Apostle, gospel writer, author of Revelation
c. AD 6 – c. AD 100 · New Testament
The youngest apostle and the only one not martyred — 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' (John 13:23), who leaned on Christ at the Last Supper, stood at the cross, and saw the Revelation on Patmos.
John was the younger brother of James (the apostle), son of Zebedee and Salome. They were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. With Peter and Andrew, they were among the first called by Jesus to be 'fishers of men' (Matthew 4:18-22). Jesus nicknamed John and James 'Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder' (Mark 3:17) — a hint at their fiery temperaments. John was part of the inner three — Peter, James, John — who witnessed the raising of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37), the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1), and Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37). John identifies himself in his Gospel as 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20). At the Last Supper, he leaned on Jesus' breast (John 13:23). At the cross, he was the only apostle present; Jesus entrusted his mother Mary to him (John 19:26-27). He ran with Peter to the empty tomb on Easter morning (John 20:1-10). After the resurrection, John was with Peter at the Temple healing the lame man (Acts 3) and being summoned before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4). With Peter he was sent to Samaria where they laid hands on new believers and the Holy Spirit came (Acts 8:14-17). Paul lists him among the 'pillars' of the Jerusalem church (Galatians 2:9). In his later years, John ministered in Ephesus and was exiled to the island of Patmos under Domitian (c. AD 95), where he received the revelation that became the book of Revelation. Tradition holds he returned to Ephesus and died there a natural death around AD 100 — the only apostle not martyred. He wrote five New Testament books: the Gospel of John, 1-2-3 John, and Revelation.
With brother James
One of the inner three
"The disciple whom Jesus loved"
Entrusted with Mary
Saw and believed
At the temple gate Beautiful
"For the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ"
The last book of the Bible
John's significance: (1) The 'disciple whom Jesus loved' — his Gospel emphasizes Jesus' deity and love. (2) Author of five NT books, more than anyone except Paul. (3) Sole apostle present at the cross. (4) Caretaker of Mary after Calvary. (5) The seer of Revelation — the only apostle granted to see the end of all things. (6) Tradition's testimony: he survived to old age teaching 'Little children, love one another' (1 John passim), the apostle of love.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”— John 1:1
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son...”— John 3:16
“God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”— 1 John 4:16
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord.”— Revelation 1:8
John was the son of Zebedee, brother of James, one of the twelve apostles, and one of the inner three with Peter and James. He is the 'disciple whom Jesus loved' (John 13:23). He wrote the Gospel of John, 1-2-3 John, and Revelation. He was the only apostle at the cross (John 19:26-27), and the only one not martyred — exiled to Patmos under Domitian (c. AD 95), then returning to Ephesus to die in old age c. AD 100.
John uses this phrase to refer to himself in his Gospel (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20). It is not saying Jesus loved John more than others, but expressing John's own awe at being loved by Christ. Many Christians take it as the appropriate self-identification of any believer — 'I am one whom Jesus loves.' John's letters keep returning to this theme: 'we love him, because he first loved us' (1 John 4:19).
Tradition is consistent: John was the only apostle not martyred. After his exile on Patmos (c. AD 95) ended, he returned to Ephesus where he died a natural death in old age, around AD 100. Early sources (Polycrates of Ephesus, Eusebius) describe him being so old he had to be carried into church, where he would simply repeat: 'Little children, love one another.' Asked why, he replied, 'It is the Lord's commandment.'
John wrote five New Testament books: (1) the Gospel of John — the fourth Gospel, emphasizing Jesus' divinity and signs; (2) 1 John — the great epistle on love, light, and assurance; (3) 2 John — a brief letter to 'the elect lady'; (4) 3 John — a brief letter to Gaius; (5) Revelation — the apocalyptic vision received on Patmos. Together these comprise the 'Johannine' writings, second only to Paul in volume.