Who Wrote the Gospel of John?

Question 1

How do we know the author was a Jew?

Answer 1

• quotes Hebrew text
• knew feasts
• knew topography of Palestine/Jerusalem & Galilee
• was an eyewitness (1:14)

Question 2

Who does internal/external evidence point to as the author?

Answer 2

John, an apostle, closely
related to Peter.

Question 3

Why does John refer to himself as “the disciple Jesus loved.”?

Answer 3

• John is formally anonymous
• John the Baptist is called “John,” John would need to refer to himself in a
  different way

Question 4

What are some “interesting features” of John’s Gospel?

Answer 4

• Silent about the inner circle
• no apostolic lists
• No transfiguration
• no end times discourse
• no mention of Gethsemane

Question 5

List some external evidences to John’s authorship:

Answer 5

• Irenaeus used John’s Gospel in the late
  100’s
• Justin Martyr 155 A.D.
• Clement of Alexandria
• Tertullian 155-240 A.D.