Revelation has long been attributed to the author of john s gospel, in spite of the differences in style of writing. The elder, the seer, and the apostle bible odyssey. Watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down. The gospel of john is very different indeed from the book of revelation. Most scholars therefore treat the five as a single corpus of johannine literature, albeit not from the same author. This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. Sermons from john 5 bearing witness of the light john 1. John 1 niv the word became flesh in the bible gateway. For more on john the apostle, see the introduction in the life application bible commentary on the gospel of john. Someone recently asked me if the same author could have written both the book of revelation and the gospel of john.
A key word is a word or phrase that functions to unlock the meaning of a text. Every book in the bible is the divinely inspired word of god though, so it makes sense that these two books would also have similarities. We read about several johns in the new testament, including john the baptist and john the apostle, the son of zebedee. And in this way the books of john, revelation and the synoptic gospel s are all in complete agreement relative to end times. The reason for this difference in style could possibly be that, the book of revelation was revealed to john the apostle at his old age and was possibly penned with the help of someone who was not good in greek language. The gospel of john, the three johannine epistles, and the book of revelation, exhibit marked similarities, although more so between the gospel and the epistle especially the gospel and 1 john than between those and revelation. This will be discussed in the study of revelation and will be more thoroughly understood. What the scholars found is that the book of revelation was not written by the author of the gospel of john but by a different john living on the isle of patmos off what is now turkey. Is the jesus in revelation the same as the jesus in the. The gospel of john the anchor yale bible commentaries by raymond e. Jesus comes down from heaven as a bridegroom in the gospel john 1. This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true john 21.
The themes from the gospel of john are clearly present in revelation, therefore the two books probably have the same author. No mention of future destruction of jerusalem, which for fullpreterists is odd, since john writes the entire book of revelation about it and the topic would be front and center on his mind that is only 24 year away. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation by elaine pagels. As mysterious as the book of revelation appears, it can be understood and taught with success. In a preterits view the great tribulation ready occurred and we have no need to worry about it. See the discussion concerning the authorship of the book. If you pull the gospel of john out from under the shadow of the other three, what will it have to say. The book of revelation i see that you correctly used the singular was written by john on the isle of patmos. Johns book of revelation appeals not only to fear but also to hope. Then that would make john the apostle around 90 years old when the revelation to john was written in a era when most people didnt reach 60. The gospel of john has many touches that appear to reflect the recollections of an eyewitness such as the house at bethany being filled with the fragrance of the broken perfume jar see 12. The author names himself as john in the text, but his precise identity remains a point of academic debate. The book of mormon confirms that the recipient was john, one of the twelve 1 ne.
The name revelation comes from the first word of the book in koine greek. John s disciples, likewise, did not merely translate, they also interpreted, e. Textual similarities commentary a testimony of jesus. Where the book of revelation was received by john patmos, greece where the apostle john was exiled johns love for jesus was so strong, that he continued to defy the roman magistrates order to no longer proclaim jesus as messiah, savior and lord. The authorship of the johannine worksthe gospel of john, epistles of john, and the book of revelation has been debated by scholars since at least the 2nd century ad.
The gospel of john, the letters of 1, 2 and 3 john, and revelation saint john the evangelist on patmos by hans burgkmair the writings of john are often assigned the latest dates of all new testament literature, with some secular scholars placing them well into the second century a. Was the book of john written first or the book of revelation. John s gospel discusses many foundational and deep subjects the other gospels dont. I believe the modern evangelical church reconciles matthew 24, luke 21, and mark book of john by claiming that jesus is talking about the destruction of jerusalem in 70 a. Revelation to john, last book of the new testament. The word became flesh in the beginning was the word, and the word was with god, and the word was god. This would push the date for the gospel of john out to ad 64 or 65. John the evangelists vocabulary, his style, his themes, his theological ideas are all very different from those of revelation. There is a tradition that claims that john the apostle died early as a martyr. A commentary on the book of revelation 9780892254460 by john t. In revelation, johns visions reveal that jesus has overcome evil by. Traditionally, both books have been identified as coming from the same person, john the son. I have been arguing that the author of the fourth gospel and the author of the book of revelation could not have been the same person, and in. Written by a christian named john, the contents of the book indicate quite clearly that the author was not the john who was one of the twelve disciples of jesus, for it contains no direct personal references of the type that one would expect from an intimate.
The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. Haupt also notes the frequent use of triplets and septets as a signature of johns gospel. John of patmos could be the author named as john in the book of revelation, the apocalyptic text forming the final. Elaine pagels on the book of revelation february 24. One gospel, three letters, and the book of revelation are all attributed to john.
With the book of revelation, the reason for the identification was simple. Similarities between the book of revelation and the gospel of. It will be argued that johns use of the song in the apocalypse serves the purpose of giving apostolic authority to a. I would recommend it to novices and scholars alike. John has built the unique application of the gospel he provides in revelation into the very structure of the book. Both books talk about god and light or fire together. Compare the writing styles the gospel of john and the revelation to john are written in two completely different writing styles. Then i heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, come. In fact if one does a search for the believe using the root belie. The gospel of john official hd movie english youtube. It is apparent that john considered jesus more than a man and more than an angel. This has been a question at the back of my mind for some time and its great to hear your reasons for believing john to be the author. The book of revelation and the gospel of john are very different texts. Im not sure whether this person wants me to assure them that the gospel jesus is the revelation jesus or that the revelation jesus is the gospel jesus.
The main debate centers on who authored the writings, and which of the writings, if any, can be ascribed to a common author. The gospel of john is the latestwritten of the four biographies of jesus that have been preserved in the new testament. The end of time in revelation and the gospel of john the. Yet only onethe gospel of johnclaims to be an eyewitness account, the testimony of the unnamed disciple whom jesus loved. Readers dont have to guess or research where revelation was written. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with god, and the word was god.
He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. Dec 19, 20 did the apostle john write the book of revelation. When read as a literary diptych, the two books create a pattern of interlocking. There is no need to study revelation as our pastor believes it is symbolic description of the destruction of jerusalem in ad 70. Was the book of revelation written before the gospel of john. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The book of revelation compared with the gospel of john. The book of john kjv audio bible full by alexander scourby. Elaine pagels on the book of revelation february 24, 2012. He didnt write his gospel until about 30 years after christs death. The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simp. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he sawthat is, the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. John use of the song in the book of revelation is one of the most substantial hermeneutical aids in helping defend a christological interpretation of the song.
The apostle john is the author of the book of revelation. Aug 12, 2017 john was also the writer of the book of revelation where there are some more i am statements of jesus that are less well known. Revelation 1 niv prologue the revelation from jesus. Note that each of them required some additional designation to distinguish them from others with the same name. What are the titles of jesus in the gospel of john. In revelation, as in john s gospel and first epistle, the consciousnessofaworldconflict,aworldprocess,andaworldtriumph is manifest. You can find the best commentary on john for you using the tools on the right side. The end of time in revelation and the gospel of john the bart. There are a number of good latterday saint commentaries that the teacher will find helpful.
A comprehensive database of more than 26 gospel of john quizzes online, test your knowledge with gospel of john quiz questions. When read as a literary diptych, the two books create a pattern of interlocking typologies. Jan 18, 2019 john wrote the gospel sometime after 70 a. Also, as early as the third century it was determined by the before mentioned dionysius of alexandria that due to language, style, and thought, revelation could not have been written by the same john who authored the gospel of john or the epistles of john, which dionysius did believe was the apostle.
Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to many political and religious prisoners or slaves. The tradition of john s exile was started by augustine about 200 years after john lived. It has been observed that the style of the greek within the book of revelation differs significantly from that of the gospel of john. The book of john tells us that as believers and followers of jesus we are in the kingdom of god now. The gospel of john was shown in a special presentation at the 2003 toronto film festival. John s gospel is filled with references to future eschatology.
Yet only onethe gospel of john claims to be an eyewitness account, the testimony of the unnamed disciple whom jesus loved. Style of writing commentary a testimony of jesus christ. Johns use of the song of songs in the book of revelation. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. When you read revelation, nowhere in the book does it state that john is in exile or imprisoned. Is the jesus in revelation the same as the jesus in the gospels. We read about several johns in the new testament, including john the baptist. In revelation, as in johns gospel and first epistle, the consciousnessofaworldconflict,aworldprocess,andaworldtriumph is manifest. It is the only book of the new testament classified as apocalyptic literature rather than didactic or historical, indicating thereby its extensive use of visions, symbols, and allegory, especially in connection with future events. There are many different names for jesus used in the book of john. John used the verb believe 98 times which is more than all the uses in the synoptic gospels combined. Thank you very much for your recent post about whether the apostle john was the author of the gospel of john.
Nonprofit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. Every book of the old testament is quoted except obadiah, nahum, zephaniah, and esther. Is the book of john, john 1,2,3 and revelation all. Jun 21, 2014 the dialogue of the movie is word for word, solely based on the good news bible also known as todays english version. After brief background from johns gospel this piece will concentrate on these examples from revelation. The gospel of john does not mention james or john by name but just refers to the sons of zebedee. Fair use is a use permitted by statute that might otherwise be infringing. The book of revelation john s second work, the book of revelation, was also written in aramaic.
The gospels, the first four books of the new testament, tell the story of the life of jesus. This is being aired by permission of the holder litchfield associates, all rights. Gospel of john catholic commentary on sacred scripture. Oct 29, 2014 the book of revelation and the gospel of john are very different texts. Traditionally, the five books of the new testament gospel according to john, 1 john, 2 john, 3 john, and revelation have been attributed to john the apostle. The writing of the new testament john and revelation. Fifteen years or so after the book of revelation, john relinquishes the vengeful dream of a political messiah and embraces instead the dawn of a new age. If pressed, the pastor would say that revelation and john were written by the same apostle before ad 70 john. Only the older dispensational teaching churches believe that revelation is about a future great tribulation. How john wrote the book of revelation is a behindthescenes look at the literary process used to create the book of revelation. Revelation of john the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. When was the book of revelation written by the apostle john. Settings in the book include bethany, galilee, capernaum, jerusalem, judea, and samaria.
Each link here takes you to the beginning of that chapter in john s gospel. Speaking of the apocalypse from the previous post giving that odd video. In the opening chapters of all three of johns writings, we find a reference to jesus as the word john john 1. He wrote it when he was about 92 years old, while a prisoner of rome on the remote desert penal colony of patmos, an island in the aegean sea. The use of nikan, with the single exception of rom. Who wrote the book of revelation and the fourth gospel. In the prologue to his gospel, the apostle john introduces another man named john.
Revelation 6 new international version niv the seals. John s gospel inside these pages lives a love story set aright. Revelation 1 new international version niv prologue. Their commentary is textured, smart, accessible, and spiritually alert. Revelation talks about the future and the gospel of john talks about the past. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. This has been frequently used to intimate that the author, although describing himself as john rev.
It may be in this sense that the prophet joseph smith said that revelation was one of the plainest books god ever. John was apparently the only apostle not to be martyred. It was written before the gospel of john and before several of the new testament. Revelation to john, also called book of revelation or apocalypse of john, last book of the new testament. Revelation has long been attributed to the author of johns gospel, in spite of the differences in style of writing. He also wrote the book of revelation while he was imprisoned on the isle of patmos. Warren gage suggests that they were composed to interpret each other. Most definitely the gospel of john was written before the destruction of jerusalem ad 70 as references are made within the book to structures existing before that siege of jerusalem. The frequent use of overcome also appears to be a signature of john. False according to the symbolism of revelation, what. There are a number of key words in john s gospel but the most important is believe pisteuo. The authorship of the johannine works the gospel of john, epistles of john, and the book of revelation has been debated by scholars since at least the 2nd century ad. Matt slick is the president and founder of the christian apologetics.
It is important that the book of revelation not be skipped because johns work gives added details on three important subjects. Our online gospel of john trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top gospel of john quizzes. The return of jesus is contemplated in relation to the enlarged environment in which christianity stood. Dec 04, 2017 the book of john read by alexander scourby. This book cracks the mystery of the elaborate, and highly formulaic procedure john used, and gives readers the opportunity to observe how the book of revelation was written, line by line, as though they were peering. So there is no doubt that he was a different man with the same name. Some say that john s gospel focuses on realized eschatology the changes the gospel makes in people here and now whereas revelation focuses on future eschatology. Similarities between the book of revelation and the gospel. This site includes the entire hammadi library, as well as a large collection of other primary gnostic scriptures and documents. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st.
The book should be rightfully called the revelation according to jesus christ. There may have been a single author for the gospel and the three epistles. Robert barron, rectorpresident, mundelein seminary commentaries on john are beyond counting. When was the book of revelation written by the apostle. Best john commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. The author names himself as john, but modern scholars consider it unlikely that the author of revelation also wrote the gospel of john. Eight reasons against john the apostle as the author of.
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