The culmination of Peter’s discipleship in John 21: 15-19

Abstract

The evidence of a resolution for the discipleship of Peter in John 21, consistent with the body of the story (John 1-20), denotes both the literary and theological unity of the Fourth Gospel (John 1-21): the promise of a future followup that has been pending since John 13:36 comes to fulfillment in John 21:19; also the enigmatic nickname that Jesus imposes on Simon, son of John, at the beginning of the story (John 1: 42) finds clarification only in John 21,15-17. At the same time, this evidence highlights an important novelty regarding previous literary development: the beloved disciple now communicates his awareness, his intuitive knowledge of the Lord to Simon Peter (John 21: 7. 20). Such a procedure lacks a parallel throughout the body of the Gospel story, indicating, from the diachronic perspective, a new stage in the development of theological reflection of the Johannine community.