Although the gospel presents its implied author as an eyewitness to Jesus, Mendez argues that this claim should be doubted given the amount of historically dubious content in the work and the commonality of claims to eyewitness testimony in forgeries at the time. According to Hugo Mendez, both the original text of John’s gospel and the epilogue (chapter 21) claims that the work was ‘written’ by an eyewitness. John probably knew of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but these gospels spoke of Jesus primarily in the year following the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist.
John was banished by the Roman authorities to the Greek island of Patmos, where, according to tradition, he wrote the Book of Revelation. They were disciples of John the Baptist and were converted by Aquila and Priscilla. John the Presbyter, an obscure figure in the early church, has also been identified with the seer of the Book of Revelation by such authors as Eusebius in his Church History (Book III, 39) and Jerome. However, most biblical scholars now contend that these were separate individuals since the text was written around 100 AD, after the death of John the Apostle, although many historians have defended the identification of the Author of the Gospel of John with that of the Book of Revelation based on the similarity of the two texts. According to the Book of Revelation, its author was on the island of Patmos “for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus”, when he was honoured with the vision contained in Revelation.
The disciple whom Jesus loved
In what ways does the relationship between John the Baptist and his disciples shed light on spiritual mentorship? How can the calling of the first disciples inspire your personal journey of discipleship? 35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. As he was traditionally identified with the beloved apostle, the evangelist, and the author of the Revelation and several Epistles, John played an extremely prominent role in art from the early Christian period onward.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teaches that John the Apostle is the same person as John the Evangelist, John of Patmos, and the Beloved Disciple. In the Druze tradition and doctrine, Matthew the Apostle is respected for his contributions to spiritual knowledge and guidance. Druze tradition honors several “mentors” and “prophets”, and John the Apostle is honored as a prophet. The Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite commemorate the Apostle John on multiple days throughout the Church year.
- Most Johannine scholars doubt the reliability of its ascription to Papias, but a minority, including B.W.
- With this goal of belief in mind, John chose to exclude much that had already been said and instead focus on Christ’s words and miracles.
- John is always mentioned in the group of the first four apostles in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts, listed either second, third or fourth.
- 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
- According to tradition, John and the other Apostles remained some 12 years in this first field of labour.
John the Apostle
The Gospel according to John is quite different in character from the three synoptic gospels. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” Where the synoptic gospels say, “This is what happened,” John states with conviction, “This is the Son of God! This intense focus on Jesus’ identity is interrupted only by accounts of miracles, five of which are not found in any other gospel.
- He was with Peter at the healing of the lame man at Solomon’s Porch in the Temple and he was also thrown into prison with Peter.
- • Josephus, a Jewish historian, confirms John’s widespread influence and eventual imprisonment by Herod Antipas.
- But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.”
He is said to have lived to old age, dying of natural causes at Ephesus sometime after AD 98, during the reign of Trajan, thus becoming the only apostle who did not die as a martyr. John, the disciple of the Lord, going to bathe at Ephesus, and perceiving Cerinthus within, rushed out of the bath-house without bathing, exclaiming, “Let us fly, lest even the bath-house fall down, because Cerinthus, the enemy of the truth, is within.” Irenaeus writes of “the church of Ephesus, founded by Paul, with John continuing with them until the times of Trajan.” From Ephesus he wrote the three epistles attributed to him.
• Dual motifs—light/darkness, belief/unbelief—provide an apologetic framework Unscramble words, boost your memory, and test your Bible knowledge. In any event, his witness to Jesus goes its own way, highlighting matters that in the other Gospels remain implicit and underdeveloped. The theology of Romans (written c. 57) is every bit as developed as that in John.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN
He was with Peter at the healing of the lame man at Solomon’s Porch in the Temple and he was also thrown into prison with Peter. After Jesus’ Ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, John, together with Peter, took a prominent part in the founding and guidance of the church. Peter and John were also the only two apostles who ran to the empty tomb after Mary Magdalene bore witness to the resurrection of Jesus. Following the instruction of Jesus from the Cross, the beloved disciple took Mary, the mother of Jesus, into his care as the last legacy of Jesus.
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Although tradition identified this person as John, the son of Zebedee, most modern scholars find that the evidence does not support this. Critical analysis makes it difficult to accept the idea that the gospel as it now stands was written by one person. In the preceding chapter, to the woman at the well in Samaria Jesus had offered living water springing up to eternal life, a symbol of the revelation that Jesus brings; here Jesus’ life-giving word replaces the water of the pool that failed to bring life.
To solve these problems, scholars have proposed various rearrangements that would produce a smoother order. Jn 21 seems to have been added after the gospel was completed; it exhibits a Greek style somewhat different from that of the rest of the work. After the account of the seven signs, the “hour” of Jesus arrives, and the author passes from sign to reality, as he moves into the discourses in the upper room that interpret the meaning of the passion, death, and resurrection narratives that follow. Lazarus is presented as a token of the real life that Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, who will now ironically be put to death because of his gift of life to Lazarus, will give to all who believe in him once he has been raised from the dead. This is a narrative illustration of the theme of conflict in the preceding two chapters; it proclaims the triumph of light over darkness, as Jesus is presented as the Light of the world.
Popular Bible Verses from John 1
Caroline Madison is a freelance editor and writer with a passion for the written word and a special interest in telling and reading stories that present biblical truths in fresh ways. And Bible scholars continue to debate whether this gospel was written later than AD 70. John owes its unique popularity to two highly revered saints, John the Baptist (forerunner of Jesus Christ) and the apostle John (traditionally considered the author of the Gospel of John);citation needed the name has since been chosen as the regnal or religious name of many emperors, kings, popes and patriarchs. 35 The next day John(AZ) was there again with two of his disciples. How can you embody the attributes of the first disciples in your walk with Jesus?
The Quran also speaks of Jesus’s disciples but does not mention their names, instead referring to them as “supporters for the cause of Allah”. A church (San Giovanni a Porta Latina) dedicated to him was built near the Latin gate of Rome, the traditional site of this event. john joseph kelly amy carter It is traditionally believed that John was the youngest of the apostles and survived all of them.
Who Wrote the Book of John?
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. (AS) 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’(AT) 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God,(AR) who takes away the sin of the world! 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness,(AL) ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”d(AM) 9 The true light(M) that gives light to everyone(N) was coming into the world.
Encouraging and challenging you to seek intimacy with God every day.
John is traditionally believed to have lived on for more than fifty years after the martyrdom of his brother James, who became the first Apostle to die a martyr’s death in AD 44. John was also the disciple who reported to Jesus that they had ‘forbidden’ a non-disciple from casting out demons in Jesus’ name, prompting Jesus to state that ‘he who is not against us is on our side’. 45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
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• John insists darkness “has not overcome” the light, offering hope that evil will never snuff out God’s life-giving presence. ” 37And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 4In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. Muslim exegesis more or less agrees with the New Testament list and says that the disciples included Peter, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, Andrew, James, Jude, John and Simon the Zealot. However, some Muslim scholars mentioned their names, likely relying on the resources of Christians, who are considered “People of the Book” in Islamic tradition.
Spend time (“They went and saw where He was staying and spent that day with Him”). • Jesus embodies grace—God’s generous favor—and truth—the reliable revelation of who God is. • Excavations at Al-Maghtas in modern Jordan reveal first-century pools, channels, and churches honoring the baptism site. • Josephus, a Jewish historian, confirms John’s widespread influence and eventual imprisonment by Herod Antipas. Moses brought the Law; Jesus brought grace and truth in person.
Summary of the Gospel of John
On this basis some traditions believe that John was first a disciple of John the Baptist, even though he is not named in this episode. Also according to some traditions, Salome was the sister of Mary, Jesus’ mother, making Salome Jesus’ aunt, and her sons John the Apostle and James were Jesus’ cousins. The Church Fathers identify him as John the Evangelist, John of Patmos, John the Elder, and the Beloved Disciple, and claim that he outlived the remaining apostles and was the only one to die of natural causes, although modern scholars are divided on the veracity of these claims. 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.