Jean 21:23

23 Le bruit se répandit donc parmi les frères, que ce disciple ne mourrait point. Cependant Jésus ne lui avait pas dit: Il ne mourra point; mais: Si je veux qu'il demeure jusqu'à ce que je vienne, que t'importe?

Jean 21:23 Meaning and Commentary

John 21:23

Then went this saying abroad among the brethren
It not being rightly understood by some one or more of the disciples present: it was divulged with a wrong sense annexed to it among other persons; who, though not of the eleven, yet were followers of Christ, children of God, that belonged to the same family, and were, in a spiritual relation, brethren to each other, and to the apostles:

that that disciple should not die;
but should remain till the second coming of Christ, and be found among them that shall be then alive, and be changed. And such a notion not only was among the ancients; but Beza, in his notes on this text, tells us of a strolling wicked fellow, that gave out that he was the Apostle John; and was encouraged by some, particularly Postellus, a Sorbonic doctor, but was afterwards burnt at Tholouse.

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?
These are the words of John himself, the disciple spoken of, who gives a true and just account of Christ's words, freeing them from the false sense that was put upon them; which shows his ingenuous disposition, his integrity and love of truth; being unwilling that such an error should obtain among the disciples, and pass in the world for truth.

Jean 21:23 In-Context

21 Pierre donc l'ayant vu, dit à Jésus: Seigneur, et celui-ci, que lui arrivera-t-il?

22 Jésus lui dit: Si je veux qu'il demeure jusqu'à ce que je vienne, que t'importe? Toi, suis-moi.

23 Le bruit se répandit donc parmi les frères, que ce disciple ne mourrait point. Cependant Jésus ne lui avait pas dit: Il ne mourra point; mais: Si je veux qu'il demeure jusqu'à ce que je vienne, que t'importe?

24 C'est ce disciple qui rend témoignage de ces choses, et qui les a écrites; et nous savons que son témoignage est véritable.

25 Il y a encore beaucoup d'autres choses que Jésus a faites, et si elles étaient écrites en détail, je ne pense pas que le monde même pût contenir les livres qu'on en écrirait. Amen.