The Shepherd's Care and Peter's Duty
For this very thing was foretold even before the denial (John 21:15-17), showing indeed that he will be tested by the devil when he turns away from the confession into Christ, but by the help from Him, he remains upon the faith.
And it is necessary for the one receiving this help to show similar sparing and care toward the brothers. For 'Simon,' He says, 'Simon, behold, Satan has asked you to sift you like wheat (Luke 22:31). But I have prayed for you, so that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers' (Luke 22:32).'
The Lord repeats those words and says that, if you love the Teacher and Savior who kept you even until now in love, you must imitate my care toward you, strengthening the brothers and feeding them just as a shepherd feeds a flock, calling the sheep his own.
And if he was shepherding through Peter, it is because he is the true shepherd and teacher. And he added...
Greek
® 155 Jο 21, 15 17 Τοῦτο γὰρ αὐτὸ καὶ πρὸ τῆς ἀρνήσεως προειρήκει δηλῶν μέν, ὅτι διαβόλου πειραθήσεται μεθιστάντος αὐτὸν τῆς εἰς Χριστὸν ὁμολογίας, βοηθείᾳ δὲ τῇ παρ' αὐτοῦ μένει ἐπὶ τῆς πίστεως. καὶ δεῖ τὸν ταύτης ἐπικουρίας τυχόντα τὴν ὁμοίαν περὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς φειδὼ καὶ κηδεμονίαν ἐνδείκνυσθαι. “Σίμων” γάρ, φησίν, “Σίμων, ἰδοὺ ὁ σατανᾶς ἐξῃτήσατο ὑμᾶς τοῦ σινιάσαι ὡς τὸν σῖτον. ἐγὼ δὲ ἐδεήθην περὶ σοῦ, ἵνα μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἡ πίστις σου. καὶ σύ ποτε ἐπιστρέψας στήρισον τοὺς ἀδελφούς σου” . ἐπαναλαμβάνει δὴ τοὺς λόγους ἐκείνους ὁ κύριος καί φησιν, ὅτι, εἰ φιλεῖς τὸν διδάσκαλον καὶ σωτῆρα τὸν ἄχρι σε καὶ νῦν ἐν ἀγάπῃ τηρήσαντα, μίμησαι τὴν ἐμὴν πρός σε κηδεμονίαν ἐπιστη-ρίζων τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ νέμων ὡσπερεὶ ποιμὴν ποίμνια, ἴδια λέγων τὰ πρόβατα καὶ εἰ διὰ τοῦ Πέτρου ἐποιμαίνετο, ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ ἀληθινὸς ποιμὴν καὶ διδάσκαλος. προσέθηκεν δὲ
About this text
Apollinaris of Laodicea on John (catena fragments).
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.