Lesson #5 - The Apostle John

Terry Siverd
08/07/19 - Wed Bible Study

LESSON #5 – THE APOSTLE JOHN  

1. What do we know for certain about John?

~ John was a son of Zebedee and a brother to James, who was also an apostle.

His name means favored of Jehovah and has proven to be an extremely popular name given to newborn boys. 

~ John was a fisherman, along with his father and brother.  Jesus called John and his brother to become

apostles while they were at work mending there nets and they promptly followed Jesus. (Mt.4:21-22).

~ Mk.1:20 records that they had “hired servants”, which likely indicates they had a prosperous business.  cf. Lk.5:11/boats

The overall context (Mt.4:18-22 with Lk.5:10) states that John & James were in partnership with Peter & Andrew.

The books of Acts depicts John with Peter on various occasions - - Acts 3:1-11;  4:1-22  and  8:14

~ According to 1Cor.9:5, it is probably safe to say that John was a married man.

2. How would you describe John’s personality?

~ He appears to be a humble man.

John never references himself by name in his gospel narrative.

He sometimes refers to himself as, “the other” or "another disciple".  cf. Jn.18:15-16 and 20:3,4 & 8

John also speaks of himself as “the apostle whom Jesus loved”.  cf. Jn.13:23;  19:26;  20:6;  21:7  and  21:20.

While this phrase may sound braggadocio, it is literally rendered:  the disciple whom Jesus kept on loving.

i.e., in spite of his shortcomings.

~ Although John & James were rebuffed by the other apostles (Mk.10:41 & Mt.20:24) for their quest for chief seats,

Matthew’s gospel (Mt.20:20-21) reveals that the actual instigator of this request was their mother.

Jesus’ rebuke was a lesson taken to heart.  Later in his epistles, John scolds Diotrephes, “who loves to be first..." (3Jn.9f).

~ Jesus may have nicknamed John and James, sons of thunder (Bonanerges/Mk.3:17)because they were quick-tempered.

Lk.9:51ff records an incident when the Samaritans refused to welcome Jesus.  The brothers asked Jesus,

Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?

 cf. Mk.9:38 & Lk.9:49 / …we tried to hinder him because he was not following us.

3. How could one characterize the g-r-o-w-t-h of John?

¡ Acts 8:14 & 25 pictures John as pretty level-headed and fair-minded.

¡ In Gal.2:9, Paul alludes to the fact that John was reputed to be a pillar in the church.

¡ John evolution from tough to tender has caused him to be recognized as the apostle of love.

More than any other New Testament writer, John speaks of LOVE - - over 50 times in his writings.

e.g., Jn.3:16; 13:34-35 & 4:16-19 with 1Jn.1:6 & 2:4 and 2Jn.5-6 

A gardener once asked a clump of clay, “How come you have such a sweet aroma?”. 

The response:  “because they placed me beside a ROSE.

¡ Several citations are worth noting in this context.

At the last supper it was John who reclined on Jesus' breast (Jn.13:23 &25).

It was John who entered the courtyard of the high priest during Jesus’ trial when the others had fled (Jn.18:15f).

John stood at the foot of cross of Jesus (Jn.19:26).

John was assigned by Jesus to be a care-taker for Mary (Jn.19:27).

John was the first to arrive at the empty tomb (Jn.20:1-10).

John apparently lived to see the parousia/coming of Christ (Jn.21:22).

4. When did John write his gospel, epistles and the book of Revelation?

While many scholars date all of John's writings late (A.D. 90-110), the internal evidence of the

New Testament clearly indicates that John wrote before the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

For details on this important topic, please review my essay, “John's Gospel - - When Was It Written?”.