John 21:23 BSB — MannaFest

John 21:23

Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus did not say that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?”

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

This saying therefore went forth among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, that he should not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

KJV

Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

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Commentary

2 voices

Ambrose of Milan

On the Death of Satyrus 2.49 (397)

There is, then, nothing for us to fear in death, nothing for us to mourn, whether life, which was received from nature be rendered up to it again, or whether it is sacrificed to some duty that claims it, and this will be either an act of religion or the exercise of some virtue. And no one ever wished to remain as at present. This has been supposed to have been promised to John, but it is not the truth. We hold fast to the words and deduce the meaning from them.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

The brethren -- that is, the Christians. Our Lord himself taught them that appellation, chap. xx, 17. Yet Jesus did not say to him, that he should not die - Not expressly.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

Then went this saying ... - This mistake arose very naturally: 1. From the words of Jesus, which might be easily misunderstood to mean that he should not die; and, 2. It was probably confirmed when it was seen that John survived all the other apostles, had escaped all the dangers of persecution, and was leading a peaceful life at Ephesus. This mistake John deemed it proper to correct before he died, and has thus left on record what Jesus said and what he meant.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

33 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Ἐξῆλθεν	Exēlthen	Went out	G1831 →
οὖν	oun	therefore	G3767 →
οὗτος	houtos	this	G3778 →
ὁ	ho	<the>	G3588 →
λόγος	logos	saying	G3056 →
εἰς	eis	among	G1519 →
τοὺς	tous	the	G3588 →
ἀδελφοὺς	adelphous	brothers	G80 →
ὅτι	hoti	that	G3754 →
ὁ	ho	the	G3588 →
μαθητὴς	mathētēs	disciple	G3101 →
ἐκεῖνος	ekeinos	that	G1565 →
οὐκ	ouk	not	G3756 →
ἀποθνῄσκει·	apothnēskei	dies;	G599 →
οὐκ	ouk	Not	G3756 →
εἶπεν	eipen	said	G2036 →
δὲ	de	however	G1161 →
αὐτῷ	autō	to him	G846 →
ὁ	ho	<the>	G3588 →
Ἰησοῦς	Iēsous	Jesus	G2424 →
ὅτι	hoti	that	G3754 →
οὐκ	ouk	not	G3756 →
ἀποθνῄσκει,	apothnēskei	he dies,	G599 →
ἀλλ᾽	all᾽	but	G235 →
ἐὰν	ean	If	G1437 →
αὐτὸν	auton	him	G846 →
θέλω	thelō	I shall desire	G2309 →
μένειν	menein	to remain	G3306 →
ἕως	he'ōs	until	G2193 →
ἔρχομαι,	erchomai	I come,	G2064 →
τί	ti	what [is it]	G5101 →
πρὸς	pros	to	G4314 →
σέ;	se	you?	G4771 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.
leads to
- Daniel 2:22
  He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.
- Acts 1:7
  Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.
- Romans 11:33–34
  O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
- Matthew 13:11
  He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
- Job 11:6–7
  and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.
Through
Job 28:28
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
leads to
- Psalms 111:10
  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!
- Proverbs 1:7
  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
- Proverbs 9:10
  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.