I have often been puzzled by the differences between the Greek words translated "love" in English. Butchered interpretations of John 21 can cause the whole scenario with Peter and Jesus to seem quite awkward. -- Jack Pelham
Yes, I agree. Did Peter like Jesus or love him or truly love him? It seems the two Greek words for love in this passage (philia and agape) are used more or less synonymously.
In the same way, sheep and lambs, though not identical in lexical meaning, also seem to be used interchangeably in John 21. I have never read a commentator trying to exegete the "real meaning" of these two words. Perhaps there is a theological significance that the Greek text of John 21 used two different words, but I doubt it.
Moreover, the original exchange surely took place in Aramaic, not Greek, so it is just possible that Jesus made no distinction at all between these two verbs for "love." If there is a deeper meaning to be explored, I think it lies in the comparison of the triple charge to Peter's triple denial of Jesus. Or the connection between loving the Lord and loving others.
For more on this, see the discussion on John 21 in D. A. Carson's Exegetical Fallacies.
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