Many contemporary biblical scholars believe that the writer of the letters was not the. John also wrote first, second, third john, and revelation. Most unique to the book of jude is its link with 2 peter. This summary of the book of 2 john provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 2 john. Modern scholarship has complicated the issue even further with most new testament scholars rejecting the identity of the beloved disciple as the apostle john and conjecturing as many as five different author or redactors for the gospel and letters. It makes a significant difference if the author particularly of 1 john was in fact an. The last two letters were personal notes written to specific individuals with whom john was acquainted. Those who wrote the bible lived at different times, some. That group of witnesses includes polycarp, an early secondcentury bishop who as a young man knew john personally. However this forms part of a series of books clearly written by the same author. John, who wrote the gospel of john, wrote it exquisitely, for he was steeped in jewish tradition and heritage. Near the end of his life, it is said that he constantly repeated the phrase, little children, love one another. He tells them that christ the eternal son of god, the eternal life himself, has come and that those who believe on him receive eternal life and the sonship of god.
These three books are often referred to as letters, though only 1 and 2 john. But john was a common name at the time, and early in christian history some came to doubt if the elder was the same man as the author of 1 john and johns gospel. The holy bible book 63 2 john kjv dramatized audio. Paul wrote the books from romans to philemon with the author of the book of hebrews being uncertain although it has traditionally been attributed to the apostle paul. John also wrote the fourth gospel and the book of revelation theme of 1 john. He may have been a first cousin of jesus his mother may have been salome. A number of reasons were involved in writing 1 john. However, its similarity with the gospel composed by john means it was. John the baptist wasnt the author of the gospel of john. He was a leader in the early church, and he probably wrote his documents after most of the other new testament books were already written. The book went through two to three stages, or editions, before reaching its current form, at the latest, around ad 80100. Of course, when you try to tackle more than one bible book at a time, you have to look at the authorship, purpose, and situation for each of them separately. At the same time he refers to the tests by which one can recognize whether someone has true life of. The second epistle of john, often referred to as second john and often written 2 john or ii john, is a book.
Clearly the most widespread alternative to authorship of 1 john by john the apostle is authorship by a second person whose name is john, usually designated john the elder or presbyter, from the greek word. The recording is dramatized, from the king james bible. Moses was the first person to write portions of scripture while john, the disciple of jesus, was the last. Johns next two letters, however, are written to specific audiences. This commentary holds that the disciple of jesus is author of the gospel account, of the book of revelation and of these epistles. There is no scholarly consensus as to the authorship of the johannine works. He had greeks in mind, as the gospel is evangelical in nature. Is the book of john, john 1,2,3 and revelation all. John is the author of the gospel of john, and of 1st, 2nd and 3rd john, as well as the revelation. He is believed to have outlived the other apostles. History of john the disciple of jesus jesus christ. We do not really know the identity of the anonymous author of the book of kings subsequently split into two books known as 1 kings and 2 kings. Second john is the fourth of the general epistles or catholic letters, the writings of apostles to the church at large.
The content, style, and vocabulary seem to warrant the conclusion that these three epistles were addressed to the same readers as the gospel of john. He wrote the gospel of john, 1st,2nd and 3rd john and revelation. By sister renee pittelli these books of the bible are believed to have been written by the apostle john, who also wrote the gospel of john and revelation. What we mean when we say that new testament books like 2 peter are inspired by god is that god guided the minds of the apostles and their agents so that what they wrote as teachers in the church was true. The gospels, the first four books of the new testament, tell the story of the life of jesus. It makes a significant difference if the author particularly of 1 john was in fact an eyewitness to the earthly ministry of jesus christ as he appears to claim in 1 john 1. The new testament books of john, 1 john, 2 john, 3 john and revelation are sometimes called the johannine literature and are traditionally assigned to john the son of zebedee, one of the twelve disciples of jesus. Daniel, peter, paul, jonah, isaiah, solomon and david. The first epistle of john, often referred to as first john and written 1 john or i john, is the first. This short work was written before john was exiled to the island of patmos, and before he wrote the book of revelation.
The gospel is written in quite good greek, by someone with knowledge of greek philosophy which does not sound like a jewish fisherman from galilee. Obvious similarities to 1 john and the gospel of john suggest that the same person wrote all three books. There is little doubt that the john who wrote these epistles letters is the one who wrote the gospel bearing his name. Did the same person write the gospel of john and the book. This is, in my opinion, the best and most beautiful recording of the. Book of first john overview insight for living ministries. For this study, ive decided to look at all the epistles or letters of john first, second, and third john. In ii john, the apostle, wrote to warn believers about false teachers. This establishes that, from the time the epistle was first written, there were those who had docetic christologies, believing that the. Did the same person write the gospel of john and the book of revelation.
In fact, an apostle using the term elder for himself was not at all unprecedentedpeter did that very thing in his first epistle 1 peter 5. Who wrote the gospel of john and was it the same person. How could john the baptist have written the gospel of john. Traditionally, the authorship of 1, 2, and 3 john has been ascribed to the apostle, john son of zebedee, who also was understood to be the author of the gospel of john and revelation. Much of the content of jude matches that of 2 peter, including a quotation from the pseudipigraphical book 1 enoch vs. Near the end of the 1st century, john was exiled to the island of patmos. This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true john 21. In one of his letters he wrote, we proclaim to you what we have seen and heard 1 john 1. For i imagined that what was to be got from books was not so. All books of the new testament refer to events that happened in the first century, such as the life of jesus. He did that because he believed it was the lords most important commandment. It would perhaps be best to first establish the case that the same author is responsible for all the books associated with john. He wrote from ephesus in presentday western turkey, perhaps to churches like those mentioned in rev. The three books share the same writing style, however, and so are likely from the same hand.
John the son of zebedee probably wrote his three nt letters no later than the 90s a. It is possible that john used an amanuensis to write the gospel and the first letter and wrote 2 and 3 john with his own hands. At the center of the doctrinal controversy are people who do. These three books are often referred to as letters, though only 1 and 2 john truly fit that description. It is important to begin with a discussion of authorship, in light of the christological controversy which permeates the three johannine letters. He was a messenger who came before jesus preparing the people for the coming of jesus. Comfortable christianity often means a weak christianity. There have been various conjectures over the years that another disciple of christ named john may have been responsible for this letter. I looked up book of john and halfway down the first chapter i saw philip. Book of second john overview insight for living ministries.
However, all the evidence points to the author as john the beloved disciple who also wrote the gospel of john. John 1 john 2 john 3 john revelation only paul authored more new testament books than john. Intro to 1 john biblica the international bible society. The author of this epistle never identified himself by name, but christians since the beginning of the church have considered this letter authoritative, believing it was written by john the apostle. This is similar to the parallel structure of hebrew poetry, in which the second verse of a. The second epistle of john, often referred to as second john and often written 2 john or ii john, is a book of the new testament attributed to john the evangelist, traditionally thought to be the author of the gospel of john and the other two epistles of john. John wrote the book of john and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd book of john and the book of revelation. The book of 2 john would most likely have been written at about the same time as johns other letters, 1 and 3 john, between a. However, the earliest church tradition from the second century on testified in unison that this letter and its companion, 3 john, were written by the apostle, not by a mysterious and unknown elder. In 2 and 3 john, the author mentions that he is the elder. I tend to think they were written by the same person as the style the books were written in seem similar to me but that is just from reading the translations.
In addition to this one, john wrote two other new testament letters, a gospel, and possibly the prophetic book of revelation. Second and third john, however, are written to specific audiences. The paperback version is available from amazon and other online booksellers first, second, and third john, sometimes called the epistles or letters of john, are like trail mix concentrated, chewy, and nutritious. Peter, john, and jude all wrote the books with their names on them including the gospel of john and the book of revelation also written by john. During his life and ministry, john discipled many others including several of the early church fathers, who would themselves become elders, leaders and martyrs in the late 1st and 2nd century church. In light of the strong ancient evidence, one can claim with confidence that john wrote the letters attributed to him in ephesus.
John was part of three men who made up the inner circle of companions of jesus mark 5. Nonetheless, john is clearly the author of all four documents. Letters of john new testament britannica encyclopedia britannica. I john was written to combat false teaching concerning the person and work of jesus christ. Letters of john, three new testament writings, all composed sometime around. Studies from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd john bible study guide. There are various theories about who wrote the various books attributed to john. The author of the first letter is not identified, but the writer of the second and.
While paul wrote to specific congregations and individuals, peter, james, john, and jude wrote to broader audiences scattered across the roman empire. According to scholars, the gospel of john was written by the beloved disciple john. The letters of john, particularly the first letter, bear a remarkable similarity to the gospel of john. He was one of jesus 12 disciples, and therefore was an eyewitness to the events he recorded. This is the holy book of 2 john, known as the second epistle of john. In the third letter, john wrote to commend, encourage, and instruct his good friend gaius. The firs t epistle o f j ohn, often referred to as f irst jo hn and w ritt en 1 j ohn or i joh n, is the first of the johannine epistles of the new testament, and the fourth of the catholic epistles. John contrasts these attacks of the christian faith with the facts of salvation. Some believe that john was written by john the apostle and 1st, 2nd, 3rd john and revelation was written by a different john.