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John 21 · a question people ask

Did Jesus say that the disciple whom Jesus loved would not die?

In the text

No, and the book says so itself. Jesus said to Peter, "If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me." (21:22). Then: "This saying therefore went out among the brothers that this disciple wouldn’t die. Yet Jesus didn’t say to him that he wouldn’t die, but, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you?”" (21:23). The book doesn't say who the brothers are, or what until I come means, and these notes don't either. Favor's chapter on John 14 asks when and how Jesus will come, setting his sayings there side by side; this chapter doesn't ask it again.

The verses

“Jesus said to him, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.” This saying therefore went out among the brothers that this disciple wouldn’t die. Yet Jesus didn’t say to him that he wouldn’t die, but, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you?””
John 21:22-23 · World English Bible
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.”
John 14:3 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of John 21

John 21: Follow me

In the WEB's John, Jesus says "Follow me" to one man in the first chapter, to Philip (1:43), and not again until the last, to Peter (21:19, 21:22). And as John 20 said there were "many other signs" not written (20:30), the book's last verse says, "There are also many other things which Jesus did" (21:25).

In Favor, questions like this come up right where they arise as you read, with the Hebrew and Greek behind the words and how the chapter leads to Jesus.

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions