Saint John

Saint John one of the Twelve Apostles, traditional author of the fourth Gospel, three letters, and the Book of Revelation (see John, Gospel according to Saint ; John , letters; Revelation ); it is highly unlikely, however, that all five works were written by the same author. In the Gospels he and his brother, St. James (the Greater), are identified as sons of Zebedee; Jesus called them Boanerges or Sons of Thunder. The two brothers, together with Peter, were the three apostles closest to Jesus; they witnessed the Transfiguration and accompanied Jesus to Gethsemane. John has been thought to have been the disciple "whom Jesus loved." Jesus, in his dying moments, committed Mary to John's care. He is mentioned occasionally in the Acts of the Apostles, and Paul refers to him in Galatians. According to 2d-century authorities John died at an advanced age at Ephesus (c.AD 100). However, many scholars believe that John the apostle and John of Ephesus were two different persons. He is variously called John the Evangelist, John the Divine, and the Beloved Disciple. His symbol as evangelist is an eagle.

John, Saint (active 1st century ad) Apostle of Jesus Christ, one of the original 12 disciples. Known also as St John the Apostle and St John the Evangelist, he is widely believed to be the author of the fourth gospel and the three New Testament epistles of John. He is also identified with Saint John the Divine, the author of the Book of Revelation. John was the brother of another apostle, Saint James the Greater. Together with his brother and Saint Peter, John belonged to the inner group of disciples. His feast day is December 27.

John, St. One of the twelve Apostles and traditionally author of the fourth gospel, three epistles, and the book of Revelation (attributions increasingly questioned). John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4. 21), one of Jesus' inner circle of disciples (Matthew 17. 1), and one of the ‘pillar’ apostles (Galatians 2. 9). Traditionally, he settled at Ephesus, whence he was temporarily exiled to Patmos under Domitian, and died a natural death as an old man. Feast day in the E., 26 Sept. (also 8 May); in the W., 27 Dec.

The Acts of John belongs to the New Testament Apocrypha. It is a 3rd-cent. work notable for the ‘Hymn of Jesus’ (set to music by Gustav Holst) and for colourful stories of John's later life in Ephesus.