John 21:15–17

Context

John 21 recounts how the risen Jesus appeared on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias to his disciples, who were out fishing. Many scholars regard chapter 21 as an epilogue, since John 20:31 appears to be the book's original conclusion. After they have eaten breakfast together, Jesus asks Peter three times, "Lovest thou me?" Each time Peter answers that the Lord knows he loves him ("thou knowest that I love thee"), and each time Jesus replies in turn, "Feed my lambs," "Feed my sheep," and "Feed my sheep." The scene parallels Peter's threefold denial of Jesus beside a charcoal fire on the night of Jesus' arrest (John 18). In the original Greek, the same word for "charcoal fire" is used in both scenes.

Interpretation

• Restoration reading: On this reading, the three questions retrace the three denials, and Jesus, rather than rebuking Peter, forgives him and reinstates him as a disciple. This interpretation is widely accepted across many denominations.
• Commissioning reading: Because the confession of love leads directly to the care of the flock, this reading holds that the shepherd's office flows from love for Christ.
• Verb-distinction reading: In the Greek text, Jesus' first two questions use agapaō, while his third question and Peter's answers use phileō. Some interpreters find significance in this difference, whereas many scholars, noting that the Gospel of John uses the two verbs interchangeably, regard it as merely a stylistic variation.

Debates and Issues

The Catholic Church cites this passage, together with Matthew 16:18–19, as evidence that Peter was appointed shepherd of the whole Church, and connects it with papal primacy (the teaching that the pope holds supreme authority in the Church). Protestants generally read the passage as concerning Peter's personal restoration and commission and do not take it to imply an office passed on to successors.

The phrase "more than these" is also interpreted in different ways. Some read it as "more than the other disciples love me," while others read it as "more than these things" (the boat, the nets, and Peter's former livelihood). Because Korean translations usually render both verbs as "to love" (saranghada), the difference between the verbs in the original text is not visible in those translations.

In the Korean Church

"Feed my sheep" is reportedly a frequent sermon text at ordination services and installation services for pastors. Sermons also commonly introduce the distinction between agapē and phileō.

Related Passages

• John 18:15–27
• Luke 22:31–32
• Matthew 16:18–19
• John 10:11–15
• 1 Peter 5:2–4