John 21:1

This chapter has been called a supplement,[1] an appendix,[2] an epilogue,[3] or a postscript,[4] by various scholars, some of whom insist that the Gospel ended with chapter 20; but this student has found no reason for dissociating it from the rest of the Gospel.

John 20:30-31 COULD HAVE BEEN USED by John as a conclusion, but he did not so use them. In 1 John 5:13, John used nearly these same words in what could have been a perfect ending of his epistle at that point; but, instead, he went on for eight more verses. The apostle's style of writing thus denies any necessity of viewing John 20:30-31 as his conclusion. "There is no manuscript evidence of John 21 being a later edition."[5] Therefore, it is part of the genuine Gospel.

Based upon the material presented, this chapter had the following design:

1. It showed that Peter's denial was forgiven. This might have been supposed from Peter's prominence on Pentecost, or inferred from Luke 24:34; but this Gospel gave a complete account of his restoration.

2. A tradition had developed in the first century to the effect that Jesus would appear in his second coming before John died, or the equivalent of it, that John would remain alive until he came (John 21:23). The apostle here laid that to rest by relating exactly what was said.

3. He answered the question of why this or that particular event in Jesus' life had not been recorded, by noting the impossibility of recording all that Christ did.

4. This chapter is also, in a sense, the sending forth of the apostles on their worldwide mission. Christ's charge delivered specifically to Peter, but inclusive of them all, though different from the great commission (as in Matthew and Mark), was nevertheless similar in import. As Hunter remarked:

A Gospel, as we know it, does not end simply with an appearance, or appearances, of the living Lord. It always includes the commissioning of his disciples for their future work. John 21 is such a commission.[6]

[1] William Hendriksen. Exposition of the Gospel according to John (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House. 1961), II, p. 475.

[2] W. F. Howard, The Interpreters' Bible (New York: Abingdon Press, 1952), p. 802.

[3] B. F. Westcott, The Gospel according to St. John (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1971), p. 299.

[4] Alan Richardson, The Gospel according to John (London: SCM Press. 1959), p. 214.

[5] Ibid.

[6] A. M. Hunter, The Gospel according to John (Cambridge University Press, 1965), p. 191.

After these things Jesus manifested himself again to his disciples at the sea of Tiberius; and he manifested himself on this wise. (John 21:1)

After these things ... is a connective but does not indicate any definite length of time.

Jesus manifested himself ... It should be noted that Jesus' appearances were always of his own choosing, and not of his disciples'. His appearances had none of the marks of subjective visions, but were bona fide visitations of the Lord in his post-resurrection appearances.