PARAPHRASE OF JOHN 21:15-1715So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:15‑17).
"So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, Carest thou for me more than these? (ἀγαπᾅς) He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I both care for, and love thee (φιλῶ). He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, carest thou for me? (ἀγαπᾷς) He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee (φιλῶ). He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, Is it true what thou say; est? lost thou love me indeed? (φιλεῖς) Peter was grieves because of his asking him the third time if he loved him, and said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I truly, devotedly love thee (φιλῶ). Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
The above is a paraphrase of John 21:15-1715So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:15‑17): a passage in which our blessed Lord is presented in the act of bringing the heart of His erring disciple into exercise, thrice asking Peter if he loved Hire, thereby reminding him of his threefold denial of Him.
As to this passage, in the original Greek, we here find two words, both meaning to love, ἀγαπάω and φιλῶ, the former 'expressing affection less intense, of a lower degree; than the other. In the above paraphrase we have rendered this not to "love," but to "care for," in order definitely to mark the distinction, and the cause of the distinction, between these two words. And snow let us look at this passage, and see what this is—"Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me" or” carat thou for me, mere than these?"—says the Lord, using the verb ἀγαπάω, as though He scarcely believed that one who had so basely denied Him, could love Him at all. Peter, on the other hand, in spite of all, being conscious that he does love his Lord, tells Him that he not only cares for, but loves, Him; φιλᾶ therefore, and not ἀγαπάω, expresses his feelings. Still however, Christ seeming slow to believe him, and seeking to test him, put the same question to him again, using the same word as before, ἀγαπάω. But Peter is not to be put off by this, he does love the Lord, and will maintain that he does so. Upon which Christ, when He asks him the third time if he loves Him, drops the word ἀγαπάω, and uses the other, φιλῶ, thereby giving Peter to feel that, in spite of his failure, He was well assured of his love.