This is the first blog in the ‘Horrible Translation’ series in which we will explore confusing and confounding translations as well as downright horrible ones.
Do you love me?
In John 21:15-17 we find a rather confusing exchange between Jesus and Peter.
Here is the encounter from the ESV translation which is typical of most, if not all, English versions.
Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep”.
Confusing, or what?
You may be asking yourself.
Why did Jesus ask the same question three times?
Did Jesus, in fact, ask the same question three times?
Why was Peter grieved when Jesus asked a third time?
It is impossible to determine the answers from the typical, confusing, English translation.
As a result, some speculate that Jesus may have asked the same question three times to reinforce his forgiveness for Peter’s three-fold denial of Christ during his trial before the high priest.
But John doesn’t tell us that, does he?
Now turn to the Greek.
Here we find a more nuanced understanding of the exchange between Jesus and Peter. Even if you can’t read the Greek yet, you can easily see the difference between the Greek words in red.
Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love (αγαπας) me more than these?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love (φιλω) you.”
He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (αγαπας) me?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love (φιλω) you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (φιλεις) me?”
Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love (φιλεις) me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love (φιλω) you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep”.
Couldn’t the English translators have chosen different words for ἀγαπάω and φιλέω?
Couldn’t they have invented a new word for φιλέω if one didn’t exist? People invent new words all the time.
When I read this passage I read the first two questions as;
Jesus: “Do you love me” as in the committed, sacrificial love of ἀγαπάω.
Peter: “Lord I really like you” as in the brotherly affection of φιλέω.
Did you notice that Jesus changed from ἀγαπάω to φιλέω when he asked the third time?
Now we see it! Jesus didn’t ask the same question three times!
But wait! There is another complication.
Jesus and Peter didn’t speak Greek to each other, they spoke Aramaic.
So what, exactly, did they say?
We could guess but it may not be necessary.
What is the point of this story?
That may be the more important question.
As with the account of Peter’s three-fold denial during Christ’s trial, I believe that this account is one of John’s portraits of Peter before Pentecost; a portrait of Peter as ‘willing but weak’.
Before Pentecost, Peter lacked the boldness to acknowledge his relationship to Christ during the trial and he lacked the sacrificial, ἀγαπάω love that he he would need to fulfil Christ’s commission as an apostle.
After Pentecost, being filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter displayed the courage, boldness and love he needed to be Christ’s witness.
Considering this, I am reminded of the Lord’s answer to Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:9;
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
At least, that is how I see it.
Now do your own, prayerful research.
If you have a laptop or smartphone, you have free access to all the tools you need;
1. To compare different English translations.
2. To examine the passage in the original language in which was written.
3. To examine the words themselves to gain a deeper understanding of ἀγαπάω and φιλέω.
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into truth, you may be inspired but what He opens up for you.
If you found this short Bible study inspiring, please check out the “30-day Introduction to the Joy of Bible Study” where we explore a variety of Bible Study tools and how to use them.
There has never been a better time to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
