Joh 21:15-19 | RWP | e4.org | Lovest thou me more than these? ( αγαπαις με πλεον τουτων; ). Ablative case of comparison τουτων (disciples) after πλεον . Peter had even boasted that he would stand by Christ though all men forsook him ( ). We do not know what passed between Jesus and Peter when Jesus first appeared to him ( ). But here Christ probes the inmost recesses of Peter's heart to secure the humility necessary for service. I love thee ( φιλω συ ). Peter makes no claim here to superior love and passes by the "more than these" and does not even use Christ's word αγαπαω for high and devoted love, but the humbler word φιλεω for love as a friend. He insists that Christ knows this in spite of his conduct. Feed my lambs ( Βοσκε τα αρνια μου ). For the old word βοσκω (to feed as a herdsman) see . Present active imperative here. Αρνια is a diminutive of αρνος (lamb).

‏ John 21:15-19

Lovest thou me more than these? ( αγαπαις με πλεον τουτων; ). Ablative case of comparison τουτων (disciples) after πλεον. Peter had even boasted that he would stand by Christ though all men forsook him (Mr 14:29). We do not know what passed between Jesus and Peter when Jesus first appeared to him (Lu 24:34). But here Christ probes the inmost recesses of Peter's heart to secure the humility necessary for service.

I love thee ( φιλω συ ). Peter makes no claim here to superior love and passes by the "more than these" and does not even use Christ's word αγαπαω for high and devoted love, but the humbler word φιλεω for love as a friend. He insists that Christ knows this in spite of his conduct.

Feed my lambs ( Βοσκε τα αρνια μου ). For the old word βοσκω (to feed as a herdsman) see Mt 8:33. Present active imperative here. Αρνια is a diminutive of αρνος (lamb).

Lovest thou me? ( αγαπαις με; ). This time Jesus drops the πλεον τουτων and challenges Peter's own statement. Peter repeats the same words in reply.

Tend my sheep ( ποιμαινε τα προβατια ). Present active imperative of ποιμαινω, old verb from ποιμην (shepherd), "shepherd my lambs" ( προβατια, diminutive of προβατον, sheep).

Lovest thou me? ( φιλεις με; ). This time Jesus picks up the word φιλεω used by Peter and challenges that. These two words are often interchanged in the N.T., but here the distinction is preserved. Peter was cut to the heart ( ελυπηθη, first aorist passive of λυπεω, to grieve) because Jesus challenges this very verb, and no doubt the third question vividly reminds him of the three denials in the early morning by the fire. He repeats his love for Jesus with the plea: "Thou knowest all things."

Feed my sheep ( βοσκε τα προβατια ). Many MSS. both here and in verse 16 read προβατα (sheep) instead of προβατια (little sheep or lambs).

Thou girdest thyself ( εζωννυες σεαυτον ). Imperfect active of customary action of ζωννυω, old verb, in N.T. only here and Ac 12:8. So as to περιεπατεις (walkedst) and ηθελες (wouldest), two other imperfects of customary action.

When thou shalt be old ( οταν γηρασηις ). Indefinite temporal clause with οταν and the first aorist active subjunctive of γηρασκω, old verb to grow old, in N.T. only here and Heb 8:13, "whenever thou growest old."

By what manner of death ( ποιω θανατω ). Undoubtedly John, who is writing long after Peter's death, seems to mean that Peter was to die (and did die) a martyr's death. "Whither thou wouldest not." There is a tradition that Peter met death by crucifixion and asked to be crucified head downwards, but that is not made plain here.