John's Gospel in Current Literature

Authors

Walter G. Heyne, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis

Publication Date

11-1-1950

Document Type

Article

Keywords

fourth gospel of john, authorship, ephesus, martyrdom, bernard, presbyter, son of zebedee

Submission Type

Bible Study; Lecture; Sermon Prep

Abstract

Who wrote the Fourth Gospel? For centuries there had been almost unanimous agreement on this point. Tradition, based on very ancient authorities, as well as the book itself all seemed to agree that it was the work of John, the Beloved Disciple, son of Zebedee. But about the turn of the eighteenth century, students of the Bible were shaken by voices which dared to question this supposedly impregnable claim. In England a man by the name of Evanson ( ca. 1790) attributed the Gospel to some Platonic philosopher of the second century. Six years later a German named Eckermann took up the refrain, with more and more voices joining the chorus.

Disciplines

Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Scripture References in this Resource (separated by semi-colons)

John 21:4;

Submission Cost

Free

Submission Audience

Laity; Ministers; Scholars

Recommended Citation

Heyne, Walter G. (1950) "John's Gospel in Current Literature," Concordia Theological Monthly: Vol. 21, Article 72.
Available at: https://scholar.csl.edu/ctm/vol21/iss1/72