:pp.284,307 Other critical scholars are of the opinion that John was composed in stages (probably two or three). Robinson proposes an initial edition by 50–55 and then a final edition by 65 due to narrative similarities with Paul. Though most scholars agree in placing the Gospel of John somewhere between AD 65 and 85, John A.T. John, like his Old Testament counterpart Daniel, was kept alive to receive the prophetic vision. Moreover, Revelation says that 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.
especially 1 John 1:1-5 4:14), that he had lived for a long time in Asia Minor, was thoroughly acquainted with the conditions existing in the various Christian communities there, and that he had a position of authority recognized by all Christian communities as leader of this part of the church. Both the Letters and Revelation presuppose that John belonged to the multitude of personal eyewitnesses of the life and work of Jesus (cf. Of the other New Testament writings, it is only from the three Letters of John and the Book of Revelation that anything further is learned about John.
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Paul, in opposing his enemies in Galatia, recalls that John explicitly along with Peter and James the Just were referred to as "pillars of the church" and refers to the recognition that his Apostolic preaching of a gospel free from Jewish Law received from these three, the most prominent men of the Christian community at Jerusalem. He returned with the other disciples to Jerusalem for the Apostolic Council (about A.D. Such a sojourn by John in Asia in this first period was neither long nor uninterrupted. "the brethren"), in addition to Priscilla and Aquila. In any case a Christian community was already in existence at Ephesus before Paul's first labours there (cf. It does not appear improbable that John then went for the first time into Asia Minor. Apparently, John in common with the other Apostles remained some 12 years in this first field of labour, until the persecution of Herod Agrippa I led to the scattering of the Apostles through the various provinces of the Roman Empire. There is no positive information in the Bible (or elsewhere) concerning the duration of this activity in Judea. He is also with Peter visiting the newly converted in Samaria. With Peter he is also thrown into prison. He is with Peter at the healing of the lame man in the Temple. After Jesus’ Ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, John, together with Peter, took a prominent part in the founding and guidance of the church. The author of the Gospel of John was accustomed to identifying himself as "Beloved Disciple". Russian Orthodox icon of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, 18th century (Iconostasis of Transfiguration Church, Kizhi Monastery, Karelia, Russia).Īccording to the Bible, after the Resurrection, John is sometimes speculated to be the unnamed disciple who ran together with Peter towards the tomb and thus the first of the apostles to believe that Jesus had truly risen. John alone remained near Jesus at the foot of the cross on Calvary with Jesus’ mother, Mary, and the pious women and took Mary into his care as the last legacy of Jesus. According to the general interpretation, John was also that "other disciple" who with Peter followed Jesus after the arrest into the palace of the high-priest. Lk 22:8 At the meal itself, his place was next to Jesus on whose chest he leaned. Only he and Peter were sent into the city to make the preparation for the final Passover meal (the Last Supper). Saint Peter, James, son of Zebedee, and John the Apostle were the only witnesses of the raising of Jairus' daughter, Mk 5:34 of the Transfiguration Mt 17:1 and of the Agony in Gethsemane. John had a prominent position in the Apostolic body. He was first a disciple of John the Baptist and later one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. They originally were fishermen and fished with their father in the Lake of Genesareth.
The Eastern Orthodox tradition gives his mother's name as Salome. John the Apostle was the son of Zebedee, and the brother of Saint James the Greater.