Delving into the mystery of who really wrote the Gospel of John, questioning if it was truly John the Son of Zebedee. Exploring the identity of 'The Disciple Jesus loved' and debating if he is a real person or a literary symbol. Considering if the historical John could have authored such a complex book and pondering on the possible use of a secretary. Unraveling the debated authorship of the Gospel of John and hinting at future discussions on the problem of evil in the New Testament.
The authorship of the Gospel of John is uncertain, with scholars questioning if John the son of Zebedee actually wrote it.
The identity of the Beloved Disciple in the Gospel of John is debated, with possibilities including Mary Magdalene or a symbolic literary figure.
Deep dives
Authorship of the Gospel of John
The authorship of the Gospel of John is debated, with scholars questioning whether John the son of Zebedee actually wrote it. The author of the Gospel is believed to have written in Greek, outside of Israel, and likely years after the events took place, making it unlikely that John himself was the author.
Identity of the Beloved Disciple
The figure of the Beloved Disciple in the Gospel of John is a point of contention. While tradition attributes this figure to John the son of Zebedee, the Gospel itself does not explicitly name the Beloved Disciple. Scholars debate different possibilities, including Mary Magdalene or a symbolic literary figure representing an ideal disciple.
Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven
In Matthew 16, Jesus grants Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, symbolizing Peter's authority in conveying salvation to others. This act underscores the belief that the apostles, including Peter, carried on Jesus' work of spreading the message of salvation and opening the gates to heaven for believers.
Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53
The connection between Jesus and the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 is complex. While post-Easter interpretations link Jesus to the suffering servant, there is no direct evidence that Jesus self-identified with this figure during his ministry. Early Jews viewed the suffering servant as a symbol for the nation of Israel, and the messianic association likely emerged after Jesus' crucifixion.
Almost everyone assumes that Jesus' disciple, John the Son of Zebedee, wrote the Gospel of John. But is there any compelling reason to think so? In this episode we look into many of the issues that most people have never thought about. Most, for example, do not realize that the author of this book never mentions John, let alone calls himself John. There is a person called "The Disciple Jesus loved" (mentioned in none of the other Gospels). But who is he? Why would anyone think he is John? Is it possible he's not a real person at all? Is, as often claimed, the author claiming that it is he himself? (Bart will explain: No.) Apart from that, is it even possible that the historical John -- an Aramaic-speaking peasant called "illiterate" in the NT itself (Acts 4;13) -- could have written such a magnificent book? Could he possibly have used a secretary. If not ... who did write the book? Tune in and see!
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