Why Peter Grieved?
I asked Abba, my Holy Spirit, why Paul wrote thirteen New Testament Books and Peter only wrote two. He led me to read John 21:15-17. After reading, I wondered why Peter grieved on the third question. I then read it in both the King James Version (KJV) and in the Amplified Bible (AB) and got a clearer understanding why. The next paragraphs are a prime example of Truth (KJV) and Spirit (AB) when Jesus earnestly commands Peter to feed his lambs and sheep, and why Peter grieved (wept) on the third question.
Greek was the official language when Jesus walked this earth. Our word for love has many meaning on how it is used with today’s relationships. In Jesus’ time they have different words for the word love. Below are just two of these words for love.
Philia Original Greek: ϕιλία (philía)
Philia is affectionate love. Philia is the type of love that involves friendship.
Philia is the kind of love that strong friends feel toward each other. However, it doesn’t stop there. The Greek philosopher Plato thought that philia was an even greater love than eros and that the strongest loving relationships were ones where philia led to eros: a “friends become lovers” situation. Our concept of platonic love—love that isn’t based on physical attraction—comes from this Platonic philosophy.
The word philia is related to the word philosophy through the combining form philo-. Philia itself is the source of the combining forms -philia, -phile, and -phily, all three of which are used to indicate a figurative love or affinity for something.
Agape Original Greek: ἀγάπη (agápē)
Agape is often defined as unconditional, sacrificial love. Agape is the kind of love that is felt by a person willing to do anything for another, including sacrificing themselves, without expecting anything in return. Philosophically, agape has also been defined as the selfless love that a person feels for strangers and humanity as a whole. Agape is the love that allows heroic people to sacrifice themselves to save strangers they have never met.
Now use these words philia and agape for the word love below.
(John 21:15-17 [KJV]) So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
(John 21:15-17 [AB]) When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do—with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Feed My lambs. Again He said to him the second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Shepherd (tend) My sheep. He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]? Peter was grieved (was saddened and hurt) that He should ask him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.
Notice the different relationships between the two changed. The first question Jesus asked, ‘Do you Agape me?”. Peter replied” I philia you”. Jesus asked the second time, “Do you Agape me?”. Peter again replied “I philia you”. On the third time Jesus asked, the relationship between Jesus and Peter had changed. Jesus asked the third time “Do you philia me?”. Peter was grieved and replied, “I philia you”. Peter realizes his relationship had changed between himself and Jesus. Now Jesus understands Peter is now a friend and not His Agape.
By using the Truth Bible (KJV) and my using the Spirit (Amplified) Bible, I learned why Peter wept or grieved and that is why Paul wrote more Books in the Bible than Peter.
