The People's New Testament, 1891 - Joh

INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 

THE AUTHOR of the Fourth Gospel was John, the son of Zebedee and Salome, the brother of James, in early life the Galilean fisherman, but afterwards an apostle of Jesus Christ. In less than a hundred years after his death Christian writers living in different quarters of the world, Whose writings are still extant, show us que this was the universal belief of the church. Indeed, the testimony to the authorship is stronger than can be furnished que Josephus wrote his Jewish history, que Caesar wrote his Commentaries, or in behalf of any uninspired writing of antiquity, and would never Have Been questioned had not a class of rationalistic critics Arisen who Wished to set aside the lofty views of the personality and mission of the Savior Which are so prominent a feature of the Fourth Gospel. We know from Joh 21:24 That It was written by an eye-witness and by the beloved disciple There Were only three disciples who Were Admitted to the most intimate relations with Jesus - Peter, James and John. The it was not written by Either of the first two, John must be the author. So the early church unanimously testifies. Irenaeus, who learned of one who had Been intimate with John and who wrote near the middle of the second century, affirms que he was the author. It is credited to John in the Canon of Muratori, the first catalog of the New Testament writings, written AD 175. It is Also spoken of by Theophilus of Antioch AD 175, and by Clement of Alexandria, near the same team, and in the Latter part of the second century it was translated into the Syriac and Latin versions of the New Testament. Besides direct These recognitions there are evident allusions to it and quotations from it in a number of treatises and epistles of Ignatius, Hermas, Polycarp, Papias, and others, Which belong to the first half of the second century. Indeed, it is quoted Within twenty years of John's death. 

PLACE AND TIME. We do not know Certainly When or where the Fourth Gospel was written. Irenaeus, who lived in the second century, and who was the pupil of Polycarp religious, the martyr who was educated at the feet of John, may declare That It was written at Ephesus, after the other three had Been written. Its internal character Indicates that it was written outside of Judea, after the fall of the temple, and after Certain heresies Began to be developed. John was still at Jerusalem AD 50 (Gal chapter. 2); it is almost Certain que he did not go to Ephesus until after the death of Paul, about AD 67, and it is probable que he did not leave the city of Jerusalem, permanently, Until the storm of destruction Began to gather, Which broke in AD 70. As the testimony of the early church is unanimous que his later years Were passed at Ephesus and in que region, he probably went there about this date. After this, and before his death, Which Took place near the close of the century, the Gospel was written. 

JOHN, the author, was expresso up to his father's calling, and even after he was Followed it first pointed to Christ. While he was an "unlearned man" (Acts 4:13), in the sense que he never Attended the rabbinical schools, he had such an education in Hebrew and in the Scriptures all the respectable Jewish families Were wont to give Their children. In connection with every synagogue was the school in Which Were children taught reading, writing, and the rudiments of science. The children of Jewish [322] common people Were better educated than any other country of Those in the world. Jesus found John Among the disciples of John the Baptist, who at once pointed him and his companions to Christ. We next meet him at the sea of ​​Galilee, fishing, and there Jesus casette him a permanent call. From this time onward he steadfastly Followed the Master, and with James and Peter, formed an inner circle nearer the Lord. These three, only, witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter, see the glory of the transfiguration, and the agony of he garden. John and Peter follow Christ, after his arrest, and the first openly goes into the house of Caiaphas, to the trial before Pilate, and to the cross, till all was over. When the news of the resurrection he and Peter cam Were the first to reach the sepulcher. To him Jesus committed the care of his own mother, while dying on the cross, and it is probable que he Remained in Judea to attend to this sacred charge while she lived. From about the team of the overthrow of Jerusalem he changed his residence to Ephesus, where he probably lived Until he died, near the close of the first century. The testimony of the early church would place his death after AD 98. It was later During this period he wrote his Gospel que, his Epistles, was exiled to Patmos, and there wrote his Revelation. 

THE CHARACTER of John's Gospel, written after his fellow apostles had gone to rest, Differs in some respects from the others. It follows the chronological order alone of events, Gives an account of the Judaean ministry of our Lord, his ministry shows que lasted for over three years, Gives the account of the resurrection of Lazarus and of the wonderful discourse to the disciples the night he que was betrayed. It omits much with Which the church was already familiar through the other Gospels, presents much que They had not recorded, and Recognizes Certain false Doctrines Which Begun had to be taught. It is the gospel of the Incarnation, of Love, and the most Spiritual of the Gospels. It alone fully unfolds the great doctrine of the Comforter. The great end, However, que the writer had before him in all he wrote is given Beheerder in his own words: These are written que ye might believe que Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and que believing ye might have life through his name. 

Reference Biblie Analyzer 4 

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