John the Apostle
One of Jesus’ closest disciples, a leader of the early church, and by tradition the author of five New Testament books.
What the sources say, and how sure we are
- The text says
John and his brother James, sons of Zebedee, are fishermen called by Jesus. With Peter, they are with Jesus at the transfiguration. John appears with Peter in Acts, and Paul calls him one of the “pillars” of the Jerusalem church.Mark 1:19–20; Mark 9:2; Acts 3:1; Gal 2:9
- Outside evidence
Irenaeus writes that he heard Polycarp tell of John, and that John lived at Ephesus until the time of Trajan. Papias, however, mentions a “John the elder,” which some scholars take as a second person.Irenaeus in Eusebius, Church History 5.20; Papias in Eusebius, Church History 3.39
- Debated
Whether John the apostle wrote the Gospel, the three letters, and Revelation attributed to him is debated. See those books for the arguments.