's future martyrdom, stating, "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go" (John 21:18 ESV). This statement, the evangelist notes, indicated "the kind of death by which he was to glorify God" (John 21:19 ESV). Peter then turns and asks about the fate of "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (referring to John), saying, "Lord, and what about this man?" (John 21:21 LITV) [1, 9]. Jesus' response, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" (John 21:22 ESV), underscores the individual call to discipleship and obedience [6, 7]. This exchange highlights that each disciple has a unique path and responsibility to follow Jesus, regardless of others' circumstances [7].
Sources
- John “John 21:21 (LITV) — Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, Lord, and what of this one?”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 21:15: 21:15-17 do you love me? The three questions and affirmations mirror Peter’s three denials (18:15-18, 25-27). Jesus invited Peter to reaffirm everything he had denied. • The Greek term translated love in Jesus’ first two questions (agapaō) is different from the word in his third question (phileō). In each case, Peter answered with the second word (phileō). Most Greek scholars view the two words as synonyms in this situation. The focus of Jesus’ exchange with Peter was not the quality of Peter’s love, but Peter’s commission to take care of Jesus’ flock. Peter might ”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 21:17: He saith unto him the third time,.... That by these three testimonies, out of his mouth, the thing might be established, and be out of all doubt: Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? is it so indeed that thou lovest me? is thy love really so hearty and sincere as thou savest? may it be depended upon? Peter was grieved, because he said unto him the third time, lovest thou me? because it put him in mind of his having denied his Lord three times; the remembrance of which cut him to the heart and it added to his grief, that his love, which he knew was unfeigned, notwit”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — GIVEN OF THE PREDICTIONS OF PETER'S DENI- (part 2): and that also three several times the answer was returned him by the Lord, which intimated that before the cock crew he would deny Him thrice. 6. And surely there is nothing incredible in supposing that Peter was moved to such an act of presumption on several occasions, separated from each other by certain intervals of time, as he was actually instigated to deny Him repeatedly. Neither should it seem unreasonable to fancy that the Lord gave him a reply in similar terms at three successive per”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 18:25: 18:25-27 He denied it: Peter’s three denials were later echoed when Jesus invited him three times to reaffirm his love (21:15-17).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER XXI. 19-25. (part 1): 1. It is no unimportant question why the Lord, when He manifested Himself for the third time to the disciples, said unto the Apostle Peter, "Follow me;" but of the Apostle John, "Thus I wish him to remain(1) till I come, what is that to thee?" To the discussion or solution of this question, according as the Lord shall grant us ability we devote the last discourse of this work When the Lord, then, had announced beforehand to Peter by what death he was to glorify God, "He saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning abou”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 21:20: 21:20-22 “What about him, Lord?” Peter asked Jesus about the fate of John, wondering if he, too, would experience martyrdom. Jesus’ answer was abrupt: It was not Peter’s business to know how or when John would die. Peter’s only task was to follow Jesus, which John was already doing. This episode forms the core of John’s concept of discipleship: What matters most for the disciple of Jesus is to follow him and do his will, come what may.”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 21:20: Peter, turning about--showing that he followed immediately as directed. seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on Jesus' breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?--The Evangelist makes these allusions to the peculiar familiarity to which he had been admitted on the most memorable of all occasions, perhaps lovingly to account for Peter's somewhat forward question about him to Jesus; which is the rather probable, as it was at Peter's suggestion that he put the question about the traitor which he here re”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 21:21: Peter . . . saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?--What of this man? or, How shall it fare with him?”