John Calvin Commentary John 21:23

"This saying therefore went forth among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, that he should not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee?" — John 21:23 (ASV)

Then this saying went forth. The Evangelist relates that from misunderstanding Christ’s words, an error arose among the disciples: that John would never die. He means those who were present at that conversation, that is, the Apostles; not that the name brethren belongs to them alone, but that they were the first-fruits, as it were, of that holy union.

It is also possible that, besides the eleven, he refers to others who were at that time in company with them. By the expression went forth, he means that this error was spread in all directions. Yet it was probably not of long duration, but persisted among them until, being enlightened by the Holy Spirit, they formed purer and more correct views of the kingdom of Christ, having laid aside carnal and foolish imaginations.

What John relates about the Apostles happens every day, and we should not wonder at it. For if Christ’s disciples, who belonged to His family and were intimately acquainted with Him, were so egregiously mistaken, how much more liable to fall into mistakes are those who have not been so intimately instructed in the school of Christ?

But let us also observe from where this fault arises. The teaching of Christ is useful and for edification; that is, it is plain. However, we obscure the light by our wicked inventions, which we bring to it from our own views.

Christ had not intended to pronounce anything certain or definite about John, but only to affirm that He had full power to decide about John's life and death. Thus, the doctrine is simple and useful in itself, but the disciples imagine and contrive more than had been told them.

Accordingly, so that we may be safe from this danger, let us learn to be wise and to think soberly. But such is the wantonness of the human understanding that it rushes with all its force into foolishness.

The consequence was that this very error, against which the Evangelist had expressly warned them to be on their guard, nevertheless continued to gain currency in the world. For a fable has been contrived that John ordered a ditch to be dug for himself, went down into it, and that the next day it was found empty.

We see, therefore, that we will never cease to err unless we unreservedly receive what the Lord has taught us and reject all inventions of men.