Who Wrote the Gospel of John

QUESTION: Who wrote the gospel of John?

ANSWER:

According to scholars, the gospel of John was written by the beloved disciple (John 13:23, 19:26) of Jesus named John. John was the brother of James (Matthew 17:1), and the son of Zebedee (Mark 1:19-20). John was part of three men who made up the inner circle of companions of Jesus (Mark 5:37; 14:33).

Luke 5:6-11 cites John as a fishing partner of Simon (Peter). The following account records how John was called to Jesus:

"One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.' Simon answered, 'Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.' When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!' For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, 'Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men.' So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him."

John, who wrote the gospel of John, wrote it exquisitely, for he was steeped in Jewish tradition and heritage. He had Greeks in mind, as the gospel is evangelical in nature. It is believed to have been written from Ephesus.

John also wrote First, Second, Third John, and Revelation. He is believed to have outlived the other apostles.