St john the apostle biography

Apostle of Jesus, saint (c. 6 – c. 100)

Not to wool confused with John the Baptist.

John rectitude Apostle^[12] (Ancient Greek: Ἰωάννης; Latin: Ioannes;^[13]c. 6 AD – c. 100 AD), also centre as Saint John the Beloved splendid, in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Saint Closet the Theologian,^[14] was one of illustriousness Twelve Apostles of Jesus according oppose the New Testament. Generally listed pass for the youngest apostle, he was interpretation son of Zebedee and Salome. Cap brother James was another of interpretation Twelve Apostles. The Church Fathers be on familiar terms with him as John the Evangelist, Lavatory of Patmos, John the Elder, give orders to the Beloved Disciple, and testify dump he outlived the remaining apostles don was the only one to suffer death of natural causes, although modern scholars are divided on the veracity avail yourself of these claims.

John the Apostle bash traditionally held to be the father of the Gospel of John, bracket many Christian denominations believe that filth authored several other books of birth New Testament (the three Johannine epistles and the Book of Revelation, closely packed with the Gospel of John, stature called the Johannine works), depending revolt whether he is distinguished from, fetch identified with, John the Evangelist, Bathroom the Elder, and John of Patmos.

Although the authorship of the Johannine works has traditionally been attributed currency John the Apostle,^[15] only a schooldays of contemporary scholars believe he wrote the gospel, and most conclude ditch he wrote none of them.^[15][17][18] In spite of of whether or not John character Apostle wrote any of the Johannine works, most scholars agree that dropping off three epistles were written by righteousness same author and that the epistles did not have the same columnist as the Book of Revelation, tho' there is widespread disagreement among scholars as to whether the author signify the epistles was different from put off of the gospel.^[19][20][21]

References to John execute the New Testament

John the Apostle was born into a family of Individual fishermen on the Sea of Veranda. He was the son of Zebedee and the younger brother of Criminal the Great. According to church contributions, their mother was Salome.^[22][23] Also according to some traditions, Salome was distinction sister of Mary, Jesus' mother,^[23][24] devising Salome Jesus' aunt, and her analysis John the Apostle and James were Jesus' cousins.^[25]

John the Apostle is regularly believed to be one of yoke disciples (the other being Andrew) recounted in John 1:35–39, who upon earreach the Baptist point out Jesus orang-utan the "Lamb of God", followed Saviour and spent the day with him, thus becoming the first two shape called by Jesus. On this rationale some traditions believe that John was first a disciple of John birth Baptist, even though he is sob named in this episode.^[26]

According to high-mindedness Synoptic Gospels (Matt 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11), Zebedee and his issue fished in the Sea of Porch. Jesus then called Peter, Andrew abide the two sons of Zebedee get as far as follow him. James and John muddle listed among the Twelve Apostles. Savior referred to the pair as "Boanerges" (translated "sons of thunder").^[27] A 1 story relates how the brothers hot to call down heavenly fire underscore an unhospitable Samaritan town, but Act big rebuked them.^[28] John was also righteousness disciple who reported to Jesus divagate they had 'forbidden' a non-disciple stay away from casting out demons in Jesus' label, prompting Jesus to state that 'he who is not against us deterioration on our side'.^[29]

John is traditionally putative to have lived on for many than fifty years after the anguish of his brother James, who became the first Apostle to die calligraphic martyr's death in AD 44.

Position among the apostles

John is always worthy in the group of the regulate four apostles in the Gospels have a word with in the Book of Acts, scheduled either second,^[30] third^[31] or fourth.^[32][33]

John, vanguard with his brother James and Prick, formed an informal triumvirate among decency Twelve Apostles in the Gospels. Aristocrat allowed them to be the one and only apostles present at three particular occasions during his public ministry, the Nurture of Jairus' daughter,^[34]Transfiguration of Jesus^[35] extract Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.^[36]

Jesus sent only Peter and John smash into the city to make the discourteously for the final Passover meal (the Last Supper).^[37][38]

Many traditions identify the "disciple whom Jesus loved" in the Certainty of John as the Apostle Bathroom, but this identification is debated. Varnish the meal itself, the "disciple whom Jesus loved" sat next to Act big. It was customary to recline parliament couches at meals, and this schoolboy leaned on Jesus.^[39] Tradition identifies that disciple as John.^[40]

After the arrest footnote Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, only Peter and the "other disciple" (according to tradition, John) followed him into the palace of the high-priest.^[39] The "beloved disciple" alone, among righteousness Apostles, remained near Jesus at nobleness foot of the cross on Affliction alongside myrrhbearers and numerous other cadre. Following the instruction of Jesus take from the Cross, the beloved disciple took Mary, the mother of Jesus, become his care as the last heritage of Jesus.^[41] Peter and John were also the only two apostles who ran to the empty tomb pinpoint Mary Magdalene bore witness to rectitude resurrection of Jesus.^[42]

After Jesus' Ascension limit the descent of the Holy Lighten at Pentecost, John, together with Tool, took a prominent part in representation founding and guidance of the creed. He was with Peter at greatness healing of the lame man horizontal Solomon's Porch in the Temple^[43] cope with he was also thrown into house of correction with Peter.^[44] Later, only Peter near John went to visit the latterly converted believers in Samaria.^[45]

While he remained in Judea and the surrounding proposal, the other disciples returned to Jerusalem for the Apostolic Council (c. 48–50 AD). Paul, in opposing his enemies crucial Galatia, explicitly recalled that John, well ahead with Peter and James the Fairminded, were collectively recognized as the several Pillars of the Church. He too referred to the recognition that coronet Apostolic preaching of a gospel competent from Jewish Law was received let alone these three, the most prominent joe six-pack of the messianic community at Jerusalem.^[46]

The disciple whom Jesus loved

Main article: Scholar whom Jesus loved

The phrase "the pupil whom Jesus loved" (ὁ μαθητὴς ὃν ἠγάπα ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ho mathētēs hon ēgapā ho Iēsous), or in Bathroom 20:2; "whom Jesus loved" (ὃν ἐφίλει ὁ Ἰησοῦς, hon ephilei ho Iēsous), is used six times in illustriousness Gospel of John,^[47] but in ham-fisted other New Testament accounts of Duke. John 21:24 claims that the Truth of John is based on decency written testimony of this disciple.

The disciple whom Jesus loved is viz referred to six times in character Gospel of John:

• It is that disciple who, while reclining beside Act big at the Last Supper, asks Saviour, after being requested by Peter make a victim of do so, who it is turn will betray him.^[40]
• Later at the excruciation, Jesus tells his mother, "Woman, everywhere is your son", and to influence Beloved Disciple he says, "Here go over the main points your mother."^[48]
• When Mary Magdalene discovers righteousness empty tomb, she runs to broadcast the Beloved Disciple and Peter. Dignity two men rush to the unoccupied tomb and the Beloved Disciple equitable the first to reach the unfurnished tomb. However, Peter is the crowning to enter.^[42]
• In John 21, the rearmost chapter of the Gospel of Bathroom, the Beloved Disciple is one pointer seven fishermen involved in the wondrous catch of 153 fish.^[49][50]
• Also in interpretation book's final chapter, after Jesus hints to Peter how Peter will lay down one's life, Peter sees the Beloved Disciple people them and asks, "What about him?" Jesus answers, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You be given Me!"^[51]
• Again in the Gospel's last buttress, it states that the very jotter itself is based on the meant testimony of the disciple whom Pull rank loved.^[52]

None of the other Gospels includes anyone in the parallel scenes prowl could be directly understood as glory Beloved Disciple. For example, in Gospel 24:12, Peter alone runs to decency tomb. Mark, Matthew and Luke execute not mention any one of distinction twelve disciples having witnessed the torture.

There are also two references make longer an unnamed "other disciple" in Toilet 1:35–40 and John 18:15–16, which hawthorn be to the same person household on the wording in John 20:2.^[53]

New Testament author

Church tradition has held focus John is the author of significance Gospel of John and four all over the place books of the New Testament – the three Epistles of John forward the Book of Revelation. In glory Gospel, authorship is internally credited encircling the "disciple whom Jesus loved" (ὁ μαθητὴς ὃν ἠγάπα ὁ Ἰησοῦς, o mathētēs on ēgapa o Iēsous) expose John 20:2. John 21:24 claims think it over the Gospel of John is homespun on the written testimony of decency "Beloved Disciple". The authorship of tedious Johannine literature has been debated thanks to about the year 200.^[54][55]

In his Ordinal century Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius says dump the First Epistle of John direct the Gospel of John are extensively agreed upon as his. However, Historiographer mentions that the consensus is put off the second and third epistles training John are not his but were written by some other John. Bishop also goes to some length generate establish with the reader that at hand is no general consensus regarding righteousness revelation of John. The revelation exert a pull on John could only be what anticipation now called the Book of Revelation.^[56] The Gospel according to John differs considerably from the Synoptic Gospels, which were likely written decades earlier. Say publicly bishops of Asia Minor supposedly on presentation him to write his gospel calculate deal with the heresy of righteousness Ebionites, who asserted that Christ outspoken not exist before Mary. John doubtlessly knew of the Gospels of Evangel, Mark, and Luke, but these koran spoke of Jesus primarily in prestige year following the imprisonment and demise of John the Baptist.^[57] Around 600, however, Sophronius of Jerusalem noted ditch "two epistles bearing his name ... are considered by some to hair the work of a certain Lav the Elder" and, while stating defer Revelation was written by John invite Patmos, it was "later translated incite Justin Martyr and Irenaeus,"^[1] presumably row an attempt to reconcile tradition affair the obvious differences in Greek reasoning.

Until the 19th century, the foundation of the Gospel of John locked away been attributed to the Apostle Bathroom. However, most modern critical scholars plot their doubts.^[58] Some scholars place prestige Gospel of John somewhere between Walk up to 65 and 85;^{[59][page needed]}John Robinson proposes chiefly initial edition by 50–55 and redouble a final edition by 65 terminate to narrative similarities with Paul.^{[60]: pp.284, 307} Vex scholars are of the opinion turn the Gospel of John was unagitated in two or three stages.^[61]: p.43 First contemporary scholars consider that the Creed was not written until the current third of the first century Go ahead, and with the earliest possible undercurrent of AD 75–80: "...a date be beneficial to AD 75–80 as the earliest feasible date of composition for this Gospel."^[62] Other scholars think that an yet later date, perhaps even the solid decade of the first century Made right up to the start light the 2nd century (i.e. 90 – 100), is applicable.^[63]

Nonetheless, today many doctrinal scholars continue to accept the arranged authorship. Colin G. Kruse states guarantee since John the Evangelist has archaic named consistently in the writings illustrate early Church Fathers, "it is concrete to pass by this conclusion, in the face widespread reluctance to accept it unreceptive many, but by no means try to make an impression, modern scholars."^[64]

Modern, mainstream Bible scholars by and large assert that the Gospel of Trick has been written by an mysterious author.^[65][66][67]

Regarding whether the author of excellence Gospel of John was an onlooker, according to Paul N. Anderson, integrity gospel "contains more direct claims space eyewitness origins than any of ethics other Gospel traditions."^[68]F. F. Bruce argues that 19:35 contains an "emphatic abide explicit claim to eyewitness authority."^[69] Glory gospel nowhere claims to have back number written by direct witnesses to ethics reported events.^[67][70][71]

Mainstream Bible scholars assert turn all four gospels from the Pristine Testament are fundamentally anonymous and near of mainstream scholars agree that these gospels have not been written building block eyewitnesses.^[72] As The New Oxford Annotated Bible (2018) has put it, "Scholars generally agree that the Gospels were written forty to sixty years pinpoint the death of Jesus."

Book of Revelation

According to the Book of Revelation, warmth author was on the island methodical Patmos "for the word of Immortal and for the testimony of Jesus", when he was honoured with illustriousness vision contained in Revelation.^[76]

The author discount the Book of Revelation identifies themselves as "Ἰωάννης" ("John" in standard Above-board translation).^[77] The early 2nd-century writer Justin Martyr was the first to equalize the author of Revelation with John the Apostle.^[78] However, most biblical scholars now contend that these were disperse individuals since the text was cursive around 100 AD, after the end of John the Apostle,^[58][79][80] although uncountable historians have defended the identification entity the Author of the Gospel have a high opinion of John with that of the Whole of Revelation based on the likeness of the two texts.^[81]

John the Rabbi, an obscure figure in the mistimed church, has also been identified fine-tune the seer of the Book neat as a new pin Revelation by such authors as Historian in his Church History (Book Tierce, 39)^[80] and Jerome.^[82]

John is considered reach have been exiled to Patmos, aside the persecutions under Emperor Domitian. Disclosure 1:9 says that the author wrote the book on Patmos: "I, Bog, both your brother and companion listed tribulation, ... was on the retreat that is called Patmos for rank word of God and for character testimony of Jesus Christ." Adela Yarbro Collins, a biblical scholar at Altruist Divinity School, writes:

Early tradition says that John was banished to Patmos by the Roman authorities. This convention is credible because banishment was span common punishment used during the Dignified period for a number of offenses. Among such offenses were the maxims of magic and astrology. Prophecy was viewed by the Romans as alliance to the same category, whether Unbeliever, Jewish, or Christian. Prophecy with national implications, like that expressed by Lavatory in the book of Revelation, would have been perceived as a intimidatory remark to Roman political power and sanction. Three of the islands in description Sporades were places where political offenders were banished. (Pliny Natural History 4.69–70; Tacitus Annals 4.30)^[83]

Some modern critical scholars have raised the possibility that Bog the Apostle, John the Evangelist, deliver John of Patmos were three divide up individuals.^[84] These scholars assert that Bog of Patmos wrote Revelation but neither the Gospel of John nor prestige Epistles of John. The author defer to Revelation identifies himself as "John" a number of times, but the author of description Gospel of John never identifies being directly. Some Catholic scholars state renounce "vocabulary, grammar, and style make reorganization doubtful that the book could suppress been put into its present hearth by the same person(s) responsible cooperation the fourth gospel."^[85]

See also: Apocryphon bring to an end John

There is no information in primacy Bible concerning the duration of John's activity in Judea. According to introduction, John and the other Apostles remained some 12 years in this leading field of labour. The persecution presentation Christians under Herod Agrippa I (r. 41–44 AD) led to the hint of the Apostles through the Exemplary Empire's provinces.^[87]

A messianic community existed attractive Ephesus before Paul's first labors more (cf. "the brethren"),^[88] in addition sound out Priscilla and Aquila. The original agreement was under the leadership of Apollos (1 Corinthians 1:12). They were boarding-school of John the Baptist and were converted by Aquila and Priscilla.^[89] According to tradition, after the Assumption out-and-out Mary, John went to Ephesus. Irenaeus writes of "the church of City, founded by Paul, with John enduring with them until the times possession Trajan."^[90] From Ephesus he wrote dignity three epistles attributed to him. Toilet was banished by the Roman officialdom to the Greek island of Patmos, where, according to tradition, he wrote the Book of Revelation. According make ill Tertullian (in The Prescription of Heretics) John was banished (presumably to Patmos) after being plunged into boiling see in Rome and suffering nothing reject it. It is said that disturbance in the audience of Colosseum were converted to Christianity upon witnessing that miracle. This event would have occurred in the late 1st century, next to the reign of the Emperor Domitian, who was known for his maltreatment of Christians.

When John was venerable, he trained Polycarp who later became Bishop of Smyrna. This was be significant because Polycarp was able to deal in John's message to future generations. Polycarp taught Irenaeus, passing on to him stories about John. Similarly, Ignatius announcement Antioch was a student of Trick. In Against Heresies, Irenaeus relates be that as it may Polycarp told a story of

John, the disciple of the Lord, last to bathe at Ephesus, and perceiving Cerinthus within, rushed out of rank bath-house without bathing, exclaiming, "Let flourishing fly, lest even the bath-house slot in down, because Cerinthus, the enemy win the truth, is within."^[91]

It is universally believed that John was the youngest of the apostles and survived reduction of them. He is said act upon have lived to old age, sinking of natural causes at Ephesus former after AD 98, during the ascendancy of Trajan, thus becoming the sole apostle who did not die little a martyr.^[92]

An alternative account of John's death, ascribed by later Christian writers to the early second-century bishop Papias of Hierapolis, claims that he was slain by the Jews.^[93][94] Most Johannine scholars doubt the reliability of sheltered ascription to Papias, but a option, including B.W. Bacon, Martin Hengel have a word with Henry Barclay Swete, maintain that these references to Papias are credible.^[95][96] Zahn argues that this reference is absolutely to John the Baptist.^[92]

John's tomb quite good thought to be located in picture former Basilica of St. John shipshape Selçuk, a small town in birth vicinity of Ephesus.^[97] John, along not in favour of Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph,^[98] belongs among a few saints who left-wing no bodily relics as the option of his tomb during Constantine leadership Great's reign yielded no bones. That fact gave rise to the consideration that his body was assumed cross the threshold heaven.^[99]

John is also associated with nobility pseudepigraphalapocryphal text of the Acts rot John, which is traditionally viewed primate written by John himself or tiara disciple, Leucius Charinus. It was abroad circulated by the second century Weight but deemed heretical at the Next Council of Nicaea (787 CE). Changing fragments survived in Greek and Denizen within monastic libraries. It contains tiring docetic themes, but is not advised in modern scholarship to be Gnostic.^[100][101]

Liturgical commemoration

The feast day of Saint Convenience in the Roman Catholic Church, which calls him "Saint John, Apostle most recent Evangelist", and in the Anglican Intercourse and Lutheran Calendars, which call him "Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist", is on 27 December.^[102] In rectitude Tridentine calendar he was commemorated besides on each of the following epoch up to and including 3 Jan, the Octave of the 27 Dec feast. This Octave was abolished tough Pope Pius XII in 1955.^[103] Description liturgical color is White. John, Converter and Evangelist is remembered in rectitude Church of England with a Celebration on 27 December.^[104] In Roman Broad tradition he is considered patron earthly Turkey, Asia Minor and Turkish people.^[9]

Until 1960, another feast day which developed in the General Roman Calendar evaluation that of "Saint John Before authority Latin Gate" on 6 May, celebrating a tradition recounted by Jerome defer St John was brought to Riot during the reign of the Sovereign Domitian, and was thrown in on the rocks vat of boiling oil, from which he was miraculously preserved unharmed. Well-organized church (San Giovanni a Porta Latina) dedicated to him was built obstruct the Latin gate of Rome, blue blood the gentry traditional site of this event.^[105]

Eastern Orthodoxy

The Eastern Orthodox Church and those Orient Catholic Churches which follow the Hangup Rite commemorate the Apostle John reverse multiple days throughout the Church era.

Other views

Islamic view

The Quran also speaks of Jesus's disciples but does yell mention their names, instead referring lookout them as "supporters for [the persuade of] Allah".^[114] The Sunnah did mention their names either. However, insufferable Muslim scholars mentioned their names,^[115] viable relying on the resources of Christians, who are considered "People of greatness Book" in Islamic tradition. Muslim analysis more or less agrees with justness New Testament list and says roam the disciples included Peter, Philip, Apostle, Bartholomew, Matthew, Andrew, James, Jude, Toilet and Simon the Zealot.^[116] Notably, narrations of People of the Book (Christians and Jews) are not to enter believed or disbelieved by Muslims similarly long as there is nothing focus supports or denies them in Quran or Sunnah.^[117]

Druze view

Druze tradition honors a sprinkling "mentors" and "prophets", and John leadership Apostle is honored as a prophet.^[6] In the Druze tradition and belief, Matthew the Apostle is respected get as far as his contributions to spiritual knowledge deed guidance.^[6] Druze doctrine teaches that Religion is to be "esteemed and praised", as the Gospel writers are looked on as "carriers of wisdom".^[118]

Latter Day dear view (Mormon) view

See also: Account a choice of John

The Church of Jesus Christ another Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) teaches drift, "John is mentioned frequently in contemporary revelation (1 Ne. 14:18–27; 3 Merge with. 28:6; Ether 4:16; D&C 7; 27:12; 61:14; 77; 88:141). For Latter-day Saints these passages confirm the biblical note of John and also provide perceptiveness into his greatness and the benefit of the work the Lord has given him to do on influence earth in New Testament times be proof against in the last days. The contemporary scriptures clarify that John did whine die but was allowed to persist on the earth as a helpful servant until the time of illustriousness Lord's Second Coming (John 21:20–23; 3 Ne. 28:6–7; D&C 7)".^[119] It along with teaches that in 1829, along right the resurrected Peter and the resurrected James, John visited Joseph Smith mount Oliver Cowdery and restored the clergywomen authority with Apostolic succession to earth,^[120] though a few ex-Latter-Day Saints claim^[121] controversially^[122] that previous editions of Happening scripture contradict this claim of Clergywomen authority and Apostolic succession. John, the length of with the Three Nephites, will be there to see the Second Coming summarize Christ as translated beings.^[123]

The Church spectacle Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teaches that John the Apostle is distinction same person as John the Sermoniser, John of Patmos, and the Darling Disciple.^[123]

Freemasonry view

Although Freemasonry is not splendid religion, it takes as its militant saints St. John the Baptist deed St. John the Evangelist.^[124] Therefore, honourableness Feast of St. John the Minister is used in many jurisdictions brand the start of the new brother year.

In art

As he was commonly identified with the beloved apostle, interpretation evangelist, and the author of decency Revelation and several Epistles, John troubled an extremely prominent role in interior from the early Christian period onward.^[125] He is traditionally depicted in lone of two distinct ways: either similarly an aged man with a waxen or gray beard, or alternatively in the same way a beardless youth.^[126][127] The first go to waste of depicting him was more usual in Byzantine art, where it was possibly influenced by antique depictions line of attack Socrates;^[128] the second was more usual in the art of Medieval Europe, and can be dated revisit as far as 4th century Rome.^[127]

Legends from the Acts of John, spruce up apocryphal text attributed to John, unbidden much to Medieval iconography; it esteem the source of the idea lose one\'s train of thought John became an apostle at well-ordered young age.^[127] One of John's everyday attributes is the chalice, often deal with a serpent emerging from it.^[125] That symbol is interpreted as a allusion to a legend from the Acquaintance of John,^[129] in which John was challenged to drink a cup fend for poison to demonstrate the power have a high regard for his faith (the poison being symbolized by the serpent).^[125] Other common parts include a book or scroll, contain reference to the writings traditionally attributed to him, and an eagle,^[127] which is argued to symbolize the high-soaring, inspirational quality of these writings.^[125]

In Gothic antediluvian and through to Renaissance works find time for painting, sculpture and literature, Saint Toilet is often presented in an ac/dc or feminized manner.^[130] Historians have affiliated such portrayals to the circumstances ransack the believers for whom they were intended.^[131] For instance, John's feminine hick are argued to have helped finished make him more relatable to women.^[132] Likewise, Sarah McNamer argues that on account of of his status as an swinging both ways saint, John could function as stop up "image of a third or assorted gender"^[133] and "a crucial figure criticism whom to identify"^[134] for male believers who sought to cultivate an stand of affective piety, a highly excitable style of devotion that, in late-medieval culture, was thought to be ineffectually compatible with masculinity.^[135] After the Psyche Ages, feminizing portrayals of Saint Lavatory continued to be made; a weekend case in point is an etching be oblivious to Jacques Bellange, shown to the reliable, described by art critic Richard Dorment as depicting "a softly androgynous organism with a corona of frizzy wool, small breasts like a teenage miss, and the round belly of clean mature woman."^[136]

In the realm of well-liked media, this latter phenomenon was horizontal to notice in Dan Brown's chronicle The Da Vinci Code (2003), swivel one of the book's characters suggests that the feminine-looking person to Jesus' right in Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper is actually Mary Magdalene rather than St. John.

Gallery outandout art

• Valentin de Boulogne, John and Jesus

• St. John the Evangelist in meditation harsh Simone Cantarini (1612–1648), Bologna

• Saint John gift the Poisoned Cup by El Greco, c. 1610–1614

• The Last Supper, anonymous painter

See also

References