The purpose and authorship of the 4th gospel Flashcards
Who does tradition say is the writer?
John Son of Zebedee, one of JC’s 12 disciples
Who were JSZ and his older brother originally followers of?
JTB, but they both left to become JCs disciples
When and where did John die?
98 CE in Ephesus, part of modern day Turkey, this would make him in the right time and place to write it
Why is it odd that the 4th gospel is named after John?
Because it never claims to be written by him
How do some Christians point towards the epistles as evidence of John writing the gospel and how do other Christians dispute this?
There are three letters in the NT that claim to be written by John. They have similar themes and concerns to the fourth gospel and so could have been written by the same person. However, these could have simply been written by a different John, as this was a very common name at the time
Why do some Christians think that JSZ is the writer of the Book of Revelations and why do other Christians dispute this?
Because it was written by someone called John and is addressed to the churches in Turkey. However, the language and tone of revelation is different to the 4th gospel, so scholars doubt they have the same writer. This means that if JSZ did write the Book of Revelations, then they would almost definitely not be the author of the 4th gospel
How have recent discoveries about the time the gospel was written improved the chances that John is the other?
19th century scholars used to think that it was written in the very late 2nd century - far too late for JSZ to be the author. Modern scholars place it at the 90s or 100s CE, possibly within the lifetime of John
What discovery proves that the authorship of the 4th gospel is not as late as people first thought?
The Rylands Library Papyrus P52 is an ancient manuscript of a fragment of the 4th gospel which has been carbon dated to the early 2nd century
What does JAT Robinson argue in the priority of John?
That the 4th gospel dates as early as the 60s CE because it never mentions the temple destruction and shows detailed knowledge of Judea before the Jewish Revolt. He argues that JSZ is the gospel writer and the other disciple at JC’s trial
What is the main arguement against the idea that JSZ is the author and what is the counter to this?
He was a peasant fisherman from Galilee and the gospel is written to a good standard of Greek with a background knowledge of Greek philosophy. It doesn’t seem like someone with JSZ’s background would write like this. However, it is possible that in his long life JSZ could have received a good education and mastered Greek philosophy
What does the 4th gospel end by claiming?
That it was the Beloved Disciple who wrote the gospel down. Or more specifically, his followers have written it down based on his testimony
State John 21:24
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true
What are the three main theories around the identity of the BD?
JSZ, Lazarus, it is symbolic
Who supported the idea that the BD was JSZ?
Several early Christian writers, like Polycrates of Ephesus
What is the arguement for JSZ being the author of the 4th gospel?
JSZ is never mentioned in the 4th gospel, so the author must be him, by process of elimination
