Post by dianaholberg on May 31, 2007 5:27:46 GMT -5
I touched on this in another thread and thought it might make for an interesting topic.
Those familiar with the Bible will remember St. Peter's threefold denial of the Lord (before the cock crowed). After His death and resurrection, the Lord reinstated St. Peter through a threefold confession of love.
That much is apparent in any translation of Scripture. What's not as obvious is the nature of the "love" through which St. Peter was reinstated.
Here's the English version:
When read in the original Greek, a whole different level of meaning emerges. The first two times Christ asks Simon the question, He uses the word agape. Simon, however, is not able to use this word in his answer -- he uses the word fileo. So, at last, the third time, Simon Peter is reinstated to the Lord through his confession of fileo when Christ asks differently, "Simon, bar Jonah, do you love [fileo] Me?"
Is there significance here? St. Peter thought so. Scripture says, "Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love [fileo] Me?' "
Why grief? Because the word agape refers to the highest form of love: it is the love of a man for his wife, or of a man for God -- or of God for man. Fileo, on the other hand, is a lesser kind of love: it is more closely related to affection or carnal love, or the love of a man for his brother or closest friend.
So, in essence, Christ was asking St. Peter, "Do you love Me the way you loved your wife, and the way you love your God?" And St. Peter was only able to answer, "Lord, You know I love You the way I love my brothers." It is through this confession of a lesser love that he is reinstated to his position of undershepherd to the faithful through the Lord's words, "Tend my sheep."
Most stop here, but it is important to continue through verse 19, because it is in these words that the Lord tells of how St. Peter will ultimately show his love (agape) for Jesus Christ:
Not all are required to make this ultimate sacrifice to confess agape love, however. We read on to learn of "the disciple Jesus loved", St. John, who (in part because of his agape love even as a youth) lived a long and fruitful life, but not without its own form of suffering. It is because of him that we have a record of the deepest mysteries of Christian faith, including this passage.
Those familiar with the Bible will remember St. Peter's threefold denial of the Lord (before the cock crowed). After His death and resurrection, the Lord reinstated St. Peter through a threefold confession of love.
That much is apparent in any translation of Scripture. What's not as obvious is the nature of the "love" through which St. Peter was reinstated.
Here's the English version:
John 21:15-17In this humbling exchange, the Lord is not only making St. Peter aware of his role as undershepherd, but is also teaching him the difference between the "love" we know and the "love" known only through Him.
So when they had finished breakfast, 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, "Tend My lambs." He said to him again 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, " Shepherd 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 all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, " Tend My sheep."
When read in the original Greek, a whole different level of meaning emerges. The first two times Christ asks Simon the question, He uses the word agape. Simon, however, is not able to use this word in his answer -- he uses the word fileo. So, at last, the third time, Simon Peter is reinstated to the Lord through his confession of fileo when Christ asks differently, "Simon, bar Jonah, do you love [fileo] Me?"
Is there significance here? St. Peter thought so. Scripture says, "Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love [fileo] Me?' "
Why grief? Because the word agape refers to the highest form of love: it is the love of a man for his wife, or of a man for God -- or of God for man. Fileo, on the other hand, is a lesser kind of love: it is more closely related to affection or carnal love, or the love of a man for his brother or closest friend.
So, in essence, Christ was asking St. Peter, "Do you love Me the way you loved your wife, and the way you love your God?" And St. Peter was only able to answer, "Lord, You know I love You the way I love my brothers." It is through this confession of a lesser love that he is reinstated to his position of undershepherd to the faithful through the Lord's words, "Tend my sheep."
Most stop here, but it is important to continue through verse 19, because it is in these words that the Lord tells of how St. Peter will ultimately show his love (agape) for Jesus Christ:
John 21:18-19So much to be had in these short verses! They speak of the passions of youth -- which must give way, through one means or another -- to the higher form of love that glorifies God. St. Peter gradually confessed this love through humble submission in his office over the Church, culminating in his martyrdom just as the Lord prophesied.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go." Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me!"
Not all are required to make this ultimate sacrifice to confess agape love, however. We read on to learn of "the disciple Jesus loved", St. John, who (in part because of his agape love even as a youth) lived a long and fruitful life, but not without its own form of suffering. It is because of him that we have a record of the deepest mysteries of Christian faith, including this passage.
