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*"For [[God]] so [[love]]d the world, that he gave his only [[Jesus|Son]], that whoever believes in him should not perish but have [[eternal life]]."<ref>{{bible ref|John|3|16}} ([[ESV]]).</ref> ([[Luke]]'s use of the name "[[Theophilus]]" -- meaning "loved by [[God]]" -- corroborates this.)

*"For [[God]] so [[love]]d the world, that he gave his only [[Jesus|Son]], that whoever believes in him should not perish but have [[eternal life]]."<ref>{{bible ref|John|3|16}} ([[ESV]]).</ref> ([[Luke]]'s use of the name "[[Theophilus]]" -- meaning "loved by [[God]]" -- corroborates this.)

This Gospel is very [[pro-life]] with an emphasis on [[eternity]], or [[infinity]], which are superb antidotes for modern-day [[anxiety]]. This Gospel contains the oft-quoted phrase "and you will know the [[truth]], and the truth will set you free."<ref>{{bibleref|John|8|32}} ([[ESV]].</ref> '''''The Gospel of John mentions "life" 3-6 times as often as the Gospels of [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]], [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]], and [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]]'''''.

This Gospel is very [[pro-life]] with an emphasis on [[eternity]], or [[infinity]], which are superb antidotes for modern-day [[anxiety]]. This Gospel contains the oft-quoted phrase "and you will know the [[truth]], and the truth will set you free."<ref>{{bibleref|John|8|32}} ([[ESV]]).</ref> '''''The Gospel of John mentions "life" 3-6 times as often as the Gospels of [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]], [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]], and [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]]'''''.

This Gospel uniquely contains two powerful [[allegory|allegories]]: the [[Good Shepherd]] and the [[True Vine]]. This Gospel also includes one of the most often-discussed miracles, the changing of water into wine. ''See'' [[John 1-7 (Translated)#2:1|John 2:1-11]]. Overall, 90% of the Gospel of John is unique and fresh,<ref>https://www.learnreligions.com/the-differences-between-john-and-the-synoptic-gospels-363396</ref> and the origin of expressions like "doubting Thomas." {{bibleref|John|20|24-29}}

This Gospel uniquely contains two powerful [[allegory|allegories]]: the [[Good Shepherd]] and the [[True Vine]]. This Gospel also includes one of the most often-discussed miracles, the changing of water into wine. ''See'' [[John 1-7 (Translated)#2:1|John 2:1-11]]. Overall, 90% of the Gospel of John is unique and fresh,<ref>https://www.learnreligions.com/the-differences-between-john-and-the-synoptic-gospels-363396</ref> and the origin of expressions like "doubting Thomas." {{bibleref|John|20|24-29}}

10% of the Gospel of John independently corroborates the other [[Gospel]]s, such as the [[multiplication of the loaves]].  The Gospel of John refers more to Jesus as the "[[Son of God]]" than the other [[Gospels]] do, and the Gospel of John also refers more to [[Judas Iscariot]] as the betrayer of [[Jesus]].

10% of the Gospel of John independently corroborates the other [[Gospel]]s, such as the [[multiplication of the loaves]].  The Gospel of John refers more to Jesus as the "[[Son of God]]" than the other [[Gospels]] do, and the Gospel of John also refers more to [[Judas Iscariot]] as the betrayer of [[Jesus]].

The author of the Gospel of John was different from other authors, and possibly a [[Samaritan]] in contrast with the [[Gentile]] [[the Gospels|Gospel]]-writers [[Mark]] and [[Luke]] and the [[Jewish]] author [[Matthew]].<ref>''See'' [[Mystery: Was John a Samaritan]]?</ref>  Unlike all the other [[Gospels]], the Gospel of John does not refer to the term "[[Gentiles]]".<ref>No modern English translation of the [[Bible]] finds the term "Gentiles" anywhere in John's [[Book of Revelation]] either; {{bibleref|Revelations|11|2}} uses "nations" which the [[KJB]] translates as "Gentiles".</ref>

The author of the Gospel of John was different from other authors, and possibly a [[Samaritan]] in contrast with the [[Gentile]] [[the Gospels|Gospel]]-writers [[Mark]] and [[Luke]] and the [[Jewish]] author [[Matthew]].<ref>''See'' [[Mystery: Was John a Samaritan]]?</ref>  Unlike all the other [[Gospels]], the Gospel of John does not refer to the term "[[Gentiles]]".<ref>No modern English translation of the [[Bible]] finds the term "Gentiles" anywhere in John's [[Book of Revelation]] either; {{bibleref|Revelation|11|2}} uses "nations" which the [[KJB]] translates as "Gentiles".</ref>

The Gospel of John rejects the view of [[Jesus]] as a "king", containing far fewer references to "king" and "kingdom" as the other [[gospels]]. In one passage John quotes [[Jesus]] himself as rejecting that he is a king, in response to a question by [[Pontius Pilate]]: "You say that I am a king."  ''See'' {{bibleref|John|18|37}}.

The Gospel of John rejects the view of [[Jesus]] as a "king", containing far fewer references to "king" and "kingdom" as the other [[gospels]]. In one passage John quotes [[Jesus]] himself as rejecting that he is a king, in response to a question by [[Pontius Pilate]]: "You say that I am a king."  ''See'' {{bibleref|John|18|37}}.

==Distinctiveness==

==Distinctiveness==

[[File:Apostle-John.jpg|right|thumbnail|201px|Stain glass depiction of John the Apostle.]]

[[File:Apostle-John.jpg|right|thumbnail|201px|Stained glass depiction of John the Apostle.]]

The Gospel of John was an independent work, with almost no duplication with [[the Gospels|the other Gospels]] and many notable omissions of what is recounted elsewhere.  The Gospel of John was written in [[Greek]] with a distinctive character; John uses about ninety words not found in any other [[Hagiography|hagiographer]].<ref>A hagiographer is a biographer of a holy person.</ref>  When describing times of day, John uses the Roman ([[Gentile]]) method of beginning the day at midnight (as opposed to the Hebrew method, used in the other three Gospel accounts, which starts the day at sunset).

The Gospel of John was an independent work, with almost no duplication with [[the Gospels|the other Gospels]] and many notable omissions of what is recounted elsewhere.  The Gospel of John was written in [[Greek]] with a distinctive character; John uses about ninety words not found in any other [[Hagiography|hagiographer]].<ref>A hagiographer is a biographer of a holy person.</ref>  When describing times of day, John uses the Roman ([[Gentile]]) method of beginning the day at midnight (as opposed to the Hebrew method, used in the other three Gospel accounts, which starts the day at sunset).

According to the general opinion, the Gospel was the last to be released in John's old age.  This Gospel is estimated by [[Columbia University]] researchers to have been completed between A.D. 80 and 110, and the oldest extant fragments from it are dated between A.D. 125 and 150 A.D.<ref>https://www.college.columbia.edu/core/node/1754#:~:text=The%20Gospel%20According%20to%20Luke,middle%20of%20the%20third%20century.</ref>  Grounds for estimated dates of authorship are briefly as follows:

According to the general opinion, the Gospel was the last to be released in John's old age.  This Gospel is estimated by [[Columbia University]] researchers to have been completed between A.D. 80 and 110, and the oldest extant fragments from it are dated between A.D. 125 and 150 A.D.<ref>https://www.college.columbia.edu/core/node/1754#:~:text=The%20Gospel%20According%20to%20Luke,middle%20of%20the%20third%20century.</ref>  Grounds for estimated dates of authorship are briefly as follows:

* According to Clemente of Alexandria, the Fourth Gospel was released after the three Synoptics.

* According to Clement of Alexandria, the Fourth Gospel was released after the three Synoptics.

* the Gospel of John avoids repetition with [[the Gospels|the other Gospels]], which implies John completed his later.

* the Gospel of John avoids repetition with [[the Gospels|the other Gospels]], which implies John completed his later.

* It was probably completed after the death of [[Saint Peter|Peter]], since the last chapter - especially 21:18-19 presupposes his death.  Peter died in A.D. 64.  

* It was probably completed after the death of [[Saint Peter|Peter]], since the last chapter - especially 21:18-19 presupposes his death.  Peter died in A.D. 64.  

* It was completed after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, for the Evangelist's references to the Jews (cf. particularly 11:18; 18: 1; 19:41) seem to indicate that the end of the city and of the people as a nation is already come.  Jerusalem fell in 70 AD.

* It was completed after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, for the Evangelist's references to the Jews (cf. particularly 11:18; 18: 1; 19:41) seem to indicate that the end of the city and of the people as a nation is already come.  Jerusalem fell in 70 AD.

* The text of John 21:23, might imply that John was already old when he completed and released the Gospel.

* The text of John 21:23 might imply that John was already old when he completed and released the Gospel.

* Those who denied the Divinity of Christ, the very heresy to which St. John devotes special attention throughout his Gospel, are believed to have disseminated this view near the end of the first century.

* Those who denied the Divinity of Christ, the very heresy to which St. John devotes special attention throughout his Gospel, are believed to have disseminated this view near the end of the first century.

* This Gospel also emphasizes the mortality of Jesus (e.g., he ate fish), which countered another heresy that he was not mortal.<ref>https://christ.org/questions-and-answers/when-was-the-gospel-of-john-written/</ref>

* This Gospel also emphasizes the mortality of Jesus (e.g., he ate fish), which countered another heresy that he was not mortal.<ref>https://christ.org/questions-and-answers/when-was-the-gospel-of-john-written/</ref>

===General Character===

===General Character===

Also, having mentioned in his account of the [[Crucifixion]] that the disciple whom Jesus loved stood beneath the Cross beside the mother of Jesus (John 19:26 ), he adds, after telling of the death of Christ and the opening of His side, the solemn assurance: "And he that saw it hath given testimony; and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true: that you also may believe" (19: 35). John calls himself the "disciple whom the Lord loved".  He assures us, not merely that this testimony is true, but that he was a personal witness of its truth. In this manner he identifies himself with the disciple beloved of the Lord who alone could give such testimony from intimate knowledge. This is repeated at the end of his Gospel. After again referring to the disciple whom Jesus loved, he immediately adds the words: "This is that disciple who giveth testimony of these things, and hath written these things; and we know that his testimony is true" (John 21:24).

Also, having mentioned in his account of the [[Crucifixion]] that the disciple whom Jesus loved stood beneath the Cross beside the mother of Jesus (John 19:26), he adds, after telling of the death of Christ and the opening of His side, the solemn assurance: "And he that saw it hath given testimony; and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true: that you also may believe" (19:35). John calls himself the "disciple whom the Lord loved".  He assures us, not merely that this testimony is true, but that he was a personal witness of its truth. In this manner he identifies himself with the disciple beloved of the Lord who alone could give such testimony from intimate knowledge. This is repeated at the end of his Gospel. After again referring to the disciple whom Jesus loved, he immediately adds the words: "This is that disciple who giveth testimony of these things, and hath written these things; and we know that his testimony is true" (John 21:24).

===The Doctrine===

===The Doctrine===

*[https://overviewbible.com/john/ The Gospel of John: reasons to believe in Jesus], Overview Bible

*[https://overviewbible.com/john/ The Gospel of John: reasons to believe in Jesus], Overview Bible

*[https://bible.org/article/introduction-gospel-john An Introduction To The Gospel Of John], Bible.org

*[https://bible.org/article/introduction-gospel-john An Introduction To The Gospel Of John], Bible.org

*[https://grok.com/share/c2hhcmQtNA_0b31a231-1dc5-4a09-82b1-82fc5f59c900 Summary of the Gospel of John from a theologically conservative viewpoint (Univerally affirmed by Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox)]

*[https://grok.com/share/c2hhcmQtNA_0b31a231-1dc5-4a09-82b1-82fc5f59c900 Summary of the Gospel of John from a theologically conservative viewpoint (Universally affirmed by Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox)]

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