The Gospel of John

John is one of the twelve apostles and holds an important place in this group. His name is always mentioned first in the lists of the apostles drawn up by Matthew 10.2-5, Mark 3.16-19 and Luke 6.13-16.

His father, Zebedee, is a fisherman who works on the mer de Galilée — afficher la définition INF087. John and his brother James help him in his work. His mother, Salome, who may be the half-sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus, seems very active in Jesus’ ministry.

We find John and James in the company of John the Baptist John 1.25-40, which suggests that they were among his disciples. John is also identified as the second, anonymous disciple who accompanied Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, John 1.40.

The anonymous author of this Gospel reveals himself only by this designation: “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

On reading this account, it is clear that the author, an important figure in the Christian circles of the time, is well known to the readers and did not think it necessary to introduce himself explicitly. The fourth Gospel mentions fourteen times expressions such as “the other disciple,” “the disciple whom Jesus loved” or simply “the disciple.”

The analysis of these occurrences leads to the conclusion that the apostle John is the author of this text, although this attribution is questioned by some contemporary scholars. The name of John the apostle has been formally associated with this Gospel since the second century, at the same time as those of Matthew, Mark and Luke as authors of the other Gospels.

For the majority of the exegetes of the time, the “disciple whom Jesus loved” is identified as the apostle John, son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of James. Curiously, in his narrative John omits certain key episodes, such as the raising of Jairus’ daughter and the transfiguration, events in which, according to the Synoptic Gospels, he took part.

This might make us question the identity of the author. However, it seems that the apostle simply wished to add to the accounts of his friends, with no interest in telling once more these events already covered. Thus, a humble fisherman from the mer de Galilée — afficher la définition INF087 became the author of one of the most widely read and studied Gospels down the centuries.

The author of this new account must hold an important and recognized place within the early Church. This status is essential for the acceptance of his message by the various Christian communities. These texts, fundamental to the Christian faith, thus take on a capital importance.

Toward the end of the first century, many stories about the life of Jesus the Messiah were circulating, some of them more or less fanciful. The Christian communities, very attentive both to the content and to the authors of these writings, rejected any literature they judged not to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.

In this context, the favorable reception of this narrative strongly suggests that the apostle John is the author designated by the expression “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” He seems to have taken part in the initial project of the Gospel of Matthew, helping to compile a list of the main facts to be reported. For more details on this subject, you can consult the chapter devoted to the Gospels.

John and his contemporaries initially envisaged only a single account. However, the development of their mission led them to adapt their narrative to the target audience. Around AD 46, the works of Matthew and Mark seem to have been completed. John learns of Luke’s project and discovers his writing fourteen years later, confirming the truthfulness of these three texts, having been a privileged witness of these events.

This raises the questions: why did John decide to undertake a fourth account? Were the works of his friends not sufficient?
The Synoptic Gospels illustrate well the power of Jesus the Messiah and the crowds that surrounded him. By contrast, the Gospel of John stands out by describing Jesus’ personal dialogues with Nicodemus, the samaritaine — afficher la définition INF107 woman, Marthe et Marie — afficher la définition INF143, underlining Jesus’ closeness and sensitivity toward individuals.

Unlike the Synoptics, which focus on large audiences, John emphasizes individual conversations. He introduces six key teachings that follow one another after the last Passover meal, marking Jesus’ farewell to his disciples. The Gospel of John reveals a more intimate aspect of Jesus the Messiah.

John’s remarkable preaching, probably in the region of Ephesus, convinced his peers and his friends of the need for a fourth account. They therefore encouraged him to write down his testimony. John probably did not imagine that his account would become an integral part of the Christian canon. He envisaged rather a local circulation, useful for teaching the pagans. The author’s renown, combined with a different approach to the facts, was decisive in the acceptance of his Gospel by the Church.

Although John, a fisherman by trade, did not seem at first to have the intellectual skills needed to write a testimony, particularly because of the move from Aramaic, his mother tongue, to Greek in the region of Asia Minor, he felt a strong need to stress aspects that he considered omitted by his contemporaries. Aware of his linguistic limits, John, showing intelligence, probably did not hesitate to seek advice from people around him who were qualified to carry out this task.
As an apostle, his authority allows him to undertake this project without needing anyone else’s approval. The fourth Gospel reveals facts not mentioned or little discussed in the writings of Matthew, Mark and Luke. This text rests essentially on the personal memories of the apostle John. Unlike Luke, who had to carry out numerous investigations, John concentrates on transcribing his regular teachings and sermons.

With a simple and direct style, he presents to us events that are new but, in his view, crucial. Recognized as a major figure of the Church, his testimony was readily accepted in an environment that is usually reserved. Thus, his account enriches and completes those of his friends, offering a new perspective on the life and teaching of Jesus.

Reading the Gospel according to John reveals his desire to bring out more the human side of Jesus the Messiah, an element he feels is under-represented in the three preceding Gospels. Moreover, John stresses the limits inherent in writing when it comes to relating the considerable number of extraordinary signs performed by Jesus, acknowledging the impossibility of recording everything.

John’s purpose, through his account, is to lead the reader to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Rather than simply narrating the story of his Master, he chooses to present specific events intended to strengthen faith, among both Jewish and Gentile Christians. From the prologue, John clearly affirms the divinity of Jesus, presented as the bearer of true life for believers. Thus he unveils the divine nature of Jesus the Messiah, a central theme of his Gospel.

The Gospel according to John stands clearly apart from the other three, presenting a more intimate and independent account. It provides complementary information which, at times, can create difficulties of understanding.

However, John does not dwell on these potential ambiguities, confident that he is simply sharing the truth, just as his friends did. He is convinced that the necessary explanations will emerge naturally.

This account is characterized by its simplicity and authenticity. The author strives to set down as faithfully as possible his memories of that extraordinary period, marked by the presence of présence du Messie Jésus — afficher la définition INF235 on earth.

His aim is to convey faithfully the essence and the teachings of that remarkable time.

This last Gospel now appears as the best loved and the most widely read.

The composition and publication of the Gospel according to John seem to have taken place late, probably between the AD 80s and 90s. The writing in Greek suggests not only this period but also a location far from Jerusalem, implying that John had to adapt to this new language.

John’s adaptation to writing in Greek illustrates the challenges he had to overcome in composing his text. Although mastering the language is a first step, moving on to writing proves even harder, especially for John, who came from a background of fishermen of the mer de Galilée — afficher la définition INF087.

These factors reinforce the plausibility of this estimated period for the writing of the Gospel. It seems that the text comes directly from the apostle’s preaching. Although no specific detail clearly indicates the use of one or more secretaries to help with its writing, such assistance is entirely conceivable given the context.