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Bible / John

John 20

Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (1749–1752), the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. If you read a modern Bible, this is the same Scripture in older English; some names are spelled differently (Cesarea for Caesarea, Apocalypse for Revelation). About this translation

1 And on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalen cometh early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre: and she saw the stone taken away from the sepulchre. CCC

2 She ran therefore and cometh to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and saith to them: They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre: and we know not where they have laid him. CCC

3 Peter therefore went out, and that other disciple: and they came to the sepulchre.

4 And they both ran together: and that other disciple did outrun Peter and came first to the sepulchre.

5 And when he stooped down, he saw the linen cloths lying: but yet he went not in. CCC

6 Then cometh Simon Peter, following him, and went into the sepulchre: and saw the linen cloths lying, CCC

7 And the napkin that had been about his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but apart, wrapped up into one place. CCC

8 Then that other disciple also went in, who came first to the sepulchre: and he saw and believed. CCC

9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

10 The disciples therefore departed again to their home.

11 But Mary stood at the sepulchre without, weeping. Now as she was weeping, she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre, CCC

12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid. CCC

13 They say to her: Woman, why weepest thou? She saith to them: Because they have taken away my Lord: and I know not where they have laid him. CCC

14 When she had thus said, she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing: and she knew not that it was Jesus. CCC

15 Jesus saith to her: Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, thinking that it was the gardener, saith to him: Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him: and I will take him away. CCC

16 Jesus saith to her: Mary. She turning, saith to him: Rabboni (which is to say, Master). CCC

17 Jesus saith to her: Do not touch me: for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and to your God. CCC · Fathers

18 Mary Magdalen cometh and telleth the disciples: I have seen the Lord; and these things he said to me. CCC

19 Now when it was late the same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them: Peace be to you. CCC

20 And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. CCC · Fathers

21 He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. CCC

22 When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. 1 CCC

23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. CCC

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. CCC

25 The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the place of the nails and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. CCC · Fathers

26 And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said: Peace be to you. CCC · Fathers

27 Then he said to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither and see my hands. And bring hither thy hand and put it into my side. And be not faithless, but believing. CCC · Fathers

28 Thomas answered and said to him: My Lord and my God. CCC

29 Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and have believed.

30 Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 2 CCC

31 But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name. 3 CCC · Fathers

Where our lessons quote this chapter

  1. Verses 22–23: The Sacraments, How confession works now
  2. Verses 30–31: Can we trust the Gospels?
  3. Verse 31: Can we trust the Gospels?

This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church

Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.

  1. Verse 1CCC 2174
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 2174 “Jesus rose from the dead "on the first day of the week." Because it is the "first day," the day of Christ's…”
  2. Verse 2CCC 640
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 640 “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." The first element we encounter in…”
  3. Verse 5CCC 640
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 640 “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." The first element we encounter in…”
  4. Verse 6CCC 640
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 640 “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." The first element we encounter in…”
  5. Verse 7CCC 515 CCC 640
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 515 “The Gospels were written by men who were among the first to have the faith 174 and wanted to share it with…”
    • CCC 640 “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." The first element we encounter in…”
  6. Verse 8CCC 640
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 640 “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." The first element we encounter in…”
  7. Verse 11CCC 641
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 641 “Mary Magdalene and the holy women who came to finish anointing the body of Jesus, which had been buried in haste because…”
  8. Verse 12CCC 641
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 641 “Mary Magdalene and the holy women who came to finish anointing the body of Jesus, which had been buried in haste because…”
  9. Verse 13CCC 640 CCC 641
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 640 “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." The first element we encounter in…”
    • CCC 641 “Mary Magdalene and the holy women who came to finish anointing the body of Jesus, which had been buried in haste because…”
  10. Verse 14CCC 641 CCC 645 CCC 659
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 641 “Mary Magdalene and the holy women who came to finish anointing the body of Jesus, which had been buried in haste because…”
    • CCC 645 “By means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the risen Jesus establishes direct contact with his disciples. He invites them…”
    • CCC 659 “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right…”
  11. Verse 15CCC 641 CCC 645 CCC 659
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 641 “Mary Magdalene and the holy women who came to finish anointing the body of Jesus, which had been buried in haste because…”
    • CCC 645 “By means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the risen Jesus establishes direct contact with his disciples. He invites them…”
    • CCC 659 “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right…”
  12. Verse 16CCC 641 CCC 645
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 641 “Mary Magdalene and the holy women who came to finish anointing the body of Jesus, which had been buried in haste because…”
    • CCC 645 “By means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the risen Jesus establishes direct contact with his disciples. He invites them…”
  13. Verse 17CCC 443 CCC 641 CCC 645 CCC 660
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 443 “Peter could recognize the transcendent character of the Messiah's divine sonship because Jesus had clearly allowed it to be so understood. To…”
    • CCC 641 “Mary Magdalene and the holy women who came to finish anointing the body of Jesus, which had been buried in haste because…”
    • CCC 645 “By means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the risen Jesus establishes direct contact with his disciples. He invites them…”
    • CCC 660 “The veiled character of the glory of the Risen One during this time is intimated in his mysterious words to Mary Magdalene:…”

    • “… day, He said to Mary, who was the first to see and to worship Him, "Touch Me not, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to the disciples, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and unto your Father.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXXI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  14. Verse 18CCC 641
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 641 “Mary Magdalene and the holy women who came to finish anointing the body of Jesus, which had been buried in haste because…”
  15. Verse 19CCC 575 CCC 643 CCC 645 CCC 659
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 575 “Many of Jesus' deeds and words constituted a "sign of contradiction", but more so for the religious authorities in Jerusalem, whom the…”
    • CCC 643 “Given all these testimonies, Christ's Resurrection cannot be interpreted as something outside the physical order, and it is impossible not to acknowledge…”
    • CCC 645 “By means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the risen Jesus establishes direct contact with his disciples. He invites them…”
    • CCC 659 “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right…”
  16. Verse 20CCC 645
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 645 “By means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the risen Jesus establishes direct contact with his disciples. He invites them…”

    • “In the same manner, therefore, as Christ did rise in the substance of flesh, and pointed out to His disciples the mark of the nails and the opening in His side”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter VII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

    • “… law of the dead, that He might become the first-begotten from the dead, and tarried until the third day "in the lower parts of the earth;" then afterwards rising in the flesh, so that He even showed the print of the nails to His disciples,”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXXI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  17. Verse 21CCC 448 CCC 730 CCC 858 CCC 1087 CCC 1120 CCC 1441
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 448 “Very often in the Gospels people address Jesus as "Lord". This title testifies to the respect and trust of those who approach…”
    • CCC 730 “At last Jesus' hour arrives: he commends his spirit into the Father's hands 118 at the very moment when by his death…”
    • CCC 858 “Jesus is the Father's Emissary. From the beginning of his ministry, he "called to him those whom he desired; .... and he…”
    • CCC 1087 “Thus the risen Christ, by giving the Holy Spirit to the apostles, entrusted to them his power of sanctifying: they became sacramental…”
    • CCC 1120 “The ordained ministry or ministerial priesthood is at the service of the baptismal priesthood. The ordained priesthood guarantees that it really is…”
    • CCC 1441 “Only God forgives sins. Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, "The Son of man has authority on…”
  18. Verse 22CCC 730 CCC 788 CCC 976 CCC 1087 CCC 1120 CCC 1287 CCC 1441 CCC 1556
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 730 “At last Jesus' hour arrives: he commends his spirit into the Father's hands 118 at the very moment when by his death…”
    • CCC 788 “When his visible presence was taken from them, Jesus did not leave his disciples orphans. He promised to remain with them until…”
    • CCC 976 “The Apostle's Creed associates faith in the forgiveness of sins not only with faith in the Holy Spirit, but also with faith…”
    • CCC 1087 “Thus the risen Christ, by giving the Holy Spirit to the apostles, entrusted to them his power of sanctifying: they became sacramental…”
    • CCC 1120 “The ordained ministry or ministerial priesthood is at the service of the baptismal priesthood. The ordained priesthood guarantees that it really is…”
    • CCC 1287 “This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah's, but was to be communicated to the whole messianic people.…”
  19. Verse 23CCC 976 CCC 1087 CCC 1120 CCC 1441 CCC 1461 CCC 1556 CCC 2839
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 976 “The Apostle's Creed associates faith in the forgiveness of sins not only with faith in the Holy Spirit, but also with faith…”
    • CCC 1087 “Thus the risen Christ, by giving the Holy Spirit to the apostles, entrusted to them his power of sanctifying: they became sacramental…”
    • CCC 1120 “The ordained ministry or ministerial priesthood is at the service of the baptismal priesthood. The ordained priesthood guarantees that it really is…”
    • CCC 1441 “Only God forgives sins. Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, "The Son of man has authority on…”
    • CCC 1461 “Since Christ entrusted to his apostles the ministry of reconciliation, bishops who are their successors, and priests, the bishops' collaborators, continue to…”
    • CCC 1556 “To fulfil their exalted mission, "the apostles were endowed by Christ with a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit coming upon them,…”
  20. Verse 24CCC 644
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 644 “Even when faced with the reality of the risen Jesus the disciples are still doubtful, so impossible did the thing seem: they…”
  21. Verse 25CCC 644
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 644 “Even when faced with the reality of the risen Jesus the disciples are still doubtful, so impossible did the thing seem: they…”

    • “In the same manner, therefore, as Christ did rise in the substance of flesh, and pointed out to His disciples the mark of the nails and the opening in His side”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter VII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  22. Verse 26CCC 644 CCC 645 CCC 659
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 644 “Even when faced with the reality of the risen Jesus the disciples are still doubtful, so impossible did the thing seem: they…”
    • CCC 645 “By means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the risen Jesus establishes direct contact with his disciples. He invites them…”
    • CCC 659 “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right…”

    • “In the same manner, therefore, as Christ did rise in the substance of flesh, and pointed out to His disciples the mark of the nails and the opening in His side”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter VII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  23. Verse 27CCC 644 CCC 645
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 644 “Even when faced with the reality of the risen Jesus the disciples are still doubtful, so impossible did the thing seem: they…”
    • CCC 645 “By means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the risen Jesus establishes direct contact with his disciples. He invites them…”

    • “In the same manner, therefore, as Christ did rise in the substance of flesh, and pointed out to His disciples the mark of the nails and the opening in His side”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter VII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

    • “… law of the dead, that He might become the first-begotten from the dead, and tarried until the third day "in the lower parts of the earth;" then afterwards rising in the flesh, so that He even showed the print of the nails to His disciples,”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXXI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  24. Verse 28CCC 448
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 448 “Very often in the Gospels people address Jesus as "Lord". This title testifies to the respect and trust of those who approach…”
  25. Verse 30CCC 514
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 514 “Many things about Jesus of interest to human curiosity do not figure in the Gospels. Almost nothing is said about his hidden…”
  26. Verse 31CCC 442 CCC 514 CCC 105
    Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 442 “Such is not the case for Simon Peter when he confesses Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God", for…”
    • CCC 514 “Many things about Jesus of interest to human curiosity do not figure in the Gospels. Almost nothing is said about his hidden…”
    • CCC 105 “God is the author of Sacred Scripture. "The divinely revealed realities, which are contained and presented in the text of Sacred Scripture,…”

    • “… and that this same suffered and rose again, as John, the disciple of the Lord, verifies, saying: "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have eternal life in His name,”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

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A modern English Catholic translation will be added once its publisher grants permission.