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Wednesday, October 9th, 2024
the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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Contemporary English Version

John 21:22

Jesus answered, "What is it to you, if I want him to live until I return? You must follow me."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Curiosity;   Jesus Continued;   Peter;   Presumption;   Thompson Chain Reference - Discipleship;   Followers;   I Will's of Christ;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - John the apostle;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Jesus Christ;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Care;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Resurrection of Christ;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - James;   Tradition;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Beloved Disciple;   John;   John, the Gospel of;   Lazarus;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - John, Gospel of;   John, Theology of;   Peter;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Call, Calling;   Day of Judgment;   Discourse;   Example;   Guide;   John (the Apostle);   Parousia;   Prophet;   Smith Bible Dictionary - John, Gospel of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Christ, the Exaltation of;   Chronology of the New Testament;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - New Testament;   Simon Cephas;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
Jesus said, "If I want to keep him alive until the day I return, it is none of your business. You just follow me and don't worry about anything else."
Legacy Standard Bible
Jesus *said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!"
Bible in Basic English
Jesus said to him, If it is my desire for him to be here till I come back, what is that to you? come yourself after me.
Darby Translation
Jesus says to him, If I will that he abide until I come, what [is that] to thee? Follow thou me.
New King James Version
Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."
Christian Standard Bible®
"If I want him to remain until I come," Jesus answered, "what is that to you? As for you, follow Me."
World English Bible
Jesus said to him, "If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Jesus saith to him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is it to thee?
Weymouth's New Testament
"If I desire him to remain till I come," replied Jesus, "what concern is that of yours? You, yourself, must follow me."
King James Version (1611)
Iesus saith vnto him, If I will that he tary till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me.
Literal Translation
Jesus said to him, If I desire him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Iesus sayde vnto him: Yf I wil that he tary tyll I come, what is that to the? Folowe thou me.
Mace New Testament (1729)
Jesus said, if I will have him stay till I come, what have you to do with that? do you follow me.
THE MESSAGE
Jesus said, "If I want him to live until I come again, what's that to you? You—follow me." That is how the rumor got out among the brothers that this disciple wouldn't die. But that is not what Jesus said. He simply said, "If I want him to live until I come again, what's that to you?"
Amplified Bible
Jesus said to him, "If I want him to stay alive until I come [again], what is that to you? You follow Me!"
American Standard Version
Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!"
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Iesus sayd vnto him Yf I will have him to tary tyll I come what is that to the? folowe thou me.
Update Bible Version
Jesus says to him, If I will that he tarries until I come, what [is that] to you? You follow me.
Webster's Bible Translation
Jesus saith to him, If I will that he shall tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? Follow thou me.
Young's Literal Translation
Jesus saith to him, `If him I will to remain till I come, what -- to thee? be thou following me.' This word, therefore, went forth to the brethren that that disciple doth not die,
New Century Version
Jesus answered, "If I want him to live until I come back, that is not your business. You follow me."
New English Translation
Jesus replied, "If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours? You follow me!"
Berean Standard Bible
Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!"
Complete Jewish Bible
Yeshua said to him, "If I want him to stay on until I come, what is it to you? You, follow me!"
English Standard Version
Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!"
Geneva Bible (1587)
Iesus said vnto him, If I will that he tarie till I come, what is it to thee? followe thou me.
George Lamsa Translation
Jesus said to him, If I wish him to remain until I come, what difference does that make to you? You follow me.
Hebrew Names Version
Yeshua said to him, "If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me."
International Standard Version
Jesus said to him, "If it is my will for him to remain until I come, how does that concern you? You must keep following me!"Matthew 16:27-28; 25:31; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 11:26; Revelation 2:25; 3:11;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Jeshu saith to him, If I will that this wait until I come, what (is that) to thee ? Come thou after me.
Murdock Translation
Jesus said to him: If I will, that he abide here until I come, what [fn] to thee? Follow thou me.
New Living Translation
Jesus replied, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me."
New Life Bible
Jesus said, "If I want this one to wait until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."
English Revised Version
Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
New Revised Standard
Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Jesus saith unto him - If I will that, he, remain until I come, what is that to thee? Thou, be following me.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Jesus saith to him: So I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee? Follow thou me.
King James Version
Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Lexham English Bible
Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!"
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Iesus sayth vnto hym: If I wyll haue hym to tary tyll I come, what is that to thee? folowe thou me.
Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus answered, "Maybe I want him to live until I come. That should not matter to you. You follow me!"
New American Standard Bible
Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!"
Good News Translation
Jesus answered him, "If I want him to live until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Jhesus seith to him, So I wole that he dwelle til that Y come, what to thee? sue thou me.

Contextual Overview

20 Peter turned and saw Jesus' favorite disciple following them. He was the same one who had sat next to Jesus at the meal and had asked, "Lord, who is going to betray you?" 21 When Peter saw that disciple, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" 22 Jesus answered, "What is it to you, if I want him to live until I return? You must follow me." 23 So the rumor spread among the other disciples that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say he would not die. He simply said, "What is it to you, if I want him to live until I return?" 24 This disciple is the one who told all of this. He wrote it, and we know he is telling the truth. 25 Jesus did many other things. If they were all written in books, I don't suppose there would be room enough in the whole world for all the books.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

If: Matthew 16:27, Matthew 16:28, Matthew 24:3, Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:44, Matthew 25:31, Mark 9:1, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 1 Corinthians 11:26, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 2:25, Revelation 3:11, Revelation 22:7, Revelation 22:20

follow: John 21:19

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 29:29 - secret Matthew 4:19 - Follow Mark 13:4 - General Mark 16:19 - after Luke 9:27 - some Luke 13:23 - And Luke 21:7 - when John 10:27 - and they John 12:26 - let John 13:36 - thou Acts 10:42 - he commanded

Cross-References

Genesis 20:2
he told everyone that his wife Sarah was his sister. So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.
Genesis 20:17
Meanwhile, God had kept Abimelech's wife and slaves from having children. But Abraham prayed, and God let them start having children again.
Genesis 21:2
Although Abraham was very old, Sarah had a son exactly at the time God had said.
Genesis 21:3
Abraham named his son Isaac,
Genesis 26:26
Meanwhile, Abimelech had left Gerar and was taking his advisor Ahuzzath and his army commander Phicol to see Isaac.
Genesis 26:28
They answered, "We now know for certain that the Lord is with you, and we have decided there needs to be a peace treaty between you and us. So let's make a solemn agreement
Genesis 28:15
Wherever you go, I will watch over you, then later I will bring you back to this land. I won't leave you—I will do all I have promised.
Genesis 30:27
But Laban told him, "If you really are my friend, stay on, and I'll pay whatever you ask. I'm sure the Lord has blessed me because of you."
Joshua 3:7
The Lord told Joshua, "Beginning today I will show the people that you are their leader, and they will know that I am helping you as I helped Moses.
2 Chronicles 1:1
King Solomon, the son of David, was now in complete control of his kingdom, because the Lord God had blessed him and made him a powerful king.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Jesus saith unto him,.... Christ vouchsafes an answer to Peter, but not a very clear one, nor such an one as he wished for, and not without a rebuke to him:

if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? meaning, that if it was his pleasure that he should live, not till his second coming to judge the quick and dead at the last day, but till he should come in his power and take vengeance on the Jewish nation, in the destruction of their city and temple by the Romans, and in dispersing them through the nations of the world; till which time John did live, and many years after; and was the only one of the disciples that lived till that time, and who did not die a violent death; what was that to Peter? it was no concern of his. The question was too curious, improper, and impertinent; it became him to attend only to what concerned himself, and he was bid to do:

follow thou me; whence it may be observed, that it becomes the saints to mind their duty in following Christ, and not concern themselves in things that do not belong to them. Christ is to be followed by his people as their leader and commander; as the shepherd of the flock; as a guide in the way, and the forerunner that is gone before; as the light of the world; as the pattern and example of the saints, and as their Lord and master; and that in the exercise of every grace, as humility and meekness, love, zeal, patience, and resignation to the will of God; and also in the discharge of duty, both with respect to moral life and conversation, and instituted worship, as attendance on public service, and submission to ordinances; and likewise in enduring sufferings patiently and cheerfully for his sake. Saints are under obligation to follow Christ; it is their interest so to do; it is honourable, safe, comfortable, and pleasant, and ends in happiness here and hereafter.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That he tarry - That he live. The same word is used to express life in Phi 1:24-25; 1 Corinthians 15:6.

Till I come - Some have supposed this to refer to the destruction of Jerusalem; others to the day of judgment; others to signify that he would not die a violent death; but the plain meaning is, “If I will that he should not die at all, it is nothing to thee.” In this way the apostles evidently understood it, and hence raised a report that he would not die. It is remarkable that John was the last of the apostles; that he lived to nearly the close of the first century, and then died a peaceful death at Ephesus, being the only one, as is supposed, of the apostles who did not suffer martyrdom. The testimony of antiquity is clear on this point; and though there have been many idle conjectures about this passage and about the fate of John, yet no fact of history is better attested than that John died and was buried at Ephesus.

What is that to thee? - From this passage we learn:

1.That our main business is to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

2.That there are many subjects of religion on which a vain and impertinent curiosity is exercised. All such curiosity Jesus here reproves.

3.That Jesus will take care of all his true disciples, and that we should not be unduly solicitous about them.

4.That we should go forward to whatever he calls us to persecution or death - not envying the lot of any other man, and anxious only to do the will of God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 21:22. If I will that he tarry till I come — There are several opinions concerning this: the following are the principal.

1. Some have concluded from these words that John should never die. Many eminent men, ancients and moderns, have been and are of this opinion.

2. Others thought that our Lord intimated that John should live till Christ came to judge and destroy Jerusalem. On this opinion it is observed that Peter, who was the oldest of the apostles, died in the year 67, which, says Calmet, was six years before the destruction of Jerusalem; and that John survived the ruin of that city about thirty years, he being the only one of the twelve who was alive when the above desolation took place.

3. St. Augustin, Bede, and others, understood the passage thus: If I will that he remain till I come and take him away by a natural death, what is that to thee? follow thou me to thy crucifixion. On this it may be observed, that all antiquity agrees that John, if he did die, was the only disciple who was taken away by a natural death.

4. Others imagine that our Lord was only now taking Peter aside to speak something to him in private, and that Peter, seeing John following, wished to know whether he should come along with them; and that our Lord's answer stated that John should remain in that place till Christ and Peter returned to him; and to this meaning of the passage many eminent critics incline. For neatly eighteen hundred years, the greatest men in the world have been puzzled with this passage. It mould appear intolerable in me to attempt to decide, where so many eminent doctors have disagreed, and do still disagree. I rather lean to the fourth opinion. See the conclusion of the Preface to this Gospel.


 
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