Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 21:19
This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
19. This spake he ] Now this He spake.
signifying by what death ] Signifying by what manner of death. This comment is quite in S. John’s style (comp. Joh 12:33, Joh 18:32) [14]. It will depend on the interpretation of Joh 21:18 whether we understand this to mean crucifixion or simply martyrdom. That S. Peter was crucified at Rome rests on sufficient evidence, beginning with Tertullian ( Scorp. xv.), and that he requested to be crucified head downwards is stated by Eusebius ( H. E. iii. i. 2) on the authority of Origen.
he should glorify ] Literally, he shall glorify.
Follow me ] Perhaps the literal meaning is not altogether to be excluded; and it appears from S. Peter’s ‘turning about’ ( Joh 21:20), that he understood the words literally and began to follow. But no doubt this command here, as elsewhere in the Gospels, is to be understood figuratively, the precise shade of meaning being determined by the context. Comp. Joh 1:43; Mat 8:22; Mat 9:9; Mat 19:21. In the present case there is probably a reference to Joh 13:36-37; and the ‘following’ includes following to a martyr’s death, and possibly the precise death of crucifixion.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
By what death … – In these words two things are implied:
1.That Peter would die a violent death; and,
2.That his death would be such as to honor God.
The ancients say that Peter was crucified at Rome, about 34 years after this, with his head downward. Clemens says that he was led to the crucifixion with his wife, and sustained her in her sufferings by exhorting her to remember the example of her Lord. He also adds that he died, not as the philosophers did, but with a firm hope of heaven, and patiently endured the pangs of the cross (Strom. vii.). This declaration of the Saviour was doubtless continually before the mind of Peter, and to the hour of his death he maintained the utmost constancy and fidelity in his cause, thus justifying the appellation which the Lord Jesus gave him – a rock.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 19. Should glorify God.] Ancient writers state that, about thirty-four years after this, Peter was crucified; and that he deemed it so glorious a thing to die for Christ that he begged to be crucified with his head downwards, not considering himself worthy to die in the same posture in which his Lord did. So Eusebius, Prudentius, Chrysostom, and Augustin. See Calmet.
Follow me.] Whether our Lord meant by these words that Peter was to walk with him a little way for a private interview, or whether he meant that he was to imitate his example, or be conformed to him in the manner of his death, is very uncertain.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
19. This spake he, signifying bywhat death he should glorify Godnot, therefore, a mereprediction of the manner of his death, but of the honorto be conferred upon him by dying for his Master. And, indeed, beyonddoubt, this prediction was intended to follow up his triplerestoration:”Yes, Simon, thou shall not only feed My lambs,and feed My sheep, but after a long career of such service, shalt becounted worthy to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
And when he had spoken this,he saith unto him, Follow meBy thus connecting the utteranceof this prediction with the invitation to follow Him, the Evangelistwould indicate the deeper sense in which the call was understood, notmerely to go along with Him at that moment, but to come after Him,”taking up his cross.“
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
This spake he,…. These are the words of the evangelist, explaining the meaning of Christ in like manner, as in Joh 12:33
signifying by what death he should glorify God; for by the above words Christ not only intimated that Peter should die, not a natural, but a violent death, or that he should die a martyr in his cause, but the very kind of death he should die, namely, by crucifixion; and that Peter was crucified at Rome, ecclesiastical history confirms f, when Christ was magnified, and God was glorified by his zeal and courage, faith and patience, constancy and perseverance to the end:
and when he had spoken this: concerning the usage and treatment he should meet with, the sufferings he should undergo, and death he should die for his sake, for the present trial of him:
he saith unto him, follow me: which may be understood literally, Jesus now rising up, and ordering him to come after him; and yet as a sign of his following him, in a spiritual sense, exercising every grace upon him, discharging every duty towards him, faithfully and constantly performing his work and office, as an apostle and preacher of the Gospel, in which he had now reinstated and confirmed him, and patiently bearing and suffering all kind of reproach, persecution, and death, for his name’s sake.
f Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 2. c 25.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
By what manner of death ( ). Undoubtedly John, who is writing long after Peter’s death, seems to mean that Peter was to die (and did die) a martyr’s death. “Whither thou wouldest not.” There is a tradition that Peter met death by crucifixion and asked to be crucified head downwards, but that is not made plain here.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
By what death [] . Properly, by what manner of death. So Rev.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “This spake he,” (touto de elpen) “Then he said this,” used this illustration.
2) “Signifying by what death,” (semainon polo thanato) “Signifying or indicating by what death,” what kind of death, pointing out the kind of or through what manner of death.
3) “He should glorify God.” (doksasei ton theon) “He would come to glorify God,” 2Pe 1:14; Rev 2:10. The death of His saints, no matter how they depart this life, always glorifies God, and is “precious in His sight,” 2Co 5:8-9.
4) “And when he had spoken this,” (kai touto eipon) “And when he had said this,” completed this charge, admonition, and explanation of what was ahead for Peter, in service, humiliation, suffering, and death.
5) “He saith unto him, Follow me.” (legei auto akolouthei moil “He told him directly and personally, you follow me,” familiar words that Peter had often heard before, when they did not mean so much then as now and hereafter, Mat 4:19; Mat 16:24; Luk 9:23.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
19. Signifying by what death he should glorify God. This circumlocution is highly emphatic; for though the end held out to all believers ought to be, to glorify God both by their life and by their death, yet John intended to employ a remarkable commendation for adorning the death of those who, by their blood, seal the Gospel of Christ and glorify his name, as Paul teaches us, (Phi 1:20.) It is now our duty to reap the fruit which the death of Peter has yielded; for it ought to be imputed to our indolence, if our faith be not confirmed by it, and if we do not keep the same object in view, that the glory of God may be displayed by us. If the Papists had considered this end in the death of the martyrs, that sacrilegious and detestable invention would never have entered into their minds, that their death contributes to appease the wrath of God, and to pay the ransom for our sins.
And when he had said this. Christ here explains what was the design of that prediction of a violent death. It was, that Peter might be prepared to endure it; as if he had said, “Since you must endure death by my example, follow your leader.” Again, that Peter may the more willingly obey God who calls him to the cross, Christ offers himself as a leader; for this is not a general exhortation by which he invites him to imitate himself, but he speaks only of the kind of death. Now, this single consideration greatly soothes all the bitterness that is in death, when the Son of God presents himself before our eyes with his blessed resurrection, which is our triumph over death.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(19) This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God.These words are a comment by the writer, and quite in St. Johns style. (Comp. Joh. 2:21; Joh. 6:6; Joh. 7:39; Joh. 12:33.)
By what death, or, more exactly, by what manner of death (comp. Joh. 12:33; Joh. 18:32), indicates generally the martyrdom of Peter as distinct from a natural death, without special reference to the crucifixion. (See Note on last verse.)
For the phrase glorify God, comp. Joh. 13:31; Joh. 17:1; and see also Php. 1:20; 1Pe. 4:16. From its occurrence here in connection with St. Peter, it passed into the common language of the Church for the death of martyrs.
Follow me.It may be, and the next verse makes it probable, that our Lord withdrew from the circle of the disciples, and by some movement or gesture signified to Peter that he should follow Him; but these words must have had for the Apostle a much fuller meaning. By the side of that lake he had first heard the command Follow Me (Mat. 4:19); when sent forth on his apostleship, he had been taught that to follow Christ meant to take up the cross (Mat. 10:38); it was his words which drew from Christ the utterance, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me (Mat. 16:23); to his question at the Last Supper came the answer, Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now; but thou shalt follow Me afterwards (Joh. 13:36); and now the command has come again with the prophecy of martyrdom, and it must have carried to his mind the thought that he was to follow the Lord in suffering and death itself, and through the dark path which He had trodden was to follow Him to the Fathers home.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. Glorify God That God should receive glory in the martyr’s death was a new thought, unknown to heathenism. F o
llow me Our Lord, we now suppose, rose from the meal and prepares for his disappearing. He moves from the company and bids Peter follow him. As Peter rises to follow, John, with deep interest, but half unconsciousness, rises to follow also. This command to Peter to follow him required a bodily following; but it also symbolized that following in future destiny by which Peter should tread the path through martyrdom to heaven. This will soon appear as we advance.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“And when he had spoken this he says to him, “Follow me”.’
Jesus now renewed that first so important call of Peter. He called him again to ‘Follow Me’. The care Jesus took over all this demonstrates how deeply what Peter had done had been felt, both by Peter and the rest of the disciples. One they all looked to had collapsed in total failure. So there would always have been a question over whether this had cancelled out his position, and this was felt by him most of all. Now he knew, and they all knew, that his call stood firm. And that next time, with Christ’s strength, he would not fail.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Joh 21:19 . A comment, quite of Johannean stamp, on the remarkable saying. Comp. Joh 18:32 , also Joh 12:33 .
] i.e . by what manner of death, namely, by the death of martyrdom , for which Peter, bound round with fetters , was conveyed to the place of execution . John, who wrote long after the death of Peter, presupposes the details as well known , as also Clem. Cor . I. 5. Peter was crucified , as tradition, from the time of Tertullian, Scorp . 15, [288] de praeser . 35, and Origen in Eusebius, credibly relates; the reader had therefore to take this special element of the of the execution from history, as the fulfilment of the less definite word of prophecy, in addition to , but not to derive it from , the words of Christ themselves.
. ] For such a death tended to the glorifying of God , in whose service he suffered for the revelation of His counsel and for the victory of His work (comp. Joh 17:4 ; Joh 17:6 ); hence . became “magnificus martyrii titulus,” Grotius. See Suicer, Thes . I. p. 949. Comp. also Phi 1:20 ; 1Pe 4:16 ; Act 5:41 .
] On the announcement of the martyrdom which is destined for Peter in his old age, there now follows, after a pause, the summons thereto, and that in the significant form: follow me! Comp. Joh 13:36 ; Mat 10:38 ; Mat 16:24 . This, then, refers, according to the context, to the following of Christ in the like death that He had died, i.e . in the death of martyrdom , which Peter is to undergo . Luther: “give thyself willingly to death.” Too special is the interpretation which refers it to the death of the cross , since this was not expressly characterized in Joh 21:18 (against Euth. Zigabenus and many others). Quite in opposition to the context, however (see also Joh 21:22 ), others, after Chrysostom and Theophylact, have referred it to the appointment to be oecumenical bishop . The reference to the guidance of the church is by no means to be connected with that to the death of martyrdom (Ewald, Jahrb . III. p. 171), since . is the opposite of , Joh 21:22 . Others , again, have divested the words of all significance: Jesus had something particular to speak of with Peter, and hence summoned him to go with Him . In this way Kuinoel, Paulus, and even Tholuck and Schleiermacher, whilst Grotius, Bengel, Luthardt, Lange, Hengstenberg, Brckner, Baeumlein, Godet attempt to melt away the proper and symbolical meaning.
[288] “Tunc Petrus ab altero cingitur, cum cruci adstringitur.”
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
Ver. 19. By what death he should glorify God ] Martyrdom is the lowest subjection that can be to God, but the highest honour. Vere magnus est Deus Christianorum; The God of the Christians is a great God indeed, said one Calocerius, a heathen, beholding the patient sufferings of the primitive martyrs. Justin Martyr confesseth of himself, that seeing the piety of Christians in their lives and their patience in death, he gathered that that was the truth that they so constantly professed and sealed up with their blood. And of one Adrianus it is reported, that seeing the martyrs suffer such grievous things, he asked the cause; one of them named that text, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,” &c. The naming of which words and seeing of such sufferings, so converted him, that afterwards he became a martyr. To account Christ precious as a tree of life, though we be fastened to him as to a stake to be burned at, this is the greatest honour we can do him upon earth. This is to magnify Christ as Paul did, Phi 1:20 ; to follow Christ close at heels, as Peter did here, who also had the manner of his death foretold him, 2Pe 1:14 . As had likewise Bishop Hooper, when he had given him for his arms, a lamb in a fiery bush, and the sunbeams from heaven descending down upon the lamb, rightly purporting by what death he should glorify God.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
19. ] This remark is entirely in John’s manner, see ch. Joh 2:21 ; Joh 6:6 ; Joh 7:39 ; Joh 12:33 ; as may be also the . . used of such a death, see ch. Joh 13:31 f.; Joh 17:1 .
] Not to be understood I think of any present gesture of the Lord calling Peter aside; but, from the next verse, followed perhaps by a motion of Peter towards Him, in which John joined. The words seem to be a plain reference to ch. Joh 13:36 ; and the following , a following through the Cross to glory: see Mat 16:24 ; Mar 10:21 . Now, however, is omitted. He had made this so plain, that it needed not expressing. There was also a forcible reminding Peter of the first time when he had heard this command on the same shore, Mat 4:19 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
what = what kind of.
glorify. Greek. doxazo. See p. 1511.
God. App-98.
when He had = having.
Follow. Greek. akoloutheo. Used of soldiers, servants, and pupils. First occurance in Joh 1:37.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
19.] This remark is entirely in Johns manner, see ch. Joh 2:21; Joh 6:6; Joh 7:39; Joh 12:33; as may be also the . . used of such a death, see ch. Joh 13:31 f.; Joh 17:1.
] Not to be understood I think of any present gesture of the Lord calling Peter aside;-but, from the next verse, followed perhaps by a motion of Peter towards Him, in which John joined. The words seem to be a plain reference to ch. Joh 13:36;-and the following,-a following through the Cross to glory: see Mat 16:24; Mar 10:21. Now, however, is omitted. He had made this so plain, that it needed not expressing. There was also a forcible reminding Peter of the first time when he had heard this command on the same shore, Mat 4:19.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 21:19. , signifying) Such predictions are sometimes vouchsafed to those who excel in love and faithfulness.-, by what kind of death) John wrote his gospel before the death of Peter: and the event, in a few years after, corresponded to the prediction of the Lord recorded by John. Comp. ch. Joh 12:33 [referring to His own death].-, he was about to glorify) It is chiefly by suffering, not merely by doing, that the saints glorify God.-, He saith) forthwith.- , follow Me) apart, by thyself: so as to hear what I have to do with thee alone; as also, that thou mayest undergo the suffering of the cross, Joh 21:18; Joh 21:22, ch. Joh 13:36. [This saying of the Lord, throughout the whole career of Peters life, secured his alacrity in following Christ.-V. g.] This following implied not so much the similarity of Peters death by the cross to that of Christ, which had already been intimated, as the fact of the death of Peter being separated from that of the Lord by a not exceedingly long interval, when compared with the lengthened stay of John. For there follows, What is that to thee? He had first of all said to the disciples, Follow Me (ch. Joh 1:43). The continuation of the beginning crowns the completion of Christianity.[409] This especially was the mind of Ignatius, to follow so as to attain to Christ.
[409] i.e. To follow Christ on to the last, as it is the first step, so it is the crowning of a disciples Christianity.-E. and T.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 21:19
Joh 21:19
Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God.-Peter would be taken and slain in his old age for the name of Christ. Jesus foretold it by this method.
And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.-As much as to say, while the future had good in store for him, all would depend on his fidelity to Christ. [I take the two verses that, though Peter was weak and ungrounded at first, he will increase in faith and courage sufficiently to die a martyr. The universal testimony of the historians of the early church is that he thus died-that he was crucified. He was to follow Jesus until he had drunk the cup that his Master had drunk, and thus glorify God.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
by: Phi 1:20, 1Pe 4:11-14, 2Pe 1:14
Follow: Joh 21:22, Joh 12:26, Joh 13:36, Joh 13:37, Num 14:24, 1Sa 12:20, Mat 10:38, Mat 16:21-25, Mat 19:28, Mar 8:33-38, Luk 9:22-26
Reciprocal: Mar 8:34 – follow Luk 5:27 – Follow me Joh 12:33 – signifying Rom 14:8 – we die unto
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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By what death indicates not only that the death of Peter would be to glorify (do honor) God, but that the manner of that death was to be a significant item in the affair. I do not believe it requires me to pay any special attention to the tradition that Peter was crucified with his head downward, nor even that he was crucified at all, though that is probable. The point is that he was to die by violence because of his devotion to God. In that kind of experience he would be imitating the example of his Lord, which is what he was exhorted to do in the words, follow me.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 21:19. But this said he, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. It is impossible to deny that in these words the Evangelist refers to death in the ordinary sense of the term. If, then, we consider (1) the peculiar expressions used in the last verse; (2) the tradition of the Church (usually regarded as worthy of trust), that Peter died by crucifixion; and (3) the fact that, at the time when the words were written, Peters death must have been long past: it is at once to be admitted that the Evangelist applies Joh 21:18, in the first instance at least, to the actual crucifixion of Peter. But it is not necessary to suppose that all the clauses of the verse refer to the literal crucifixion, or that the meaning of any of them is exhausted by that fact (comp. Joh 12:32-33). The singular words, he should glorify God, confirm the interpretation we have given. There is no evidence that at this early stage of Christian history this expression was used for martyrdom. It cannot therefore be explained in the light of martyrdom alone. We must compare such passages as chaps, Joh 12:28, Joh 13:31, Joh 14:13, Joh 15:8; Joh 17:1; Joh 17:4; and, doing so, we learn that the death of Peter is not viewed simply as the closing act of his career, but as an act in which that second life of his which had been spoken of in Joh 21:18 reached its culminating point. Thus there is nothing in Joh 21:19 limiting Joh 21:18 to that act of crucifixion which the several clauses of the verse compel us to pass.
And when he had said this, he saith unto him, Follow me. To confine the meaning of the words Follow me to the literal following of Jesus on the pre sent occasion,as if all their import were that Jesus had gone forward a few steps, telling Peter to come after Him,is so much out of keeping with the sense in which similar words are used even in the earlier Gospels, and so much more out of keeping with the style of John, that such an interpretation hardly needs to be refuted. That indeed our Lord did move forward, and that He meant Peter to follow Him, is highly probable,especially from Joh 21:20. But this is certainly not the whole meaning. The external following foreshadows an imitation of Christ in His accomplishment of the Fathers will, and His drinking of the cup put into his hands by the Father, until, in the one case as in the other, the cross itself is reached.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
21:19 This spake he, signifying by {f} what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
(f) That is, that Peter would die by a violent death.