John 21:18 — Community Reflections

JOHN 21:18 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.”

'Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and go wherever you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go' — this prophecy presages Peter's martyrdom by crucifixion (later tradition: crucified upside down). The contrast between youthful autonomy ('go wherever you wished') and aged dependence (being led where he 'does not wish') indicates surrender to divine will through suffering. The 'stretching out of hands' imagery suggests cruciform death, the ultimate following of Jesus.

Church Fathers on John 21:18

Our Lord having made Peter declare his love, informs him of his future martyrdom; an intimation to us how we should love: Verily, verily, I say to you, When you were young, you girded yourself, and walked where you would. He reminds him of his former life, because, whereas in worldly matters a young man has powers, an old man none; in spiritual things, on the contrary, virtue is brighter, manliness stronger, in old age; age is no hindrance to grace. Peter had all along…
Chrysostom · 4th century

It is not easy to find any ready to pass at once from this life; and so he says to Peter, When you are old, you shall stretch forth your hand.
Origen · 3rd century

That is, shall be crucified. And to come to this end, Another shall gird you, and carry you where you would not. First He said what would come to pass, secondly, how it would come to pass. For it was not when crucified, but when about to be crucified, that he was led where he would not. He wished to be released from the body, and be with Christ; but, if it were possible, he wished to attain to eternal life without the pains of death; to which he went against his will, but…
Augustine · 4th century

Read all 5 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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