John the Apostle
John the Apostle[12] (Ancient Greek: Ἰωάννης; Latin: Ioannes[13] c. 6 AD – c. 100 AD; Ge'ez: ዮሐንስ;), also known as Saint John the Beloved and, in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Saint John the Theologian,[14] was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Generally listed as the youngest apostle, he was the son of Zebedee and Salome. His brother James was another of the Twelve Apostles. The Church Fathers identify him as John the Evangelist, John of Patmos, John the Elder, and the Beloved Disciple, and testify that he outlived the remaining apostles and was the only one to die of natural causes, although modern scholars are divided on the veracity of these claims.
Not to be confused with John the Baptist.
John the Apostle
c. 6 AD[1]
Bethsaida, Galilee, Roman Empire
c. 100 AD (aged 93)
place unknown,[2][3] probably Ephesus, Roman Empire[4]
All Christian denominations which venerate saints
Islam (named as one of the disciples of Jesus)[5]
Druze faith[6]
27 December (Roman Catholic, Anglican)
26 September (Eastern Orthodox)
Eagle, gospel, serpent in a chalice, cauldron
John the Apostle is traditionally held to be the author of the Gospel of John, and many Christian denominations believe that he authored several other books of the New Testament (the three Johannine epistles and the Book of Revelation, together with the Gospel of John, are called the Johannine works), depending on whether he is distinguished from, or identified with, John the Evangelist, John the Elder, and John of Patmos.
Although the authorship of the Johannine works has traditionally been attributed to John the Apostle,[15] only a minority of contemporary scholars believe he wrote the gospel,[16] and claim that he wrote none of them.[15][17][18] Regardless of whether or not John the Apostle wrote any of the Johannine works, most scholars agree that all three epistles were written by the same author and that the epistles did not have the same author as the Book of Revelation, although there is widespread disagreement among scholars as to whether the author of the epistles was different from that of the gospel.[19][20][21]
Liturgical commemoration[edit]
The feast day of Saint John in the Roman Catholic Church, which calls him "Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist", and in the Anglican Communion and Lutheran Calendars, which call him "Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist", is on 27 December.[101] In the Tridentine calendar he was commemorated also on each of the following days up to and including 3 January, the Octave of the 27 December feast. This Octave was abolished by Pope Pius XII in 1955.[102] The liturgical color is White. John, Apostle and Evangelist is remembered in the Church of England with a Festival on 27 December.[103] In Roman Catholic tradition he considered patron of Turkey, Asia Minor and Turkish people.[9]
Until 1960, another feast day which appeared in the General Roman Calendar is that of "Saint John Before the Latin Gate" on 6 May, celebrating a tradition recounted by Jerome that St John was brought to Rome during the reign of the Emperor Domitian, and was thrown in a vat of boiling oil, from which he was miraculously preserved unharmed. A church (San Giovanni a Porta Latina) dedicated to him was built near the Latin gate of Rome, the traditional site of this event.[104]
The Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite commemorate the "Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian" on 26 September.[105] On 8 May they celebrate the "Feast of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian", on which date Christians used to draw forth from his grave fine ashes which were believed to be effective for healing the sick.[106] John is also commemorated on 30 June as a member of the twelve apostles.[107] There is also a commemoration of the synaxis of the Apostle John at Diaconissa on 15 February.[108]
Other views[edit]
Islamic view[edit]
The Quran also speaks of Jesus's disciples but does not mention their names, instead referring to them as "supporters for [the cause of] Allah".[109] The Sunnah did not mention their names either. However, some Muslim scholars mentioned their names,[110] likely relying on the resources of Christians, who are considered "People of the Book" in Islamic tradition. Muslim exegesis more or less agrees with the New Testament list and says that the disciples included Peter, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, Andrew, James, Jude, John and Simon the Zealot.[111] Notably, narrations of People of the Book (Christians and Jews) are not to be believed or disbelieved by Muslims as long as there is nothing that supports or denies them in Quran or Sunnah.[112]
Druze view[edit]
Druze tradition honors several "mentors" and "prophets", and John the Apostle is honored as a prophet.[6] In the Druze tradition and doctrine, Matthew the Apostle is respected for his contributions to spiritual knowledge and guidance.[6] Druze doctrine teaches that Christianity is to be "esteemed and praised", as the Gospel writers are regarded as "carriers of wisdom".[113]
Martyrdom of Saint John the Evangelist by Master of the Winkler Epitaph
