So how can we know that the apostle john wrote the fourth gospel. Here are 20 inspiring verses from the book of john in the order they appear in the book. Obvious similarities to 1 john and the gospel of john suggest that the same person wrote all three books. Hindi the books of 2 and 3 john are believed to be written by the same author and most scholars believe the author is john the evangelist linguistically there is evidence that 2 and 3 john are similar to the other johannine works by the apostle john. All of his books were written later in life and after all the other books in the bible were recorded. He is believed to have outlived the other apostles. This summary of the gospel of john provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the gospel of john. The first epistle of john is the sixtysecond book in the christian bible, and the twentythird in the new testament this book is believed to a letter from john. The books of the bible are organized according to the topic rather than in the order in which they were written. Historical evidence concerning the author of 1 john. Second and third john are from the pen of the elder, who is. God manifested in jesus christ, that man may have fellowship with the father through the son.
In our previous articles, we looked at evidence for mark and matthews authorship as well as lukes. Most modern scholars believe this is not john the apostle, but in general there is no consensus as to. It makes a significant difference if the author particularly of 1 john was in fact an eyewitness to the earthly ministry of jesus christ as he appears to claim in 1 john 1. In addition to this one, john is commonly credited with writing two other new testament letters, a gospel, and possibly the prophetic book of revelation. He was a leader in the early church, and he probably wrote his documents after most of the other new testament books were already written. The author of the epistles of john was an eyewitness of the resurrected. John, who wrote the gospel of john, wrote it exquisitely, for he was steeped in jewish tradition and heritage. The book of 2 john would most likely have been written at about the same time as johns other letters, 1 and 3 john, between a. John was part of jesus inner circle and, along with peter and james, john was given the privilege of witnessing jesus. John the baptist wasnt the author of the gospel of john. Introduction to 1 john the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
In the introduction to 1 john in the niv study bible, donald w. Forty men shared in the writing of the bible over a span of about 1,600 years from the time of moses to the last book written by john. He would not go about in judea, because the jews were seeking to kill him. Our love for god is reflected in how we love our neighbor. The last book of the old testament, malachi, was written about 443 b. It is usually assumed that john was a young man, perhaps the youngest of the apostles when the lord called him to follow him. First john is the fourth of the general epistles or catholic letters, the writings of apostles to the church at large. Mar 01, 20 forty men shared in the writing of the bible over a span of about 1,600 years from the time of moses to the last book written by john. The 1 john bible study tool is designed to teach the body of christ biblical truths about the book of 1 john. The first epistle of john, often referred to as first john and written 1 john or i john, is the first of the johannine epistles of the new testament, and the fourth of the catholic epistles. It is important to begin with a discussion of authorship, in light of the christological controversy which permeates the three johannine letters. The second epistle of john, often referred to as second john and often written 2 john or ii john, is a book of the new testament attributed to john the evangelist, traditionally thought to be the author of the gospel of john and the other two epistles of john. The books of 2 and 3 john are believed to be written by the same author and most scholars believe the author is john the evangelist. This summary of the book of 2 john provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 2 john.
The first book of the new testament, matthew, was written about 40 a. The apostle john is the author of five new testament books. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after john 7. By sister renee pittelli these books of the bible are believed to have been written by the apostle john, who also wrote the gospel of john and revelation. This summary of the book of 1 john provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 1 john. In this epistle you will find 5 chapters of which john was writing to believers. How could john the baptist have written the gospel of john. Who wrote the gospels evidence for john come reasons. This collection of five works in the bible is commonly. We get the vast majority of our information about john from the pages of the four gospels.
Second john and third john are the two shortest books in the bible. The elder, the seer, and the apostle bible odyssey. Yes, john wrote the book of revelation before writing the letters we know as john 1 and 2. Esv 1 that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life. John 1 niv bible in the beginning was the word, and the. In one of his letters he wrote, we proclaim to you what we have seen and heard 1 john 1. At the center of the doctrinal controversy are people who do. Are the books of the bible in the order they were written. These facts about the book of 1 john make great bible studies by teaching the word of god. The context reveals he is the one called that disciple in verse 23 and the disciple whom jesus loved in verse 20.
However, all the evidence points to the author as john the beloved disciple who also wrote the gospel of john. John also wrote first, second, third john, and revelation. Though not directly stated, we know that john was called the beloved disciple, or the disciple whom jesus loved john 21. Early writers such as irenaeus and tertullian say that john wrote this gospel, and all other evidence agrees see introduction to 1 john. It is unknown exactly when and where 1 john was written. John s third and final letter was written to the elder, to my dear friend gaius, whom i love in the truth 3rd john 1. Yet only onethe gospel of johnclaims to be an eyewitness account, the testimony of the unnamed disciple whom jesus loved. The earliest and most reliable manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have john 7. Clicking on a chapter will show you the text of that chapter of john in the bible king james version. The interpreters one volume commentary on the bible states. This passage is omitted or set off in modern editions of the gospel since it does not appear in the oldest and best manuscripts and is apparently a later. Linguistically there is evidence that 2 and 3 john are similar to the other johannine works by the apostle john. There is no scholarly consensus as to the authorship of the johannine works. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
A second john known as john the elder in view of suggestions that he wrote 2 and 3 john and from papias reference to john the elder but this need not be distinct from john the apostle 2. John recognized that love comes from god, and he encouraged the believers to love one another 1 john 4. The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have john 7. We know that john was the younger brother of james and the son of zebedee mark 10.
This would mean that the person who wrote the gospel of john would not have been a contemporary of jesus, and therefore would not have been an eyewitness as the author claims. The word became flesh in the beginning was the word, and the word was with god, and the word was god. The gospels, the first four books of the new testament, tell the story of the life of jesus. John 1 niv the word became flesh in the bible gateway. The author is the apostle john, the disciple whom jesus loved. While church tradition has attributed the gospel of john, the letters of john, and the book of revelation to the same authorjohn the apostle and son of zebedeeinternal and external evidence may require us to attribute them to other individuals who may or may not have also been named john. Letters of john, three new testament writings, all composed sometime. Johns first epistle teaches that while it is important to recognize the lines between truth and error, it must always be done in a spirit of love. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. The question of peter in john 21 indicates that the author was aged and reflecting back on his life with jesus and the apostles. While paul wrote to specific congregations and individuals, peter, james, john, and jude wrote to broader audiences scattered across the roman empire.
Various people have been proposed as the author of this epistle. So, only john meets the criteria needed for the fourth gospels authorship. Near the end of the 1st century, john was exiled to the island of patmos. In one of the most profound statements in the bible, john said. Unlike most nt letters, 1 john does not tell us who the author is. Thus, at the end of the 19th century scholar ernest dewitt burton wrote that there could be no reasonable doubt that 1 john and the gospel were written. First epistle of john simple english wikipedia, the free. The second epistle of john, often referred to as second john and often written 2 john or ii john, is a book of the new testament attributed to john the evangelist, traditionally thought to be the author of the other two epistles of john, and the gospel of john though this is disputed. Book of 1 john book of 2 john book of 3 john book of john bible search results. The gospel of john author question, who wrote the gospel of john. Clearly the most widespread alternative to authorship of 1 john by john the apostle is authorship by a second person whose name is john, usually designated john the elder or presbyter, from the greek word.
Recent challenges as to who wrote the book of john. The claim that apostle john was the author is made by irenaeus, who tied it to the epistles of john and the book of revelation. This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true john 21. That group of witnesses includes polycarp, an early secondcentury bishop who as a young man knew john personally. The first epistle of john, often referred to as first john and written 1 john or i john, is the first. For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the father but is of the world. Another holds that john was written last, by someone who knew about the other three gospels, but who wished to write a spiritual gospel instead of an historical one. He wrote the gospel according to john, first, second and third john, and he was the penman of the book of the revelation of jesus christ. John was the author of five books in scripture, the gospel of john, the three epistles of john and the revelation. He had greeks in mind, as the gospel is evangelical in nature. Intro to john biblica the international bible society.
The bible study tool consists of twenty five truefalse questions. This collection of five works in the bible is commonly referred to as the johannine literature. While our modern bibles attach johns name to the beginning of the gospel, john just like the other gospel authors never documented his name within the book. The gospel of john has many touches that appear to reflect the recollections of an eyewitnesssuch as the house at bethany being filled with the fragrance of the broken perfume jar see12. May 02, 2020 however, all the evidence points to the author as john the beloved disciple who also wrote the gospel of john. And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, god will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. About one in every 50 words is a form of lovethat makes for about 52 mentions of love in just five short chapters. The content, style, and vocabulary seem to warrant the conclusion that these three epistles were addressed to the same readers as the gospel of john. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part. It is the 62 nd book in the bible and is located in the new testament. The topic i intend to speak on this weekend is the life and writings of the apostle john.
In terms of a positive stated purpose, john gives us reasons why he wrote these epistles. Intro to 1 john biblica the international bible society. No other book of the bible talks about love as often as first john. According to scholars, the gospel of john was written by the beloved disciple john. This epistle was probably written just a few years before the book of revelation. There is also a hypothesis that the gospel of john and other books referencing john could have been written by more than one person. The books of the hebrew scriptures were organized slightly differently than our king james old testament. Neither the text of the gospel nor that of the letters bears johns name, or any name. The author of this epistle never identified himself by name, but christians since the beginning of the church have considered this letter. John bible book with full chapters king james version. Book of first john overview insight for living ministries. There is some disagreement over whether the john who wrote the letters of john, the john who wrote the gospel of john, and the john who wrote the book of revelation are the same person this letter was probably written.
John 1 niv bible in the beginning was the word, and. The author of this epistle never identified himself by name, but christians since the beginning of the church have considered this letter authoritative, believing it was written by john the apostle. The author then wrote, this is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things fourth gospel 21. The author of the first epistle is termed john the evangelist, who most. Because the false teachers all claimed to be inspired and to have received their false message from the holy spirit, john reminds the messianic community that they have among them some who can tell the difference 1 corinthians 12. John was part of three men who made up the inner circle of companions of jesus mark 5. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The earliest identification of him comes from the church fathers. Unlike most nt letters, 1 john does not tell us who its author is.