Changes

* The prologue (1:1-18), containing what is in a sense a brief epitome of the whole Gospel in the doctrine of the Incarnation of the Eternal Word.

* The prologue (1:1-18), containing what is in a sense a brief epitome of the whole Gospel in the doctrine of the Incarnation of the Eternal Word.

* The first part (1:19-12:50), recounting the public life of Jesus from His baptism to the eve of His [[Passion of Christ|Passion]].  This part includes [[John 3:16]], probably the best-known passage in the entire Bible.

* The first part (1:19-12:50), recounting the public life of Jesus from His baptism to the eve of His [[Passion of Christ|Passion]].  This part includes [[John 3:16]], probably the best-known passage in the entire Bible.

* The second part (13-21:22), relating the history of the Passion and Resurrection of the [[Savior]].  This includes another famous passage: John 14:6, where Jesus declares Himself as the only way to God the Father.  (Evangelist [[Billy Graham]] had this verse publicized at all of his evangelistic meetings, and it is inscribed on his tombstone.)

* The second part (13-21:22) relates the history of the Passion and Resurrection of the [[Savior]].  This includes another famous passage: John 14:6, where Jesus declares Himself as the only way to God the Father.  (Evangelist [[Billy Graham]] had this verse publicized at all of his evangelistic meetings, and it is inscribed on his tombstone.)

The arrangement follows the historical order of events.

The arrangement follows the historical order of events.

==Distinctiveness==

==Distinctiveness==

[[File:Apostle-John.jpg|right|thumbnail|201px|Stained 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, having 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).

Even more distinctive is the vocabulary and the grammatical use of pronouns, prepositions, and verbs. The [[Evangelist]] reveals a deep knowledge of Hellenistic speech of the first century AD, which is flavored with certain Hebrew expressions. His literary style is lauded for its noble, natural, and artistic simplicity. He combines harmoniously the rustic speech of the Synoptics with the urban phraseology of [[Saint Paul|St. Paul]].

Even more distinctive is the vocabulary and the grammatical use of pronouns, prepositions, and verbs. The [[Evangelist]] reveals a deep knowledge of Hellenistic speech of the first century AD, which is flavored with certain Hebrew expressions. His literary style is lauded for its noble, natural, and artistic simplicity. He combines harmoniously the rustic speech of the Synoptics with the urban phraseology of [[Saint Paul|St. Paul]].

==Author==

==Author==

[[File:Toros Roslin Manrankar.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|Armenian icon of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, 13th century]]

[[File:Toros Roslin Manrankar.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|Armenian icon of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, 13th century]]

The evidence is overwhelming that the [[Apostle John]] was the author of the Gospel of John. Skeptics try to deny this by saying that the text was beyond the capabilities of a fisherman, but John himself was probably not a career fisherman, and that would not be a disqualification of intelligence anyway. Even skeptics do not deny that this Gospel was written by an eyewitness of [[Jesus]].<ref>According to ''The New Oxford Annotated Bible,'' tradition says [the author] was the apostle John. Most scholars, however, suggest a disciple of John who recorded him preaching as Mark did that of Peter. In any case, the historical basis of the Gospel has become increasingly recognized.  May, Herbert G. and Bruce G. Metzger, ''The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Revised Standard Version,'' New York: Oxford University Press, 1977, p. 1286</ref>

The evidence is overwhelming that the [[Apostle John]] was the author of the Gospel of John. Skeptics try to deny this by saying that the text was beyond the capabilities of a fisherman, but John himself was probably not a career fisherman, and that would not be a disqualification of intelligence anyway. Even skeptics do not deny that this Gospel was written by an eyewitness of [[Jesus]].<ref>According to ''The New Oxford Annotated Bible,'' tradition says [the author] was the [[Apostle]] John. Most scholars, however, suggest a disciple of John who recorded him preaching as Mark did that of Peter. In any case, the historical basis of the Gospel has become increasingly recognized.  May, Herbert G. and Bruce G. Metzger, ''The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Revised Standard Version,'' New York: Oxford University Press, 1977, p. 1286</ref>

===Evidence for authorship by the apostle John===

===Evidence for authorship by the Apostle John===

The ancient manuscripts and translations of the Gospel constitute the first group of evidence. In the titles, tables of contents, and signatures, which are usually added to the text of the separate Gospels, John is in every case named as the author of this Gospel.

The ancient manuscripts and translations of the Gospel constitute the first group of evidence. In the titles, tables of contents, and signatures, which are usually added to the text of the separate Gospels, John is in every case named as the author of this Gospel.

The Gospel of John never mentions John by name, referring to him as "the disciple that Jesus loved." This is understandable if John is the author, but would be hard to explain otherwise.

The Gospel of John never mentions John by name, referring to him as "the disciple that Jesus loved." This is understandable if John is the author, but would be hard to explain otherwise.

The age of John when he became an Apostle is unknown, and he could have been as young as an apostle. The teacher-student type of relationship that Jesus developed with John suggests an age difference, and publication of this Gospel by John long after Jesus was [[Crucifixion|crucified]] suggests that John was young when the events occurred.

The age of John when he became an Apostle is unknown, and he could have been the youngest Apostle. The teacher-student type of relationship that Jesus developed with John suggests an age difference, and the publication of this Gospel by John long after Jesus was [[Crucifixion|crucified]] suggests that John was young when the events occurred.

==Date==

==Date==

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 A.D. 110, and the oldest extant fragments from it are dated between A.D. 125 and A.D. 150.<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:

Some view this Gospel as 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 A.D. 110, and the oldest extant fragments from it are dated between A.D. 125 and A.D. 150.<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 Clement of Alexandria, the Fourth Gospel was released after the three Synoptics.

* [[Clement of Alexandria]] suggested that 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 work later.

* The Gospel of John avoids repetition with [[the Gospels|the other Gospels]], from which one might infer that John completed his work later.

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

* Reliance on {{bibleref|John|21|18-19}} implies it was completed after the death of [[Saint Peter|Peter]], which presupposes Peter's death in A.D. 64. But there are persuasive reasons why [[John ending]] was added later and not part of the original.  

* 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 had already come. Jerusalem fell in A.D. 70.

* 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 had already come. Jerusalem fell in A.D. 70.

* 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 -- if part of the original -- 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 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>

* John mentions the banning of Christians (followers of Jesus) from the synagogues, which happened around A.D. 90 (see Council of Jamnia).

* John mentions the banning of Christians (followers of Jesus) from the synagogues, which happened around A.D. 90 (see Council of Jamnia).

* The duration of Christ's public ministry extends in the Fourth Gospel probably over three years, and some months. The three earlier Evangelists also suppose the space of at least two years and some months.

* The duration of Christ's public ministry extends in the Fourth Gospel probably over three years, and some months. The three earlier Evangelists also suppose the space of at least two years and some months.

* The purification of the Temple is referred by John to the beginning of the Savior's ministry, while the Synoptists narrate it at the close.

* John refers to the purification of the Temple at the beginning of the Savior's ministry, while the Synoptists narrate it at the close.

===Presentation===

===Presentation===