John 6
6
Multiplication of the Loaves.#This story of the multiplication of the loaves is the fourth sign (cf. note on Jn 5:1–47). It is the only miracle story found in all four gospels (occurring twice in Mark and Matthew). See notes on Mt 14:13–21; 15:32–39. John differs on the roles of Philip and Andrew, the proximity of Passover (Jn 6:4), and the allusion to Elisha (see Jn 6:9). The story here symbolizes the food that is really available through Jesus. It connotes a new exodus and has eucharistic overtones. 1#Mt 14:13–21; Mk 6:32–44; Lk 9:10–17. After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee [of Tiberias].#[Of Tiberias]: the awkward apposition represents a later name of the Sea of Galilee. It was probably originally a marginal gloss. 2A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. 3Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4The Jewish feast of Passover was near.#2:13; 11:55. 5#Jesus takes the initiative (in the synoptics, the disciples do), possibly pictured as (cf. Jn 6:14) the new Moses (cf. Nm 11:13). When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip,#Nm 11:13. “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” 6#Probably the evangelist’s comment; in this gospel Jesus is never portrayed as ignorant of anything. He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. 7Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages#Days’ wages: literally, “denarii”; a Roman denarius is a day’s wage in Mt 20:2. worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little [bit].”#Mt 20:2. 8One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, 9“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves#Barley loaves: the food of the poor. There seems an allusion to the story of Elisha multiplying the barley bread in 2 Kgs 4:42–44. and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”#2 Kgs 4:42–44. 10Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass#Grass: implies springtime, and therefore Passover. Five thousand: so Mk 6:39, 44 and parallels. in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.#Mt 14:21; Mk 6:44. 11Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted.#21:13. 12When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” 13So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets#Baskets: the word describes the typically Palestinian wicker basket, as in Mk 6:43 and parallels. with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. 14When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet,#The Prophet: probably the prophet like Moses (see note on Jn 1:21). The one who is to come into the world: probably Elijah; cf. Mal 3:1, 23. the one who is to come into the world.”#Dt 18:15, 18; Mal 3:1, 23; Acts 3:22. 15Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.#18:36.
Walking on the Water.#The fifth sign is a nature miracle, portraying Jesus sharing Yahweh’s power. Cf. the parallel stories following the multiplication of the loaves in Mk 6:45–52 and Mt 14:22–33. 16#Mt 14:22–27; Mk 6:45–52. When it was evening, his disciples went down to the sea, 17embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. 19When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea#Walking on the sea: although the Greek (cf. Jn 6:16) could mean “on the seashore” or “by the sea” (cf. Jn 21:1), the parallels, especially Mt 14:25, make clear that Jesus walked upon the water. John may allude to Jb 9:8: God “treads upon the crests of the sea.” and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid.#Jb 9:8; Ps 29:3–4; 77:20; Is 43:16. 20But he said to them, “It is I.#It is I: literally, “I am.” See also notes on Jn 4:26 and Mk 6:50. Do not be afraid.” 21They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading.
The Bread of Life Discourse. 22#Discourse on the bread of life; replacement of the manna. Jn 6:22–34 serve as an introduction, Jn 6:35–59 constitute the discourse proper, Jn 6:60–71 portray the reaction of the disciples and Peter’s confession. The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. 23#Possibly a later interpolation, to explain how the crowd got to Capernaum. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. 24When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life,#The food that endures for eternal life: cf. Jn 4:14, on water “springing up to eternal life.” which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”#6:50, 51, 54, 58. 28So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” 29Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” 30So they said to him, “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do?#Mt 16:1–4; Lk 11:29–30. 31#Bread from heaven: cf. Ex 16:4, 15, 32–34 and the notes there; Ps 78:24. The manna, thought to have been hidden by Jeremiah (2 Mc 2:5–8), was expected to reappear miraculously at Passover, in the last days. Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:#Ex 16:4–5; Nm 11:7–9; Ps 78:24.
‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.#Mt 6:11. 33For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34#4:15. So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35#Up to Jn 6:50 “bread of life” is a figure for God’s revelation in Jesus; in Jn 6:51–58, the eucharistic theme comes to the fore. There may thus be a break between Jn 6:50–51. Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.#Is 55:1–3; Am 8:11–13. 36But I told you that although you have seen [me], you do not believe.#20:29. 37Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, 38because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.#4:34; Mt 26:39; Heb 10:9. 39And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it [on] the last day.#10:28–29; 17:12; 18:9. 40For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him [on] the last day.”#1 Jn 2:25.
41The Jews murmured about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” 42and they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”#Mt 13:54–57; Mk 6:1–4; Lk 4:22. 43Jesus answered and said to them, “Stop murmuring#Murmuring: the word may reflect the Greek of Ex 16:2, 7–8. among yourselves.#Ex 16:2, 7, 8; Lk 4:22. 44No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. 45It is written in the prophets:
‘They shall all be taught by God.’
Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.#Is 54:13; Jer 31:33–34. 46Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.#1:18; 7:29; Ex 33:20. 47Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;#1 Cor 10:3, 5. 50this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”#Mt 26:26–27; Lk 22:19.
52The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?” 53Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 54Whoever eats#Eats: the verb used in these verses is not the classical Greek verb used of human eating, but that of animal eating: “munch,” “gnaw.” This may be part of John’s emphasis on the reality of the flesh and blood of Jesus (cf. Jn 6:55), but the same verb eventually became the ordinary verb in Greek meaning “eat.” my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.#5:26. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 59These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
The Words of Eternal Life.#These verses refer more to themes of Jn 6:35–50 than to those of Jn 6:51–58 and seem to be addressed to members of the Johannine community who found it difficult to accept the high christology reflected in the bread of life discourse. 60Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” 61Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? 62What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?#This unfinished conditional sentence is obscure. Probably there is a reference to Jn 6:49–51. Jesus claims to be the bread that comes down from heaven (Jn 6:50); this claim provokes incredulity (Jn 6:60); and so Jesus is pictured as asking what his disciples will say when he goes up to heaven. 63It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh#Spirit…flesh: probably not a reference to the eucharistic body of Jesus but to the supernatural and the natural, as in Jn 3:6. Spirit and life: all Jesus said about the bread of life is the revelation of the Spirit. is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him.#13:11. 65And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”
66As a result of this, many [of] his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. 67Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” 68Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”#11:27; Mt 16:16; Mk 1:24; Lk 4:34. 70Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you twelve? Yet is not one of you a devil?” 71He was referring to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot; it was he who would betray him, one of the Twelve.#12:4; 13:2, 27.
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John 6: NABRE
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
John 6
6
The Feeding of Five Thousand
1 After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee (that is, Tiberias). 2And a large crowd was following him because they were observing the signs that he was doing on those who were sick. 3So Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4(Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.) 5Then Jesus, when he looked up#Literally “then Jesus lifting up the eyes” #*Here “when” in the translation is supplied as a component of the participle “lifting up” which is understood as temporal and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread so that these people can eat?” 6(Now he said this to test him, because he knew what he was going to do.) 7Philip replied to him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for them, in order that each one could receive a little.” 8One of his disciples, Andrew the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, 9“Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” 10Jesus said, “Make the people recline.” (Now there was a lot of grass in the place.) So the men reclined, approximately five thousand in number. 11Then Jesus took the bread, and after he#*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had given thanks”) which is understood as temporal had given thanks, he distributed it#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation to those who were reclining—likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12And when they were satisfied, he said to his disciples, “Gather the remaining fragments so that nothing is lost.” 13So they gathered them,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
14Now when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal the people saw the sign that he performed, they began to say,#*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to say”) “This one is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 15Then Jesus, because he#*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“knew”) which is understood as causal knew that they were about to come and seize him in order to make him#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation king, withdrew again up the mountain by himself alone.
Jesus Walks on the Water
16Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the sea. 17And getting into a boat, they began to go#*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to go”) to the other side of the sea, to Capernaum. And it had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18And the sea began to be stirred up#*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to be stirred up”) because#*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was blowing”) which is understood as causal a strong wind was blowing. 19Then when they#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had rowed”) which is understood as temporal had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia,#A “stade” or “stadium” (plur. “stadia”) is about 607 ft (187 m), so this was around 3 miles (5 km) they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were afraid. 20But he said to them, “It is I! Do not be afraid!” 21So they were wanting to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat came to the land to which they were going.
Discourse About the Bread of Life
22On the next day, the crowd that was on the other side of the sea saw that other boats were not there (except one), and that Jesus had not entered with his disciples into the boat, but his disciples had departed alone. 23Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after#*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had given thanks”) the Lord had given thanks. 24So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.
25And when they#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“found”) which is understood as temporal found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26Jesus replied to them and said, “Truly, truly I say to you, you seek me not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were satisfied! 27Do not work for the food that perishes, but the food that remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has set his seal on this one.”
28So they said to him, “What shall we do that we can accomplish the works of God?” 29Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God: that you believe in the one whom that one sent.” 30So they said to him, “Then what sign will you perform, so that we can see it#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation and believe you? What will you do? 31Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’#A quotation from Ps 78:24 which refers to the events of Exod 16:4–36
32Then Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, Moses did not give you bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven! 33For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34So they said to him, “Sir, always give us this bread!”
35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty again. 36But I said to you that you have seen me and do not believe. 37Everyone whom the Father gives to me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never throw out, 38because I have come down from heaven not that I should do my will, but the will of the one who sent me. 39Now this is the will of the one who sent me: that everyone whom he has given me, I would not lose any of them,#This pronoun is neuter singular in Greek, but is collective but raise them#This pronoun is neuter singular in Greek, but is collective up on the last day. 40For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks at the Son and believes in him would have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
41Now the Jews began to grumble#*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to grumble”) about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” 42and they were saying, “Is this one not Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves!#Literally “with one another” 44No one is able to come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’#A quotation from Isa 54:13 Everyone who hears from the Father and learns comes to me. 46(Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God—this one has seen the Father.)#The switch from first person in vv. 44–45 to third person here and back to first person in vv. 47–51 suggests that this verse is a parenthetical comment by the author rather than the words of Jesus 47Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and they died. 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that someone may eat from it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread, he will live forever.#Literally “for the age” And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
52So the Jews began to quarrel#*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to quarrel”) among themselves,#Literally “with one another” saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53Then Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves! 54The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56The one who eats#*This term is somewhat graphic and typically used for animals feeding, but the distinction from other Greek verbs for eating is difficult to convey in English my flesh and drinks my blood resides in me and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so also the one who eats#*This term is somewhat graphic and typically used for animals feeding, but the distinction from other Greek verbs for eating is difficult to convey in English me—that one will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. The one who eats#*This term is somewhat graphic and typically used for animals feeding, but the distinction from other Greek verbs for eating is difficult to convey in English this bread will live forever.”#Literally “for the age”
Many of Jesus’ Disciples Offended by His Teaching
59He said these things while#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“teaching”) which is understood as temporal teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 60Thus many of his disciples, when they#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal heard it,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation said, “This saying is hard! Who can understand it?” 61But Jesus, because he#*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“knew”) which is understood as causal knew within himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Does this cause you to be offended? 62Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before? 63The Spirit is the one who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65And he said, “Because of this I said to you that no one can come to me unless it has been granted to him by the Father.”
Peter’s Confession
66For this reason many of his disciples drew back#Literally “went away to the things behind” and were not walking with him any longer. 67So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?”#*The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here, indicated in the translation by the phrase “do you” 68Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69And we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70Jesus replied to them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is the devil?” 71(Now he was speaking about Judas son of Simon Iscariot, because this one—one of the twelve—was going to betray him.)
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