John (Introduction)

4TH and 1
Part 1: Introduction

The Non-Synoptic Gospel
1. Missing material
~ No Birth story
~ No Baptism story
~ No Parables
~ No Exorcisms
~ No Transfiguration
~ No Olivet Discourse
~ No Institution of Communion
2. Extra information
~ Extra Miracles (7 escalating in body of text)
~ Born-Again Discussion
~ Famous ‘I AM’ statements
~ Frequent Trips to Jerusalem (3 Passovers)
~ Raising of Lazarus

According to Who?
1. The Internal Evidence
~ The author is the ‘beloved disciple’ (21:20, 24)
~ He witnessed the resurrected Lord (21:7, 20, 24)
~ He witnessed the empty tomb (20:2-5)
~ He witnessed the crucifixion (19:25-27, 35)
~ He witnessed the supper betrayal (13:22-27)
*He may have had connections with priests (18:10, 15-16, 26)
*He may have been one of the first disciples (1:35-42)

2. The External Evidence
“John too, he who leant back on the Lord’s breast, who was a priest, wearing the sacerdotal plate, both martyr and teacher. He has fallen asleep at Ephesus.” (Polycrates’ Letter, 190’s)

“The fourth Gospel is of John, one of the disciples… The same night it was revealed to Andrew, one of the Apostles, that all should certify what John wrote in his own name… he professes himself not only an eyewitness and hearer but also a writer of all the miracles of the Lord in order.” (Muratorian Canon, AD200)

“The apostle, the son of Zebedee, the brother of James, by whom the Gospel of John and the Catholic Epistle were written. For I judge from the character of both, and the forms of expression, and the entire execution of the book, that it is not his. For the evangelist nowhere gives his name, or proclaims himself, either in the Gospel or Epistle." (Eusebius, 320’s)

Leading Theories
1. John the Apostle
Strengths- External Evidence
Weaknesses- Internal Evidence (lack of Zebedee stories, Matt 26:36, focus on Jerusalem, connection to priests)

2. John the Elder
Strengths- External Evidence
Weaknesses- Unknown Character

3. Lazarus
Strengths- Some Internal Evidence (11:3, Jerusalem focus, rumor of long life)
Weaknesses- External Evidence

* All three, if they were the "Disciple whom Jesus Loved" were qualified witnesses seeing as how they were witnesses to the last supper, cross, empty tomb, appearance (and, perhaps, among the first disciples). All three of them would have written the 4th Gospel prior to AD100, more likely a couple decades or more before the turn of the century.

Purpose of the 4th Gospel
“The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.” (John 19:35)

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)