Bible Revision by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 27, 1882

Bible Revision.

By James White

Agapaō and Phileō are both rendered to love in the old version, and this was, perhaps unavoidable, inasmuch as there is no English word which would express the lesser degree of love which is represented by the latter. And ordinarily this would not much affect the sense; yet in John 21 : 15-17, where both words are used with evident distinction of meaning, it is to be regretted that this distinction has not in some way been developed; because not only does the English reader lose the very interesting character of the colloquy between Jesus and Peter, but receive a false impression in regard to it. Most if not all who read the translation would conclude that Peter was grieved because Jesus had repeated the same question, "Lovest thou me?" the third time, and think that though its repetition might have been dispensed with, yet there was but little occasion in that circumstance for Peter's grief; especially as, on his answering in the affirmative, Jesus had give him an impressive charge to attend to the pastoral office in tending and feeding his flock.

But the facts in the case are that Jesus did not ask the same question three times, but each time a different question with important variations; and Peter did not give an answer fully corresponding to either of the questions but the last. This is very conspicuous in the original, wherein the first question is, Agapas ne pleon toutōn? "Lovest thou me more than these?" that is more than your fellow disciples do? Peter had on a former occasion said, "Though all shall be offended in thee I will never be offended." And had learned by sad experience under trial how vain was his boast. Hence he answered with humble diffidence, Nai, Kurie, su oidias, oti philōse, "yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee," using the word of lesser degree, as better adapted to his sense of propriety. And appealing to Jesus that he made no vain boast, he did not now claim to love Jesus more than his fellow disciples; but by the use of philō, it seemed that he durst scarcely say that he loved him as much as they. The second time Jesus said to him. Agapas me? "Dost thou love me?" using the word expressive of the highest degree of love, but dropping the comparison, "more than these." Peter's answer is just the same. The remembrance of his having denied Jesus in the High Priest's palace made him diffident of advancing a higher claim than that of philō se. The third time Jesus said to him, not agapas me? but phileis me? as if questioning the lesser degree of love which Peter had twice earnestly and fervently expressed.

It was this that grieved Peter. This made his heart throb and his tears start. It was because the third time Jesus said phileis instead of agapas; because of the implied doubt of the love of which Peter was fully conscious; and yet the grieved heart does not recoil from the question, but in a more intense manner affirms his affection. "Lord thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee," philō se.

The revisers, in the margin say "Love in these places represents two Greek words." But while that may beget uncertainty as to the correctness of the translation, it affords no help to the true meaning. It is locked up in the original. The two Greek words are not exact synonyms, and in this place the difference ought by all means to be expressed in the translation, though requiring circumlocution to do so, as I have ardent friendship for thee.—J. G. W., in Prophetic Times.