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JOHN 21:24 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 21:23John 21:25
This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true — John's final attribution identifies the beloved disciple as the Gospel's author-witness. The testimony (martyria) is eyewitness attestation grounded in intimate knowledge ('he reclined next to Jesus'). The corporate affirmation ('we know') suggests community endorsement of the beloved disciple's reliability and authority. This verse establishes apostolic authority for the Johannine tradition.

Church Fathers on John 21:24

This is the disciple which testifies of these things. When we assert any undoubted fact in common life, we do not withhold our testimony: much less would he, who wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. And thus the other Apostles, And we are witnesses of these things, and wrote these things. John is only one who appeals to his own testimony; and he does so, because he was the last who wrote. And for this reason he often mentions Christ’s love for him, i.e. to show the…

Chrysostom · 4th century · John appeals to his own knowledge of these events, having been witness of them

The which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should, be written; meaning not the world had not space for them, but that the capacity of readers was not large enough to hold them: though sometimes words themselves may exceed the truth, and yet the thing they express be true; a mode of speech which is used not to explain an obscure and doubtful, but to magnify or estimate a plain, thing: nor does it…

Augustine · 4th century
Read all 3 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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