John 6:68

Σίμων Πέτρος. see on John 1:42. S. Peter, as leader, primus inter pares, answers here as elsewhere in the name of the Twelve (see on Mark 3:17), and with characteristic impetuosity. His answer contains three reasons in logical order why they cannot desert their Master: (1) there is no one else to whom they can go; the Baptist is dead. Even if there were (2) Jesus has all that they need; He has ‘sayings of eternal life.’ And if there be other teachers who have them also, yet (3) there is but one Messiah, and Jesus is He. Contrast his earlier utterance, ‘Depart from me’ (Luke 5:8).

ῥήματα ζ. αἰων. see on John 3:34. No article; the expression is quite general, and seems to be an echo of John 6:63, the truth of which S. Peter’s experience could already affirm. It may mean either utterances about eternal life, or leading to eternal life. The analogy of the Bread of life, Light of life, Tree of life, and Water of life (John 6:35; John 8:12; Revelation 2:7; Revelation 21:6) is strongly in favour of the latter.