THE REDEEMER MAGAZINE- The Magazine for Thinking Christians.

Foreword: This article has come about because I have learned to test the things I am told by others, rather than assuming they are true. Let us not trust in “enticing words of man’s wisdom”, because our faith “should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1Cor. 2:4 & 5). If you have always thought that John was the writer of the fourth Gospel; you probably believed it because someone told you so. In all honesty; most things that people believe about the Bible they believe it because someone told them. If you think John was the writer of the fourth Gospel; I think you will change your mind after reading this article. Christians need to think.

Digital Edition - Was John the Disciple Jesus Loved? No.

THE REDEEMER®- VOLUME 84 ****EDITION 41- OMPS® INC. 2014
 All articles in this magazine are written in whole or part by Dr. Otis T. Williams Sr. Th.D.....© 2014 These articles are the literary properties of Otis Media Publications Syndication Inc. ©

Was John the Disciple Jesus Loved? No.

 Dr. Otis T. Williams Sr. Th.D.

        Through most of our church lives we have been taught that John was the author of the fourth Gospel and John was also the disciple whom Jesus Loved. However; in my recent studies I have found no mention in the Bible  of John being the author of the fourth Gospel  nor any mention of him being the Disciple whom Jesus loved. So why are we taught these things? Can it be because of what people think?
        There is frequently a difference between what people think the Bible says and what it really says. So, the way to show the truth of biblical issues is to check to see for yourself what the Bible (itself) says. In this case, since the fourth gospel’s author identified himself in terms of Jesus’ love for him, it makes sense to see who the Bible says had this relationship with Jesus. When the Bible  verses are examined we will see that the Bible never singles out John in such  manner! Hence, unless one can give evidence that “the Disciple whom Jesus loved” was John, it is unbiblical to call John ‘the beloved disciple’.
        This article has come about because I have learned to test the things I am told by others, rather than assuming they are true. Let us not trust in “enticing words of man’s wisdom”, because our faith “should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1Cor. 2:4 & 5).  If the assertion of scripture can refute the John thought, then the dominance of God’s Word provides ample understanding for rejecting the non-Biblical sources that are used to warrant the John tradition. Hereto, the light of scripture will expose the peril of assuming that the popular opinion of others can serve as a meter for determining what is real. The truth is not guaranteed by simply following the crowd. Most people will defend their pastor before they defend scripture.
        I am going to create a few scenarios and list some scriptures that will help you determine if John is or was the disciple whom Jesus loved. Do not take my word for anything I say or write. Instead be a Berean. Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character..., for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. The situations I give and the study of the scriptures will allow you to form your own determination. This will take much effort and perseverance in uncovering what the Bible is really saying about the disciple whom Jesus loved and the writer of the fourth Gospel.

       Let”s look at something else. The Disciple whom Jesus loved was with Jesus at the Last supper(John 13:21-28). He was with Jesus at his trial(John:12-18). He was with Jesus at the cross(John 19:25-27). He was the first man at Jesus’ tomb and he was the first to believe(John 20:1-10). He also was the first to identify Jesus and as mentioned above he is the author of the fourth Gospel (John21: 2-24). However; the Bible does not mention this person as being by name let alone the name of John. The very first time we read about this one unnamed disciple whom “Jesus loved” is at Jesus’ last Passover. (At that event the disciples wondered who was going to betray Jesus and Peter eventually looked to the one whom “Jesus loved” to ask Jesus who the betrayer would be.) Before this episode we do not find the terms “other disciple” or “the Disciple whom Jesus loved” in the fourth Gospel.

        Why is this or what is the cause of this? It does not make sense for someone to all of a sudden appear on the scene with Jesus in His last days of earthly ministry and then be called “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. He had to have a special relationship with Jesus.
        Let’s consider this; all four gospels note that Peter followed Jesus into the palace of the high priest on the night of Jesus’ arrest. But the first three gospels completely disregard the “other disciple” who was there and who got Peter through the door. Since no one else is mentioned in those reports, someone reading all of those accounts would assume that Peter was alone when this occurred. Wrong! We know that Peter and the “other disciple” both followed Jesus that night (John 18:15-16). But there is no mention of this “other disciple” in either Matthew 26:58, Mark 14:54, or Luke 22:54-55, all of which tell only of Peter following Jesus on that night. Why would the writers of those gospels purposely omit the presence of the “other disciple”? Why would “the Disciple whom Jesus loved” get no visible mention outside of his own gospel?
        I find no evidence John ever lay claim to author-ship of the fourth gospel, so the fact it came to bear his name was caused by others erroneously ascribing it to him.   John named himself five times in the Book of Revelation. This does argue against the idea the same man also wrote the fourth gospel.

       John’s identity was repeatedly noted in the Book of Revelation, while in the fourth gospel the identity of the author was repeatedly obscured. Except for John the Baptist, John was named 20 times in the other three Gospels. They had no problem including John. However; they never refer to the one whom “Jesus loved” or the “other Disciple”.  They do not even mention him as such even when we know he was present. Examples are in the parallel passages of John 18:15-16 being Matthew 26:58, Mark 14:54, and Luke 22:54-55.
         We find in Matthew 27:56 the bible tells us, “the mother of Zebedee’s children” was present when Jesus died (but never mentions her son John). Yet “the Disciple whom Jesus loved” was at the cross.  Insomuch those who say and believe he was John are unavoidably driven to believe that this author felt the presence of John’s mother was worthy of mention but her son should be left out of the same account. Does that make sense? Look in  Matthew 20:20. “The mother of Zebedee’s children” was also mentioned. But there the author included “her sons” (John and James) in conversation with Jesus (Mt. 20:20-24). Since John was included in accompaniment his mother when this author named her earlier, would he have mentioned her while disregarding John (in his account of Jesus’ death) if John was present?

       The preceding texts are just a few circumstances that prove beyond a shadow of doubt that Apostle John could not be “the Disciple whom Jesus loved” nor could he be the author of the fourth Gospel thereby  erasing years of erroneous teachings. The only man who associated with Jesus who was singled out as being “loved” by Jesus was Lazarus. We are told explicitly that “Jesus loved” Lazarus. His sisters also referred to this relationship, and when “Jesus wept” prior to raising Lazarus, the Jews that were there “weeping” with his sisters attributed it to Jesus’ love for him (John:11:19, 33 & 36.)

        The bible gives prevalence evidence that Lazarus was the “the other Disciple” and John was not the author of the fourth Gospel. Let me give two partitions of evidence. 1). Lazarus and the one “whom Jesus loved” had the identical relationship with Jesus. They were the only men singled out in the scripture as being loved by Jesus during His ministry. 2). Lazarus and the Disciple whom Jesus loved were treated alike by the other three  Gospels. They do not tell us that Lazarus was a friend of Jesus, or that Lazarus had supper with Jesus, or even that Lazarus was raised from the dead! Likewise, they never mention “the other disciple, whom Jesus loved”, and they totally ignore his unique role in the key events of the closing days of Jesus’ life.
     This article stops way, way short of all the evidence presented in the scripture nullifying the John authorship of the fourth Gospel and John being “the Disciple whom Jesus loved”. Its a matter of taking the Bible at its meaning.

      If we look to somebody else to read the Bible and search the scriptures for us, then we will adopt their mistakes and any errors they pass along to us.  (Mk. 7:13, Col. 2:8, et al.). This article should get Christians to thinking and studying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Was John the Disciple Jesus Loved? No.

Digital Copy - End of Article

THE REDEEMER®- VOLUME 84 ****EDITION 41- OMPS® INC. 2014
 All articles in this magazine are written in whole or part by Dr. Otis T. Williams Sr. Th.D.....© 2014 These articles are the literary properties of Otis Media Publications Syndication Inc. ©