AuthorJohn

 

Who wrote the Gospel of John?   Sep 15, 2011  by Hugh O’Donnell

 

The Gospel, before recent years, was thought written or sponsored by the Apostle John, son of Zebedee.

 

No modern theologian believes this today.   But who did inspire this deeply moving gospel that best describes Jesus' Jerusalem historical ministry, as opposed to historical events that occurred in Galilee?

 

For me, the most likely candidate to have written the Gospel is a Jerusalem Essene Monk, possibly descended from a former Herodian/Qumran temple priest, who lived in a semi-ascetic “Esssene” community located near the "upper room" described in Acts.  The "upper room" was the site of the first Christian community after Christ died.  The area was located in southwest Jerusalem, near what is called the Essene Gate, a section of Jerusalem now called Mt Zion, where the Church of the Apostles stands today.

 

The best case for this hypothesis is put forward by Brian J. Capper in his 1998 article “With the oldest monks...' light from Essene history on the career of the beloved disciple? (John)”

 

The above links support Brian Capper's hypothesis.  For me, knowing who wrote the Gospel of John, we can understand better this most awesome gospel, which many believe  to be more ascetic and contemplative than the other 3 gospels.  The beloved or other disciple, referred to several times in the gospel, was most likely this "monk" who may have known John the Baptist and Jesus as boyhood companions in the Bethlehem/Jerusalem neighborhood that John the Baptist's father, Zachariah, would have served in as a temple priest in 4 BCE.

 

Since information from the Dead Sea Scrolls has not been factored into New Testament historical understanding, it may be several decades before the Church accepts this hypothesis.