Thomas Aquinas Commentary John 21:24-25

"This is the disciple that beareth witness of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his witness is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written." — John 21:24-25 (ASV)

1. Now we have the last part of this Gospel, which is like an epilogue. It first commends the Gospel and then discusses the vastness of the subject treated: but there are also many other things which Jesus did.

   The Gospel is commended for two reasons: its author and its truth, and we know that his testimony is true.

   Regarding the author, three things are mentioned.

2. First is the author’s authority. This is because he is this is the disciple—that is, the disciple mentioned before, who was loved above the others, was intimate with Christ, was able to question him with confidence, and was the one to whom it was granted to remain till I come. All these things point to the author’s authority.

   John is said to have been loved more than the others because of his exceptional love: by this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another (John 13:35). None of the other apostles speak as much about love for others as John does in his letters. We also read that as an old man, he was carried to the church by his followers to teach the faithful. He taught only one thing: little children, love one another. This is the perfection of the Christian life.

3. Second, John’s office is mentioned, which was to give testimony, for he says, who gives testimony of these things. This is the special office of the apostles: you will be my witnesses (Acts 1:8); you are my witnesses! (Isaiah 44:8).

4. Third, he refers to his zeal when he says, and has written these things. As an apostle, he testified to the actions of Christ for those who were present. In his zeal, he also recorded these actions in writing for those who were not with him and for those who were to come after him: take a large tablet and write upon it in ordinary letters (Isaiah 8:1); the wisdom of the scribe depends on the opportunity of leisure; and he who has little business may become wise .

   It was granted to John to live until the time when the Church was at peace, and this is when he wrote all these things. John mentions these details so that we will not think his Gospel has less authority than the other three, since he wrote after the deaths of all the other apostles, and since the other Gospels, especially Matthew’s, had been approved by them.

5. John now states that his Gospel is true, and he speaks in the person of the entire Church that received it: my mouth will utter truth (Proverbs 8:7).

   Note that although many have written about universal truth, there is a difference among them. Those who wrote the canonical Scriptures—such as the evangelists, apostles, and others—so constantly and firmly affirm this truth that it cannot be doubted. Thus John says, we know that his testimony is true, and Paul adds, if any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:9). The reason for this is that only the canonical Scriptures are the standard of faith. Others have presented this truth, but in such a way that they do not want to be believed except in those things in which they speak what is true.

6. Now John states that his Gospel is incomplete when compared with the reality, as if to downplay what he had written in order to give the glory to the one who loved him, because Christ not only did these things, but there are also many other things which Jesus did.

7. His statement, if every one of them were to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that should be written, can be understood in two ways. First, the word contain can refer to the capacity of our minds to understand. The meaning, then, is that so much could be said about Christ that the world could not comprehend all that could be written: I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now—that is, understand them (John 16:12).

   Alternatively, we could regard this statement as a deliberate exaggeration, which would indicate the abundance of Christ’s works.

8. How can we reconcile this? He had just said, we know that his testimony is true, and then immediately resorts to hyperbole, which goes beyond literal truth. According to Augustine, Scripture uses figures of speech, such as I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne (Isaiah 6:1), and such statements are not false.Tractates on the Gospel of John 124.8.

   This is the case with hyperbole. The speaker’s intent is not for us to accept the literal meaning of the words, but what they were intended to signify: the great number of Christ’s works. Hyperbole is not used to explain what is obscure or doubtful, but to exaggerate or minimize what is obvious.

   For example, to emphasize how plentiful something is, one might say that there is enough for a hundred or a thousand people. To minimize something, one could say that there is hardly enough for three. This is not speaking falsely, because it is so obvious that the words exaggerate the reality that it shows the speaker does not intend to lie, but rather to indicate that something is great or small.

9. Alternatively, this statement could be understood to refer to the power of Christ who performed these signs, with the emphasis on every one of them. To write about each and every word and deed of Christ is to reveal the power within every word and deed. Now, the words and deeds of Christ are also those of God.

   Thus, if one tried to write about and explain the nature of every single one, he could not do so; indeed, the entire world could not. This is because even an infinite number of human words cannot equal one word of God.

   From the beginning of the Church, people have written about Christ, but this writing is still not equal to the subject. Indeed, even if the world lasted for a hundred thousand years and books were written about Christ, his words and deeds could not be completely revealed: of making many books there is no end (Ecclesiastes 12:12); the works of God are multiplied above number (Psalms 40:5).