John 21: a text between Christology and ecclesiology

Chapter 21 of the Fourth Gospel contains a problem regarding its original relationship to the rest of the text. Leaving the discussion about these questions aside, the present paper prefers to consider the theological development of the narrative which moves between Christology and ecclesiology. The entire pericope consists of two scenes: 21:1-14 and 21:15-24; and in each scene we can find five episodes: a story of appearance (vv. 1-8); story of a meal (vv. 9-14); a tradition about Peter's ministry (vv. 15-17), a word of Jesus about the death of the apostle (vv. 18-19) and a logion about the beloved disciple (vv. 20-23). Finally the epilogue (21:24-25) concludes the whole narrative. In these different stories, the Christology appears more in relation to its ecclesiology than to the rest of the Gospel. Throughout the analysis of the individual stories, we put in evidence the conscience of the community that experiences the presence of the Risen Christ, especially in the Eucharistic supper, represented by the fish meal, and in the ministry of Peter called to guide all the faithful. This conclusion of the Gospel is also an important testimony regarding the survival of the Johannine tradition, which is integrated now into the greater Church.