Subject: Study of 1 John |
Bible Note: A Profile of the John, the Apostle ***************************************** John was a son of Zebedee, a master-fisherman in good position, plying his craft in one of the towns on the Lake of Galilee, possibly Bethsaida. It is probable that his mother was Salome, one of the women who 'ministered' to Christ in Galilee (Mark 15:41), a sister of Mary the mother of Jesus. This may be inferred from a comparison of Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40, 16:1 with John 19:25. John, the Apostle, was the brother of James the "Greater" (Matt. 4:21; 10:2; Mark 1:19; 3:17; 10:35). He was one, probably the younger, of the sons of Zebedee (Matt. 4:21) and Salome (Matt. 27:56; comp. Mark 15:40), and was born at Bethsaida. His father was apparently a man of some wealth (comp. Mark 1:20; Luke 5:3; John 19:27). He was doubtless trained in all that constituted the ordinary education of Jewish youth. When he grew up he followed the occupation of a fisherman on the Lake of Galilee. When John the Baptist began his ministry in the wilderness of Judea, John, with many others, gathered round him, and was deeply influenced by his teaching. There he heard the announcement, "Behold the Lamb of God," and forthwith, on the invitation of Jesus, became a disciple and ranked among his followers (John 1:36-37) for a time. He and his brother then returned to their former avocation, for how long is uncertain. Jesus again called them (Matt. 4:21; Luke 5:1-11), and now they left all and permanently attached themselves to the company of his disciples. He became one of the innermost circle (Mark 5:37; Matt. 17:1; 26:37; Mark 13:3). He was the disciple whom Jesus loved. In zeal and intensity of character he was a "Boanerges" (Mark 3:17). This spirit once and again broke out (Matt. 20:20-24; Mark 10:35-41; Luke 9:49, Luke 9:54). At the betrayal he and Peter follow Christ afar off, while the others betake themselves to hasty flight (John 18:15). At the trial he follows Christ into the council chamber, and thence to the praetorium (John 18:16, John 18:19, John 18:28) and to the place of crucifixion (John 19:26-27). To him and Peter, Mary first conveys tidings of the resurrection (John 20:2), and they are the first to go and see what her strange words mean. After the resurrection he and Peter again return to the Sea of Galilee, where the Lord reveals himself to them (John 21:1, John 21:7). We find Peter and John frequently after this together (Acts 3:1; 4:13). John remained apparently in Jerusalem as the leader of the church there (Acts 15:6; Gal. 2:9). His subsequent history is unrecorded. He was not there, however, at the time of Paul's last visit (Acts 21:15-40). He appears to have retired to Ephesus, but at what time is unknown. The seven churches of Asia were the objects of his special care (Rev. 1:11). He suffered under persecution, and was banished to Patmos (Rev. 1:9); whence he again returned to Ephesus, where he died, probably about A.D. 98, having outlived all or nearly all the friends and companions even of his maturer years. There are many interesting traditions regarding John during his residence at Ephesus, but these cannot claim the character of historical truth. The Apostle John wrote the entire Gospel that bears his name (thought to be around 70 to 85 A.D.), the 3 epistles that bear his name (85-95 A.D.) and the book of Revelation (95 A.D.). Sources: Easton Bible Dictionary, Holman Bible Dictionary, Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible |
Up | Down View Branch | ID# 22030 | ||
Questions and/or Subjects for 1 John | Author | ||
|
L. Reed | ||
|
Hank | ||
|
taby815 | ||
|
Racersedge | ||
|
Makarios | ||
|
Makarios | ||
|
Makarios | ||
|
top | ||
|
ecbntmkr | ||
|
ecbntmkr | ||
|
wxflight | ||
|
kirk |