Did John Write the Fourth Gospel?

Since today is the feast of St. John the Apostle, I thought I'd look at a question many will be talking about: Is the Fourth Gospel written by John?

I've written on this before, but I thought I'd revisit this again in two posts today. Indeed, I've been revisiting this material lately. I am currently preparing for a graduate level course on the Gospel of John at JP Catholic, which I will be co-teaching with Dr. Scott Hahn at JP Catholic.

Patristic Sources

Once again, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by the weight of the earliest testimony regarding the question of authorship.

Clearly the unanimous testimony of the early Church was that John the Apostle wrote the book. Two of the clearest references are found in Irenaeus and the Muratorian fragment.

“Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia.”--Irenaeus, Adv. Haer. 3. 3. 4 (~180 A.D.)

"The fourth of the Gospels, that of John, (one) of the disciples. When his fellow-disciples and bishops urged him, he said: Fast with me from today for three days, and what will be revealed to each one let us relate to one another. In the same night it was revealed to Andrew, one of the apostles, that, whilst all were to go over (it), John in his own nameshould write everything down."--Muratorian Canon (late 2nd cent. [?])

Other writers who support this view include Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen.

In addition, we should note that there is absolutely no manuscript of the Gospel which attributes authorship to anyone else. I think this is far too often overlooked.

But does the testimony of the early Church fit the internal evidence? I think so.

Eye-witness status of the author. 

The Gospel seems to have been written by someone who claimed to be an eye-witness to the public ministry of Jesus. In some cases this is explicitly stated:

• "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us… we have beheld his glory…" (John 1:14).
• "He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth—that you also may believe." (John 19:35)

Other passage seem to be most intelligibly read as eye-witness testimony. Take, for example, John 13:

One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was lying close to the breast of Jesus; 24 so Simon Peter beckoned to him and said, “Tell us who it is of whom he speaks.” 25 So lying thus, close to the breast of Jesus, he said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give this morsel when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast”; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out; and it was night. (John 13:23-30)

In my view, the recounting of the "beckoning" gesture of Peter is highly suggestive of eye-witnesse testimony. Moreover, it is hard to imagine that the description of the apostles' assumptions regarding Judas' activity at the Last Supper was meant to be read in a way that did not involve recognition of the author's presence in the Upper Room.

Added details

There are stories in the Fourth Gospel which appear in the Synoptics—but there is also the appearance of added details, which simply cannot be explained away as theological symbolism.

• Jesus multiplied five barley loaves (John 6:9)
• In the account of Jesus walking on the water John includes a mention of the distance rowed by the disciples across the Sea of Galilee ("twenty five or thirty stadia," John 6:19)
• In the account of the anointing at Bethany, the odor of the woman’s anointing filled the house (John 12:3). 
• The reaction of the soldiers in the garden to his statement, “I AM” (John 18:6)
• The weight of spices brought to Jesus' tomb as about a hundred pounds (John 19:39). 
• There were also the six stone jars at the wedding in Cana (John 2:9).
• In John 21, there is the number of fish caught (153) and the distance the boat was from the land (about a hundred yards), on the occasion of the post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to his disciples (21:8, 11). 
• In addition, we find some inside information about the reactions of the disciples (e.g. 2:11 f.; 4:27; 6:19; 12:16; 13:22 f.) and of the Lord himself (cf. 2:11, 24; 6:15, 61; 13:1). 

Again, I think all of this is highly suggestive of eye-witness testimony.

Familiarity with Jewish Beliefs and Palestinian Geography

The author has a remarkable knowledge of Jewish religious beliefs and attention to cultic concerns:

• Attention to details regarding elements relating to purification rites (John 2:6). 
• The likely allusion to the libation and illumination ritual at the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:37; John 8:12).
• Pollution concerns prior to eating the Passover (John 18:28; John 19:31–42).
• The laws concerning the sabbath (John 5:10; John 7:2 1–23; John 9:14 ff.)
• Ideas of relating to hereditary sin (John 9:2).

There is also his knowledge of Palestinian geography:

• Knowledge of two Bethanys (John 1:28; John 12:1)
• Awareness of Aenon near Salim (John 3:23)
• Attention to  Cana in Galilee (John 2:1; John 4:46; John 21:2)
• "Tiberias" as an alternative name for the Sea of Galilee (John 6:1; John 21:1)
• Sychar near Shechem (John 4:5)
• Mt. Gerizim's location near a well (John 4:21)
• Ephraim near the wilderness (John 11:54)
• The mention of the pool of Siloam (John 9:7). 

It seems clear that the Gospel is written by a Palestinian with Israelite stock.

The "Beloved Disciple" and the Inner Circle.

An an important passage in determining authorship comes at the end of the Gospel:

Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”… 24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. (John 21:20-24)

Of course, different scholars have put forth different theories. One line of thought has pointed to the rich young ruler in Mark's Gospel, of whom it is said that Jesus “loved him” (Mark 10:21). Another has suggested that the author is Lazarus (=John 11:3: “he whom you love”).

Yet, it is clear that the author is most likely one of the seven mentioned in chapter 21.

"After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberi-as; and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathana-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together." (John 21:1-2)

From this list, it would make most sense to suppose that the "beloved disciple"--the author of the Gospel--is one of the sons of Zebedee or one of the two other disciples.

The Beloved Disciple's Association with Peter

It is interesting to note that, with one exception (John 19:26-27), this disciple is always associated with Peter (in addition to below, see John 13:23-30 above).

An example of this is found in John 20:1-10.

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. 4 They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; 5 and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, 7 and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes. (John 20:1-10)

In the Synoptic Gospels it seems clear that Peter along with James and John make up a kind of "inner circle". In addition to the Transfiguration, where Jesus takes these three up the mountain (cf. Matt 17:1//Mark 9:2//Luke 9:28), we could mention other passages.

• While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James… (Mark 5:35-43)
• And they went to a place which was called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. (Mark 13:32-33)

Indeed, from the Synoptic tradition is appears that Jesus gave Peter, James and John special attention. It would be natural to expect that the Fourth Gospel's "Beloved Disciple," who has a special relationship with Jesus, is likely one of these three.

Now, it has been noted that the "Beloved Disciple" is virtually always associated with Peter. In connection with this should also be noticed that Luke seems to frequently associate Peter and John.

• When came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the passover for us, that we may eat it.” (Luke 22:7-13)
• Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. (Acts 3:1)
• Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:13, 19).
• Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John… (Acts 8:14).

If the "Beloved Disciple" is one of the three in the inner circle, I think it makes most sense to see him as John the Apostle, which beautifully dovetails with the overwhelming testimony of the Church fathers. Having carefully considering the internal evidence in the past few days, I can't find a good reason for denying their testimony.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I want to say that, at first blush, it would seem that the "academically responsible" approach would be to remain noncommittal about Johannine authorship. However, I'm coming to the conclusion that the opposite is true. Hedging on Johannine authorship seems to betray an unwillingness to acknowledge the coherence of the early testimony with the internal evidence.

One wonders if such reluctance is motivated by other concerns. Clearly, asserting that someone like the rich young ruler is the author of the Fourth Gospel seems to stretch the limits of credulity. Rather, it would seem the unanimous patristic witness was reliable when it held that the Gospel the manuscripts all call "The Gospel According to John" was written by, well... er, John.

Now, admittedly, a major issue here is the question of the authenticity of chapter 21, that is, the question of whether or not this was originally part of the Gospel or whether it constitutes a later addition.

That's for a follow-up post (coming later today).