A Better Bible Study Method – Book One
The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved
Take another look –
The Bible has the answer
J. Phillips
Free printable copies at JesusLoved.com
The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved
© 2011, 2020 by J. Phillips, Fifth Edition (First Edition © 2000)
JesusLoved.com, PO Box 885, Lockport, IL 60441
Phone: (770) 842-6370
E-book ISBN13: 978-0-9702687-4-7
All rights reserved. Copies may be printed if they contain the complete, unaltered text of this book. Please cite JesusLoved.com as the source of this material in excerpts or other uses. All scripture references are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV).
Dedication
Thank you, God, for the question that was raised at that Bible study where my sister Stella said, I have a problem with the Gospel of John. The author never called himself John. Rather, he always called himself, “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” the “other disciple,” or “the other disciple, whom Jesus loved.” The two verses that she then quoted opened my eyes and led me to search the scriptures, and for that I am very grateful. Your word has preserved many critical details for us, but I had not paid attention to them. Thankfully, she did. By raising this question, she inspired me to take another look at the Bible on this issue, and the search for truth on this question has resulted in a greater appreciation for your word. “Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth” (Ps 86:11).
The efforts of many people helped this book to become a reality. The love, prayers, patience, encouragement, and help of my wife, my mother, my sisters, and my friends, were all vital to this project and are deeply appreciated. I also need to thank everyone who has supported this work by sending funds, assisting with feedback, and/or by recommending this book to others. May God bless all of those who have helped in this work and may the biblical evidence cited herein lead people to honor God’s word.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
1 – The Truth Matters
2 – What Does the Bible Say?
3 – Was John the Beloved Disciple?
4 – A Wrong Assumption
5 – Author of the Fourth Gospel
6 – Why Did He Stay Anonymous?
7 – The Bible Versus Tradition
Appendix
Postscript
Addendum
Preface
“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him” (Prv 30:5).
“Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Prv 30:6).
“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prv 16:25).
“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes” (Ps 118:8-9).
“For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Prv 2:6).
“The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead” (Prv 21:16).
“… Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4).
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby…” (1Pt 2:2).
“For the word of the Lord is right…” (Ps 33:4).
“… he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully” (Jer 23:28).
“A faithful witness will not lie…” (Prv 14:5).
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed…” (2Ti 2:15).
“Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies” (Ps 40:4).
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1Th 5:21).
“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter” (Prv 25:2).
Introduction
The first three gospels all mention these three notable events of Jesus’ ministry: his transfiguration (Mt 17:1-9, Mk 9:2-9, Lk 9:28-36), his Gethsemane prayers (Mt 26:36-46, Mk 14:32-42, Lk 22:39-46), and his raising of the daughter of Jairus (Mt 9:18-26, Mk 5:22-43, Lk 8:41-56). Only three disciples were present at these events, and the Apostle John was one of them (Mt 17:1 & 26:37, Mk 5:37, 9:2 & 14:33, Lk 8:51 & 9:28).
Although John was an eyewitness to all of these events, there is no mention of these key events in the gospel that today bears John’s name! These would surely have been extremely profound moments in John’s life. So, what can explain their omission from the fourth gospel, a book that tradition has said was written by John?
Many teachers will refer to the fourth gospel as ‘John’s eyewitness testimony,’ but does the Bible support this claim? A closer look shows that the idea of John being the author of the fourth gospel is not consistent with the facts found in scripture, and the author’s omission of the three events noted above is merely the tip of the iceberg. It turns out every event where John is referred to by name in the first three gospels is missing from the fourth gospel – every one of them!
For example, Jesus told John and his brother, “ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of,” when he rebuked them when they sought to “command fire to come down from heaven” (Lk 9:54-55). John and Peter were sent by Jesus to prepare the Passover (Lk 22:8). Jesus privately answered the questions of John, Peter, James, and Andrew on the Mount of Olives (Mk 13:3). John and his brother asked Jesus to seat them, “one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory” (Mk 10:35-41). But these events cannot be found in the fourth gospel, since none of the events where John is named in the first three gospels are in the fourth gospel! Does the fourth gospel’s omission of all of these ‘John events’ suggest this gospel was ‘John’s eyewitness testimony?’
If this was John’s eyewitness account, how did he come to exclude all mention of these events? Are we to believe John read the other gospels first and then wrote this gospel in such a way as to carefully omit every event where he was named in those other three gospels? Is this reasonable?
In the last chapter of the fourth gospel, verses 21:20 and 24 let us know this work was written by an unnamed “disciple whom Jesus loved.” This author never identified himself as John. Rather, he used various terms like “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” “the other disciple,” etc. to refer to himself, and his use of these curious terms to cloak his identity raises many questions.
The fourth gospel does present the author’s testimony, but scripture can prove he was not John. The ‘John idea’ comes from non-Bible sources, and even though there is not a single verse that justifies assuming the beloved disciple was anyone named John, this case of mistaken identity still persists. Whoever this disciple was, he cannot have been the Apostle John because that idea forces the Bible to contradict itself, which the truth cannot do.
Lest anyone mistake the thrust of this study, please note: God’s word is not in error, and nothing herein suggests otherwise. In fact, this study cites nothing but the scriptures! Why? Because the Bible is the primary source on Bible issues, and if we heed the details that have been preserved therein, it can help to correct mistaken ideas we may have. As will be shown, the title Gospel of John was not written by the gospel’s author. Others added it to this author’s work. Still, the record of scripture is able to overcome the errors of men, and the verses quoted in this study do exactly that.
Indeed, one should not be presenting an idea as if it were biblical if he cannot cite a single verse that would justify teaching that idea. Also, if the Bible can disprove an idea we have believed, why would we not give up that idea and stand corrected?
Acts 18:24-28 tells of a man named Apollos. He was “mighty in the scriptures,” “instructed in the way of the Lord,” “fervent in the spirit,” and “spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord.” Yet, we know his understanding was lacking because when Aquila and Priscilla heard his teaching, they took him and “expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” We are told, at that time Apollos knew of “only the baptism of John” (i.e., John the Baptist). But the key point is, he updated his views when the truth was presented to him. This led him to change, and thereafter, it says he “mightily convinced the Jews,” “showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”
Apollos was mighty in the scriptures and he was still willing to be taught. So, why not us?
History proves falsehoods can become widely accepted as truth, the ‘Piltdown Man’ evolution hoax being a notable example of this. Most people tend to take the scholars word for it; they simply assume what the experts teach is the truth. But where Bible questions are concerned, we can test if what we believe is true or not. Seeking the truth requires us to weigh the evidence without prejudice. If we are to render a fair verdict, then we must be careful not to let our judgment of the facts be prejudiced by views we have held up until now, but never put to the test.
There is very often a difference between what people think the Bible says and what it really says. So, the way to verify the truth on biblical issues is to check to see what the Bible itself says. In this case, since the fourth gospel’s author identified himself in terms of Jesus’ love for him, why not look to see who had such a relationship with Jesus?
Since the Bible never singles out John in this manner, it is fair to ask, what evidence would lead anyone to think it would honor God to say, ‘John was the beloved disciple?’
The Bible has much more for us to consider regarding this question, and thank God, the identity of the one whom “Jesus loved” can be shown from a study of the Bible facts alone. Rather than quoting non-Bible sources, the method used to shed light on the beloved disciple in this study is to weigh the data in scripture and let God’s word guide us to the truth. By doing so, it is hoped readers of this work will gain a new appreciation for the details God has preserved for us in the biblical record.
Today many people assume the Bible cannot reveal anything new, because they assume teachers and scholars have already mined all of the truth out of God’s word. But the evidence in this study will prove otherwise and will confirm scripture can still provide “reproof” and “correction” (2Ti 3:16). Let us not trust in “enticing words of man’s wisdom,” because our faith “should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1Cor 2:4 & 5).
What would you say to someone who asked, why should people read the Bible? If the best people can hope for is to learn what scholars have already discovered, then why not just tell people to read the writings of scholars, rather than reading the Bible and risk misunderstanding what it says?
The goal of this book is to encourage a love of the truth. Lord willing, those who read this study will be led to read the Bible more often, to read it more carefully, and to test the things that they are told by others, rather than just assuming them to be true. Concerning this issue, would it not be wise to heed the “prove all things” admonition (1Th 5:21), especially since there are a number of Bible facts that do seem to argue against the John tradition?
If the evidence of scripture can disprove the John idea, then the authority of God’s word provides sufficient reason for rejecting the non-Bible sources that are used to justify the John tradition. Herein, the light of scripture will expose the danger of assuming that the opinions of others can serve as a measure for determining what is true! The truth is not assured by simply following the herd.
We know many things about John: his name; he was the son of Zebedee and had a brother named James; he was a fisherman; he and his brother were partners with Peter, and were there when Jesus healed Peter’s wife’s mother; he was one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus; he and his brother asked for the seats on the right and the left of Jesus and Jesus surnamed them, “Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder;” John was there at the raising of Jairus’ daughter, the transfiguration, and Jesus’ prayers in the garden; John and his brother wanted to call fire down from heaven on one group of people, and Jesus rebuked them for it; John was the one who told Jesus, “we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him;” etc. (Mt. 4:21, 10:2, 17:1, 26:37, Mk. 1:19, 1:29-31, 3:17, 5:37, 9:2, 9:38, 10:35, 14:33, Lu. 5:10, 6:14, 8:51, 9:28, 9:49, 9:54-55, et al.) Yet, amazingly, none of this information about John can be learned from the book many assume was written by the Apostle John.
As will be shown in this study, the only detail in the fourth gospel specific to John is a notation that “the sons of Zebedee” were present with some fellow disciples at an event reported at the end of the book. But since he is never named in this gospel, a person would have to learn from another source that the Apostle John was a son of Zebedee in order to know the phrase “sons of Zebedee” even referred to John. Thus, the irony is, the least helpful of the four gospels when it comes to learning about the Apostle John and the many things he witnessed, said, and did during the ministry of Jesus, is the book men decided to call ‘The Gospel of John!’
Chapter 1
The Truth Matters
Gospel of the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved
The God-inspired writer of our fourth gospel was careful never to identify himself by name. Since he deliberately concealed his identity, then perhaps it is not wise to ignore his efforts in this regard and uncritically accept the idea that this author was the Apostle John, the brother of James, son of Zebedee. Should we not ask why God’s inspired author used cryptic phrases like “the disciple whom Jesus loved” to refer to himself? Why didn’t he just use his name? Paul was named repeatedly in his books and John gave his name five times in the Book of Revelation.
Instead of simply identifying himself by name, this author cloaked himself in a veil of anonymity. Since God did not lead this gospel author to identify himself as John, should we be quick to follow those who declare he was the Apostle John? Non-Bible sources can be wrong. So, why would we not want to see if this belief lines up with scripture – especially since the author of this gospel went to great lengths to hide his identity?
This is not to suggest the identity of this author cannot be determined. There is a person who fits all the Bible reveals about this author. Several passages in his gospel, like 20:5 and 21:21, indicate this author was a male. Establishing his identity, however, takes more effort. The evidence-based Bible study method used herein will seek to examine everything the Bible tells us about this man. We will search the scriptures for the answer to the question the author’s cryptic self-description poses to the readers of his gospel: Who was the disciple whom Jesus loved?
The Integrity of the Bible
The content of the fourth gospel is true and trustworthy. This is not what is in question. Nothing presented herein casts any doubt whatsoever on the legitimacy of this gospel as inspired scripture or its rightful inclusion in the New Testament. No one should think this study in any way challenges the words of God’s inspired writers or the accuracy of scripture. Any such innuendo would plainly be a flagrant distortion of what is discussed in this book.
A firm reliance on the Bible as the inspired word of God does not prohibit the questioning of the traditions of men. Jesus himself was quite willing to challenge religious teachings that were based on an erroneous understanding of the scriptures! It is not improper for us to question teachings or traditions, even widely accepted ones, if we discover evidence that suggests something is amiss. If you love Jesus, then you love the truth (cf. Fourth gospel 14:6). A search for truth, utilizing only the evidence in God’s word, is what you will find in this study.
Jury Duty
As you read, act as you would if you were on a jury and the Bible was Exhibit A. Your job is to weigh the testimony of scripture and decide whether or not this evidence is able to meet the burden of proof in two cases, both involving the identity of the disciple whom Jesus loved. You are the one who will render the verdict in these matters, so it is up to you to prayerfully seek the truth and consider the evidence without prejudice.
In the first case, this study will seek to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the Apostle John was not the disciple whom Jesus loved. Although beyond a reasonable doubt is a very high standard, the biblical evidence presented in this case should be sufficient to meet this standard, in your judgment. The facts will show the Apostle John and this unnamed author were two different individuals.
The second case will seek to prove the identity of this heretofore misidentified disciple, but merely to a preponderance of the evidence. (This means the greater weight of evidence, enough to ‘tip the scales’ or enough to prove something is more likely true than not true.) But, even here, it will be up to you to decide if the evidence offered on this point is sufficient.
Just the Facts and Just the Bible
As was stated earlier, the writer of this gospel always described himself with phrases that avoided directly disclosing his identity. When one takes note of this, then mere dogmatic assertions regarding this author’s identity will probably sound less convincing than they would have otherwise, since his identity was the very thing God saw fit to have him conceal. As you will soon see, however, God’s word can reveal as well as conceal.
Unfortunately, some people do not realize the fourth gospel’s inspired author did not entitle his work The Gospel of John. But that title (like the chapter and verse divisions) was not in the author’s original text. It was added to his book by others, and it should be evident this was not a product of the inspired author. Why? Because the author surely did not put his name in a title, since the cumbersome phrases he used to refer to himself in the gospel text clearly indicate he intended to conceal his identity.
All scripture is inspired by God, but hearsay tradition is not. So, this study will not cite non-Bible sources like the opinions of scholars or comments attributed to this-or-that person in the ‘early’ church or the writings of men from the present or the past.
Since man’s wisdom is not God’s wisdom, non-Bible sources ought to be viewed in light of scripture, not the other way around. Thus, only scripture will be cited as evidence herein, and the verdict demanded by the testimony of scripture is what we will discuss.
Verify – According to the Scriptures
In Acts 17:11, we are told the Bereans “were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” We, too, can be diligent in seeking the truth by opening God’s word to see what is written therein.
If we read a book or hear a teaching, then we can subject those ideas to biblical scrutiny (in line with the directive “prove all things” (1Th 5:21)). It was Paul who taught the Bereans. Yet even though he was an apostle, they still searched the scriptures – and they were praised for doing so.
Therefore, it is fair to hold our teachers to the same standard. We can be just as conscientious in our pursuit of truth because we can use the Bible to test our beliefs and the ideas that are presented to us.
The truth is no threat to the followers of Jesus. But new insights challenge tradition, so they are often mocked or dismissed. However, unless mankind has discovered all the truth in the Bible, we should always remain open to the possibility God’s word may have something new to teach us.
The Truth Is Our Goal
God surely knew inspiring this author to refer to himself anonymously would lead some to wonder about this author’s identity. So, let us look to scripture as we try to ascertain who he was. In seeking to answer this question, do not assume the opinions of others can be trusted. Popular opinion can be wrong. Even if ‘everybody’ believes something, this does not make it so. Today, most scholars say dead things became living things by accident, and they mock those who question their ‘accepted truth.’ Even so, they are wrong because information and programs (like DNA has) do not arise from random processes.
Let us follow the example of the Bereans. They did not just take Paul’s word for it. They searched the scriptures daily, and we should do likewise when we are told “the disciple whom Jesus loved” was John. The truly incredible thing is there is not a single verse that would justify teaching that idea! In spite of this, commentaries and teachers routinely say things like, ‘John was the beloved disciple’ and they present this idea as if it was biblical. In reality, however, all such assertions amount to opinion being mistakenly sold as fact. In this study, the light of God’s word will enable the reader to see what happens if the John tradition is put to the test of scripture.
Commentaries or other books can be helpful, especially when they highlight some details we might otherwise miss. But we need to test the statements they make, and you should treat this book likewise. Carefully evaluate the two cases that are presented in this study and verify each scripture reference. Although the verses needed for this study are quoted herein, looking them up will enable you to confirm the evidence in its context. By doing so, you will become more grounded in God’s word, even as you are built up in both confidence and competence when it comes to discussing the topic of this study. Also, Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” So, rather than cling to our understanding, we should trust in the Lord and follow wherever the truth in his word takes us.
Bible References and Quotes
This study will quote only the Holy Bible, as previously noted. Yet, the wording in your Bible may vary on some of these quotes since there are many different versions of the Bible. Still, no matter which Bible version you use, you will be able to verify the accuracy and context of every passage cited.
The differences in wording between Bible versions will not alter the verdict that is demanded by the evidence. All of the quotes in this study are taken from the King James Version (KJV). While the KJV can be challenging at times it remains the most widely held Bible version, so it will be the one quoted. Thus, you will find some words that appear to be misspelled, like “trieth.” These are not errors but are the result of quoting the KJV. [Herein, double quotation marks “” will be reserved solely for quotations from the Bible. Also, for clarification, ten Greek terms are included from the Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, published by Baker Book House, 1981.]
A Worthwhile Pursuit and a Helping Hand
Rather than dive into God’s word to see if the John idea is true or not, some try to dodge the issue by asking, ‘What difference does it make?’ Well, for starters, if the John idea is not true, then promoting it undercuts the authority of scripture, as does every false idea men ascribe to God’s word. In fact, as will be shown, the John tradition actually makes scripture contradict itself (which the truth cannot do). A more in-depth answer to this question follows later. But for now, keep in mind, Jesus indicated the truth matters (Fourth gospel 8:32, 14:6, 17:17, 18:37, et al.).
Per Proverbs 2:3-5, the pursuit of knowledge is a worthwhile endeavor, and the source we should look to is suggested in the next verse. “For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Prv 2:6). This pursuit is not a task one needs to take on alone. The Holy Spirit was called “the Spirit of truth” when Jesus told the disciples, “he will guide you into all truth” (Fourth gospel 16:13). Jesus also said the Father would, “give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him” (Lk 11:13). So, we should ask the Father for help if we want the Spirit to guide our study of scripture.
From Heaven, or of Men?
Truth is not a minor issue. When Jesus said, “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me,” he did so in the context of identifying himself as the truth (Fourth gospel 14:6). He also said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (Fourth gospel 4:24). So, clearly, truth is not an optional item or a secondary matter. Furthermore, scripture encourages speaking the truth (Prv 12:17 & 19, Zec 8:16, Eph 4:15 & 25), ties sanctification and growth to truth (Fourth gospel 17:17 & 19, Eph 4:15, 2Th 2:13, Jam 1:18, 1Pt 1:22), links the armor of God and fruit of the spirit to truth (Eph 5:9 & 6:14), and Psalm 145:18 says, “the Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” If a relationship with God is to be fruitful, respect for truth seems to be vital.
Those who seek the truth would do well to note the test of authority that was used by Jesus. When the religious leaders questioned his authority, Jesus pointed to one’s source as a litmus test on authority when he responded by asking them a question about John the Baptist. “The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?” (Lk 20:4) If it was from heaven, then his source was God. So, to avoid facing the truth they had to dodge the issue, since they refused to believe John (cf. Lk 20:5-7) and he testified of Jesus. In our case, this test helps one to properly weigh the evidence by considering its source. Is it from heaven or of men? Keep this in mind as you weigh the words of scripture herein. Many do not take time to consider the source, but this test can help to keep us focused on the fact God’s word is true and it is worthy of our respect.
The Authority of God’s Word
Jesus said, “He that is of God heareth God’s words” (Fourth gospel 8:47). So, the words of scripture should be enough to move us to stand with the truth. When the word of God offers to correct us, we ought to be humble enough to admit that we were wrong, but clearly not all will do so. Proverbs 1:29-30 tells of those who, “hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof” and some people still respond in this way to God’s word today. Sadly, the reaction to truth in our day is far too often precisely like the response the Lord described in Jeremiah 19:15, “they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.”
“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Ps 118:8). So, unlike those who try to defend the John idea by urging people to rely on non-Bible sources, this work will quote the Bible only. This way, the authority of God’s word can move us to accept correction and give us the boldness to witness to the truth on this issue when we face ridicule from those who are wedded to tradition and refuse to admit their trust in non-Bible sources was misplaced. “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe” (Prv 29:25).