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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_21:9-14
9So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. 10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have now caught." 11Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples ventured to question Him, "Who are You?" knowing that it was the Lord. 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. 14This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.
Joh_21:9 "a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread" The purpose of this early morning breakfast was for fellowship and for theological reflection. The theological implications are
1. This section deals with Peter's denial in a setting of another charcoal fire (cf. Joh_18:18). This term is found here and there.
2. The Gospel of John and 1 John were written to combat the heresy of Gnosticism which denied true humanity to Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus ate with them.
Joh_21:10 There are two different terms for fish in this paragraph: (1) in Joh_21:9-10; Joh_21:13 the term is opsarion, which meant small fish and (2) in Joh_21:6; Joh_21:8; Joh_21:11 the term is ichthus, which meant large fish. They seem to be used interchangeably in this context.
Joh_21:11 "a hundred and fifty-three" In context there seems to be no symbolic significance to this number; it is simply an eye-witness detail. However, the inappropriate tendency of the early church to allegorize all numbers and details forced this verse to mean:
1. Cyril stated that 100 stood for Gentiles and 50 stood for Jews and 3 for the Trinity.
2. Augustine asserted that this number refers to the Ten Commandments and the seven gifts of the Spirit, which equals the number seventeen. If you add up each number 1,2,3,4 through 17 you get 153. Augustine said this was the total number who came to Christ through the law and grace.
3. Jerome said there are 153 different kinds of fish, therefore, this is symbolic of all nations coming to Christ. This allegorical method of interpretation speaks of the cleverness of the interpreter and not the intent of the original, inspired author!
▣ "and although there were so many, the net was not torn" This is either a usual eyewitness detail or an implied miracle.
Joh_21:14 "This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples" This must refer to the two accounts in chapter 20 added to this one.