The Gospel of John

An Introduction

Commentary on the Gospel of John by Dr. Augustus Tholuck Translated from German by Charles P. Krauth, D.D

Who was John?

Father: Zebedee, Galilean fisherman Mother: Salome Brother James Birthplace (most likely): Bethsaida
Peter, Andrew and Philip from there as well

Bethsaida, Galilee

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will send you out to fish for people. 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (Matt 4)

Background details
John's father, Zebedee had hired servants.
they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. (Mark 1)

Salome helped out with Jesus:

Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedees sons. (Matt 27)

John's family had connections:

"this disciple was known to the high priest" (John 18)

Not educated as a Rabbi:

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished (Acts 4)

Salome, John's Mother

20 Then the mother of Zebedees sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 What is it you want? he asked. She said, Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom. (Matt 20)

Jesus' Special Concern for John

One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. (John 23)
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, Woman, here is your son, (John 19) After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. (Matt 17)

Paul's dealing with John

9 James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.

(Gal 2) John seems to have stayed in Jerusalem perhaps taking care of Jesus' mother. Not in Ephesus yet.

Life outside the Bible

Less energy than the other apostles, Peter and Paul. Tradition records him support the church more than spreading it. John said to be taken to Rome by Domitian (died 96 AD) and thrown in boiling oil, but that he survived. Banished to the island of Patmos where he wrote his Apocalyptic vision.

End of Life
Said to be a martyr. Said to have died when he was 100-120 years old.

John's Character

Sadness at the unbelief of the world

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. (John 1) For even his own brothers did not believe in him. (John 7)

The Anger of John

... the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them? But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village. (Luke 9)

Selfishness
Teacher, said John, we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us. (Mark 9) Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. Teacher, they said, we want you to do for us whatever we ask. What do you want me to do for you? he asked. They replied, Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory. (Mark 10)

Biblical Examples From John's Letters

"If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie" "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." - mentions love a lot! (HS present with him)

Extra-Biblical Stories
Clement of Alexandria (d. 215) Includes a story about John in "Who Is the Rich Man? Who Is Saved?" St. Jerome (347-420) In his old age constantly repeated: "Little children, love one another!"

Other details about the gospel of John

Where/When
All church fathers say it was written in Ephesus. The skill of the language is much better than the Apocalypse, so probably written after ~A. D. 100 (95 for the Apocalypse)

Compared to other Writings

Greek not as good as Paul's or Hebrews which is the best. Presupposes the existence of the other gospels. Written last.

Praise
"childlike simplicity, with such contemplative profundity." For the other three Evangelists walked, so to speak, on earth with our Lord as man, of his divinity they said but few things, but John, as if it oppressed him to walk on earth ... has lifted himself not only above the earth and every sphere of sky and heaven... (Augustine)

Genuiness and Authenticity

No challenge made by the early church Widely cited by John's contemporaries

Commentaries
Origen (d. 253) - 39 tomes originally. Eusebuis only had 22. Few survive, but it's interesting stuff. Important fragments exist from ~400AD St. John Chrysostom (d. 407) - Homilies on the text Augustine (d. 430) - Homilies with a diffuse explanation of the text.