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John 21:15-19, King James Version
Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.
John 21:15-19
Jesus Recommissions Peter to Feed the Flock
Three questions of love restore Peter to feeding, not owning, the flock.
When they have eaten, Jesus asks Simon Peter, son of John, whether he loves him more than these. Peter answers that he does; Jesus says, 'Feed my lambs.' A second time: 'Feed my sheep.' A third time Peter is grieved that he asked a third time, and he answers that Jesus knows all things and knows that he loves him. Jesus says, 'Feed my sheep.' He then tells Peter that when he was young he dressed himself and walked where he wished, but when he is old he will stretch out his hands, another will dress him and carry him where he does not wish. The narrator says this signified the death by which he would glorify God. After this Jesus says, 'Follow me.'
The threefold exchange answers the threefold denial beside another charcoal fire. The Greek verbs agapaō and phileō vary in the questions and answers, but John often uses near-synonyms, so a ladder of higher and lower love is not securely proven here. Feeding and tending sheep is pastoral care under the chief shepherd. It is not ownership of people, exemption from accountability, or a franchise in souls. The death prediction describes Peter's path. It does not command leaders or followers to seek martyrdom, remain in abuse, or accept preventable harm.
How this should shape us
Let restored love become accountable care for actual people: feed, tend, follow. After failure, receive a recommission that still names the wound. Do not build a hierarchy of 'real love' out of two Greek verbs, and do not treat 'my sheep' as if they were yours. A pastor who feeds the flock remains answerable; a pastor who owns the flock has stopped listening to this fire.
Teach it back
Explain John 21:15-19 in your own words. Include its place in John's movement, the decisive claim or action, one sourced uncertainty, and one use the passage does not authorize.
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Go deeper
The explanation above is meant to stand on its own. Open these notes only if you want language, history, disagreements, or source locations.
Where careful interpreters disagreeThe strongest options and their difficulties
Where do responsible interpreters differ?
Best judgment: The threefold exchange clearly addresses Peter's three denials. Greek agapaō and phileō vary, but John often uses near-synonyms, so a sharp ladder of two kinds of love is uncertain. Feeding sheep gives pastoral responsibility under the chief shepherd, not ownership or unchecked control. The death prediction describes Peter's path and does not command leaders or followers to seek martyrdom.
How certain? probableResearch trail and exact locationsThe source record behind this section
Supports: Exact KJV wording, paragraph flags, supplied-word markup, and coverage.
John 21:15-19, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Supports: Greek wording, sentence relations, and critical-text reading checked independently of the KJV.
Faithlife SBLGNT official repository, data/sblgnt/text/John.txt, 21:15-19
Supports: Greek forms, morphology, and lexical ranges; context controls sense.
STEP Bible Data official repository, TAGNT John data, rows for 21:15-19
Supports: Verse-level syntax, older-English clarification, material variants, background, and alternatives.
NET Bible John PDF, John 21:15-19 and attached translator, study, and textual notes
Supports: Current historical-critical synthesis, narrative movement, Jewish context, signs, Christology, Spirit, Passion, and resurrection.
Enter the Bible John course, Passion, Resurrection, and Beloved Disciple materials; applied to 21:15-19
Supports: Literary, historical, theological, gender-aware, sacramental, and reader-oriented interpretation.
Yale Bible Study, Gospel of John course, Resurrection and Epilogue study guide; applied to 21:15-19
Supports: Complete confessional evangelical interpretation, represented as a strong traditioned view rather than consensus.
Köstenberger, “John,” commentary heading covering John 21:15-19
Supports: Beloved Disciple as witness, interpreter, and purported author; literary authority and editorial limits.
Lindenlaub, Beloved Disciple thesis, introduction; Scripture-formula chapters; authorship and written-medium chapters; John 19:35, 20:30-31, and 21 discussion; applied to 21:15-19
Supports: Mary Magdalene, embodied resurrection, Thomas, Spirit, forgiveness, purpose, Peter, and the Beloved Disciple.
Working Preacher John 20–21 collection, commentary covering 21:15-19
Sources for This Section
These records identify the source, the claim it supports, and the exact location used. A source remains evidence to evaluate; it does not replace the biblical text.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact KJV wording, paragraph flags, supplied-word markup, and coverage.
Exact location: John 21:15-19, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, sentence relations, and critical-text reading checked independently of the KJV.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT official repository, data/sblgnt/text/John.txt, 21:15-19
Open the John Greek text file ↗Lexical and grammatical evidence
STEP Bible Data
Tyndale House Cambridge
Tyndale House Cambridge, repository snapshot verified 2026
Supports: Greek forms, morphology, and lexical ranges; context controls sense.
Exact location: STEP Bible Data official repository, TAGNT John data, rows for 21:15-19
Open source ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — John with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level syntax, older-English clarification, material variants, background, and alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible John PDF, John 21:15-19 and attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET John PDF ↗modern scholarly book introduction
John course: summary, outline, background, introductory issues, theological themes, and Bible in the world
Craig R. Koester; revised by Karoline M. Lewis
Enter the Bible, Luther Seminary, 2024 revision; current course inspected 2026
Supports: Current historical-critical synthesis, narrative movement, Jewish context, signs, Christology, Spirit, Passion, and resurrection.
Exact location: Enter the Bible John course, Passion, Resurrection, and Beloved Disciple materials; applied to 21:15-19
Open the Enter the Bible John course ↗modern scholarly narrative and theological course
The Gospel of John: course introduction and twelve study guides
Harold W. Attridge and Michal Beth Dinkler
Yale Bible Study, Yale Divinity School, Current online edition inspected 2026
Supports: Literary, historical, theological, gender-aware, sacramental, and reader-oriented interpretation.
Exact location: Yale Bible Study, Gospel of John course, Resurrection and Epilogue study guide; applied to 21:15-19
Open the Yale Gospel of John course ↗modern open confessional commentary
John
Andreas J. Köstenberger
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, Current online edition inspected 2026
Supports: Complete confessional evangelical interpretation, represented as a strong traditioned view rather than consensus.
Exact location: Köstenberger, “John,” commentary heading covering John 21:15-19
Open Köstenberger's John commentary ↗modern open doctoral thesis
The Beloved Disciple as Interpreter and Author of Scripture in the Gospel of John
Julia Danielle Lindenlaub
University of Edinburgh Research Archive, 2021
Supports: Beloved Disciple as witness, interpreter, and purported author; literary authority and editorial limits.
Exact location: Lindenlaub, Beloved Disciple thesis, introduction; Scripture-formula chapters; authorship and written-medium chapters; John 19:35, 20:30-31, and 21 discussion; applied to 21:15-19
Open Lindenlaub's thesis record and PDF ↗modern scholarly pastoral passage collection
Johannine resurrection and commissioning commentaries on John 20–21
Karoline M. Lewis and multiple Working Preacher contributors
Working Preacher, Luther Seminary, Current collection inspected 2026
Supports: Mary Magdalene, embodied resurrection, Thomas, Spirit, forgiveness, purpose, Peter, and the Beloved Disciple.
Exact location: Working Preacher John 20–21 collection, commentary covering 21:15-19
Open Working Preacher's John 20–21 collection ↗