About the Author and His Book
John, the son of Zebedee was one of Jesus' first disciples; called from his fishing business with Peter in Galilee (Luke 5:10), he remained in Jesus' inner circle with his brother James and throughout Jesus' ministry. John's writing is unique among the New Testament authors in that he wrote a biography of Jesus (The Gospel of John), three epistles (1 John, 2 John and 3 John) and the book of Revelation. Irving Jensen notes the following relationship between all the writings of the New Testament:
1. Luke wrote a gospel, supportive of the other three; and Luke wrote Acts.
2. Paul's credentials are established in Acts.
3. Paul wrote the Pauline epistles, supportive of the general epistles.
4. John wrote three epistles, supportive of the other general epistles.
5. John wrote Revelation.
John's gospel, like that of Matthew, Mark and Luke, is interested in telling the good news of Jesus; however, John's approach is different. John's presentation of Jesus is of Jesus as the Messiah (Hebrew for "anointed one;" the Greek word is Christos, or Christ) and as the Son of God. Much of the gospel relates to Jesus' Jerusalem ministry in what is referred to as the "Book of Signs" wherein Jesus performs signs and wonders to demonstrate His deity and discourses to explain the signs. This is followed by His instructions to the disciples in preparation for life without Him. An examination of the chart below comparing the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke; the word synoptic meaning "to see together") to John shows the clear distinction between John and the other gospel writers. John was writing for the mature church in that he wrote more on the deity of Christ, the meaning of His ministry and recorded the long discourses of Christ given primarily to His disciples. He also records how, some 50 or more years after these events occurred, he could so clearly state the explicit truth:
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)In John 20:31 John states that his purpose in writing is "so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that by believing you may have life in His name." It has been said of John that one may find the gospel on every page of the book.
