The pericopes of the miraculous catch of fish in Luke 5 and John 21 : contrast and functions

Abstract

The episode of the miraculous catch of fish is narrated in Luke 5: 1-11 and John 21: 1- 14. Luke presents this episode at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry and combines it with Simon Peter’s call which ends up with an invitation for Peter to be ‘a fisherman of men.’ On the other hand, John concludes his gospel narrative with another edition of the story which is presented as one of the appearances of the Risen Lord. The different placing of the story in these two gospels shows that Luke and John had varied aims for narrating this episode which manifests common elements in both gospels. The aim of this dissertation is to present the contrasts between Luke’s and John’s edition of this episode and to highlight the underlying possible reasons why this episode was included in the narrative of both evangelists.