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John's Gospel speaks of the love of [[God]] for the entire world, see {{bible ref|John|3|16}}.  The ''[[Encyclopedia Britannica]]'' repeats but rejects a false narrative of John being resistant to extend [[Christianity]] to all.

John's Gospel speaks of the love of [[God]] for the entire world, see {{bible ref|John|3|16}}.  The ''[[Encyclopedia Britannica]]'' repeats but rejects a false narrative of John being resistant to extend [[Christianity]] to all.

John was likely younger, and ostensibly less significant, than his brother the Apostle James, given that John was referenced in the Gospels merely as the "brother of James," and John may have been merely a teenager during the ministry of Jesus.  For example, Mark 3:17 introduces John this way:  "James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James," which strongly suggests that James was the older son of Zebedee, and John was James' younger brother.<ref>Quoting [[ESV]]. See also: Mark 5:37.</ref>

John was likely younger, and ostensibly less significant, than his brother the Apostle James, given that John was referenced in the Gospels merely as the "brother of James," and John may have been merely a teenager during the ministry of Jesus.  For example, Mark 3:17 introduces John this way:  "James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James," which strongly suggests that James was the older son of Zebedee, and John was James' younger brother.<ref>Quoting [[ESV]]. See also: Mark 5:37.</ref> John apprenticed as a fisherman in [[Galilee]], working for his father, before joining [[Jesus]]'s Ministry.

John's later life was passed chiefly in [[Jerusalem]] and at Ephesus. He founded many churches in Asia Minor. Apart from the Gospel of John, John also wrote the biblical books of [[I John]], [[II John]], [[III John]], and the book of [[Revelation]] while exiled on the island of Patmos; only the Apostle Paul wrote more books of the New Testament. In recent years, extensive [[liberal denial]] by contemporary "scholars" claim that John the Apostle not only was ''not'' the author of the [[Book of Revelation]], but also that he supposedly wrote ''none'' of the Johannine works.

John's later life was passed chiefly in [[Jerusalem]] and at Ephesus. He founded many churches in Asia Minor. Apart from the Gospel of John, John also wrote the biblical books of [[I John]], [[II John]], [[III John]], and the book of [[Revelation]] while exiled on the island of Patmos; only the Apostle Paul wrote more books of the New Testament. In recent years, extensive [[liberal denial]] by contemporary "scholars" claim that John the Apostle not only was ''not'' the author of the [[Book of Revelation]], but also that he supposedly wrote ''none'' of the Johannine works.

== "another disciple" mystery at John 18:15 ==

== "another disciple" mystery at John 18:15 ==

Some speculate that John was the "another disciple" mysteriously mentioned in {{bibleref|John|18|15}}, who was known to and trusted by the high priest in [[Jerusalem]]. But several arguments stand against the theory that this was John:

Some speculate that John was the "another disciple" mysteriously mentioned in {{bibleref|John|18|15}}, who was well-known to and trusted by the high priest in [[Jerusalem]]. But several arguments stand strongly against the theory that this was John:

*John repeatedly referred to himself not as "another disciple," but repeatedly as the disciple "whom Jesus loved." See, e.g., {{bibleref|John|13|23}}, {{bibleref|John|20|2}};

*John repeatedly referred to himself not as "another disciple," but as the disciple "whom Jesus loved." See, e.g., {{bibleref|John|13|23}}, {{bibleref|John|20|2}};

*nothing in all of John's writings suggests that he had any special friendship or familiarity with the high priest in Jerusalem, or provides any basis for any improbable way by which John could have known him;

*there are many other possibilities for the "another disciple," including [[Judas Iscariot]] (known to the high priest), Nicodemus, the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea, or one of the many other non-[[Apostles]] (including the possibility that the unidentified person was a woman, even a prostitute);

*there are many other possibilities for the "another disciple," including [[Judas Iscariot]] (known to the high priest), Nicodemus, the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea, or one of the many other non-[[Apostles]] (including the possibility that the unidentified person was a woman, even a prostitute);

*as pointed out in a discussion on ''Biblical Hermeneutics'', John's occupation as a fisherman, his young age, and his close connection with [[Jesus]] made it very unlikely he was known and trusted by the high priest;<ref>https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/56836/who-is-the-other-disciple-in-john-1816</ref> and

*as pointed out in a discussion on ''Biblical Hermeneutics'', John's occupation as a Galilean fisherman far from [[Jerusalem]], his young age, and his close connection with [[Jesus]] made it very unlikely he was known and trusted by the high priest in Jerusalem;<ref>https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/56836/who-is-the-other-disciple-in-john-1816</ref> and

*it is likely that John avoided identifying this person not out of modesty, but to protect the confidentiality of that person and safeguard him or her against retaliation.

*it is likely that John avoided identifying this person not out of modesty, but to protect the confidentiality of that person and safeguard him or her against retaliation.