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There is really only one continuous narrative in John 21, but it has many dimensions, and we will look at it in some detail. The setting is back at the Sea of Galilee (sometimes also called the Sea of Tiberias, the name given it and the city in the course of Herod Antipas’s attempt to curry favor with the emperor). It seems some time has passed since the disciples had been in Jerusalem with the risen Jesus. In addition, only some of the eleven are present, and there are two other disciples, one of whom is the Beloved Disciple. It is an interesting fact that in the Gospel of John, which really does not focus on the ministry around the Sea of Galilee, we have no fishing tales earlier in this gospel, and no call of disciples by the shore of the Sea of Galilee. There is a mention of disciples coming from Bethsaida (Peter, Andrew, Philip, and perhaps Nathanael; see John 1:43–­44), but nothing about the calling of the Zebedees to discipleship. Nothing.

If we ask the point of this additional longish narrative in the appendix in John 21, there seem to be several main purposes: to show that the risen Jesus did appear to his disciples in Galilee, even though the earlier focus in John was on events in and around Jerusalem; to recount the restoration of Peter to a place of leadership amongst the disciples; to explain, albeit obliquely, about the Beloved Disciple and his fate; and to explain where the traditions in this gospel came from and that the community vouched for their authenticity. At least the very end of John 21 is surely a much later addition to the materials in John 2–­20, because in John 19 the Beloved Disciple is still alive and testifying. The implication from the end of John 21 is that this is no longer the case. The composition history of this book is likely complex, so I will lay out my best hypothesis about it in the commentary notes.

What we learn in John 21 is not only about Jesus’ great forgiveness and love; we also learn about Peter’s leadership and coming martyrdom and indirectly about the martyrdom of the Beloved Disciple, the respective leaders of the Galilean and Judean groups of Jesus’ disciples. Peter was crucified in the late 60s in Rome. We have no idea how the Beloved Disciple died, perhaps of natural causes, as he was very old by the 90s. Nevertheless, he still speaks to us through this gospel, thanks to the extensive efforts and editorial work of John of Patmos.

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This study is perfect for:
+ Individual Bible study
+ Sunday school classes
+ Weeknight small groups

In these pages you'll:
+ Gain new perspectives on common gospel stories and passages
+ Learn the original context in which the Gospel of John was written, while discovering its relevance today

About the Study
In this edition of the OneBook Daily-Weekly, noted New Testament scholar Dr. Ben Witherington III leads disciples on twelve-week study of the Gospel of John. With Witherington's incisive insight and compelling observations, learners will gain clarity on the powerful and practical ways of the Son of God. Through the process, students will grow in holy love, both for God and neighbor, by becoming better readers of Scripture and truer followers of Jesus.

About the Author
Dr. Ben Witherington III is Amos professor of New Testament for doctoral studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and on the doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University in Scotland. He has written more than forty books—including The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest, both of which were selected as top biblical studies works by Christianity Today. Along with many interviews on radio networks across the country, Witherington has been on the History Channel, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, The Discovery Channel, A&E, and the PAX Network.

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