THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED

Take another look         The Bible has the answer

J. Phillips, © 2004

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The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved
© 2004 by J. Phillips – Revised Third Edition, First Edition © 2000
Address correspondence to: TheDiscipleWhomJesusLoved.com, P.O. Box 885, Lockport, IL 60441
Published in soft cover, 149 pages & fully indexed (contains both a topical and a scripture index).
Library of Congress Card Number: 00-192244 -- ISBN: 0-9702687-1-8

All scripture references are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV). References to the Greek text are from the Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, © 1981 by Baker Book House. All rights reserved. However, this work may be reproduced to promote Bible study provided that all copies are distributed without charge and provided that all copies contain the complete and unaltered text of this book. This applies to translation into any language or transmission by any means. Excerpts for use in printed or electronic reviews are also permitted.

DEDICATION

Thank you, God, for giving Stella a love for your Word and for the question she raised at that kitchen table Bible study when she said, "I have a problem with the Gospel of ‘John’. I noticed that the author never calls himself ‘John’, but he refers to himself as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’, the ‘other disciple’ or ‘the other disciple, whom Jesus loved’, but he doesn’t call himself ‘John’." She then quoted two verses that opened my eyes. This led me to search the scriptures regarding this beloved disciple and I am very grateful for that. Your Word has preserved many important details for us, but I hadn’t paid enough attention to them. Thankfully, she did. By raising the question, she inspired me to take a closer look at the Bible and that search for truth has resulted in a greater appreciation for your Word. It’s true, that big oaks from little acorns grow.

Thank you to all who gave time and resources to the production of this book, especially my wife Kathleen, my mother, my sisters and my friends. Your encouragement, prayers, assistance, patience and love were vital to this project and are deeply appreciated. To those who sent funds to help us print books or have recommended this book to others, thank you for your support. I also need to thank Meridith and Joel for our wonderful cover and Lisa for all her diligent efforts. God bless everyone who helped this work to succeed.

PREFACE

Some thoughts to keep in mind when considering God’s Word:

"It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." (Pr. 25:2)

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" (Ecc. 3:1)

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." (Ps. 118:8)

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes." (Ps. 118:9)

"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." (Pr. 30:5)

Has God revealed things to the wise and prudent and hid them from the babes or just the opposite?
(See Mt. 11:25 & Lu. 10:21)

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby..." (1Pt. 2:2)

"... Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Mt. 4:4)

"For the word of the LORD is right…" (Ps. 33:4)

"... he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully." (Jer. 23:28)

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed…" (2Ti. 2:15)

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Gal. 6:7)

"He that is of God heareth God's words…" (Jn. 8:47)

"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Th. 5:21)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1- THE TRUTH MATTERS
Gospel Of The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved - The Integrity Of The Bible - Just The Facts And Just The Bible - Warning: Proceed With Caution - The Truth Is Our Goal - Jury Duty - Bible References And Quotes - A Worthwhile Pursuit And A Helping Hand

Chapter 2 - WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
"The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved" - The "Other Disciple" - A Look At The Scriptures - A Latecomer? - Erased From The Bible? - A Few More Questions Before The Answers

Chapter 3 - THE EVIDENCE PRO & CON
The Evidence Will Prove John Didn’t Do It! - How Humble Was John? - A Glaring Contrast - Why Include John, But Exclude TDWJL? - The Relationship Between Jesus And John - Peter Was Foremost Among "The Twelve" - The Behavior And Character Of John - The Scriptures Present A Contrast - "And they all forsook him and fled" - Courage Under Fire

Chapter 4 - EVIDENCE THAT CLEARS JOHN
TDWJL And The ‘Last Supper’ - Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner? - Not Alone At The Passover - "After" The Supper? - Where Is ‘The Lord’s Table’? - The Foot Washing Incident - "Not Of You All" - The Sequence Of ‘Last Supper’ Events - A Hidden Key In The Book Of Acts - John And The High Priest - If Not John, Then Who?

Chapter 5 - THIS DISCIPLE’S TRUE IDENTITY
What Is God Telling Us? - Hidden In Plain Sight - Bible References To Jesus’ Love - A Sudden Appearance - Jesus’ Friend Becomes ‘A Celebrity’ - A Sudden Disappearance - Dead Man Walking - Like White On Rice! - Been There. Done That. - The Courage Evidence - What Is A "Disciple"? - The Character Evidence - Does The Shoe Fit? - Resurrection Morning - The Evidence In The Tomb - The First Disciple to "Believe" - The "Linen" Effect - The Fishing Trip - The First Error - A Telltale Rumor

Chapter 6 - MOTIVE AND MORE EVIDENCE
The Motive - The Fame Problem - ‘What About Him?’ - Jesus Foretells Peter’s Death - The Humbleness Question - The Name Game - The Other Murder Plot - Which Disciple Was "Known"?

Chapter 7 - THE CONCLUSION
So Far (The Jury Summation) - The First Disciple? - Another Possibility - Mark’s Mystery Man - A Fashion Statement? - Enough Evidence? - More Than Just A Story? - Who Was Jesus Speaking About? - In Conclusion - Where Do You Go From Here? - What Difference Does It Make?

INTRODUCTION

Consider the following facts connected with two very important events in the life of Jesus: [1] his transfiguration (Mt. 17:1-9, Mk. 9:2-9, Lu. 9:28-36) and [2] his prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt. 26:36-46, Mk. 14:32-42, Lu. 22:39-46).

Only three disciples were present at each of these events and the Apostle John was one of them (Mt. 17:1, Mk. 9:2, Lu. 9:28 & Mt. 26:37, Mk. 14:33). John was able to give eyewitness testimony when it came to both of these key incidents. But notice that there is absolutely no mention of these events in the Gospel that today bears John’s name! What can explain this omission? Would John have written an account of Jesus’ ministry that failed to include his testimony pertaining to these two key events?

Also, notice the instruction that Jesus gave to those three disciples (Mt. 17:9, Mk. 9:9) – they were not supposed to keep silent about the transfiguration after Jesus had risen from the dead. If John wrote this Gospel, then his silence on this event would seem contrary to Jesus’ instructions on this matter!

But the Apostle John was neither disobedient, nor negligent in this regard. The Biblical record can account for the fact that no eyewitness report of these two events was recorded in this Gospel. You’ll learn why these omissions occurred as we search the Bible for an answer to a question that is implicitly presented in the Word of God. And that question is: Who was "the disciple whom Jesus loved"?

The Bible tells us that this unnamed disciple wrote this Gospel (Jn. 21:20-24). But, his identity was cloaked by a veil of anonymity throughout the pages of his own Gospel. This author used the phrases "the disciple whom Jesus loved", "the other disciple", etc. to refer to himself and, it turns out, that he had a very good reason for camouflaging his true identity.

This study will reveal his motive for doing so and, as we proceed, you’ll gain a new appreciation for the details that God has preserved for us in the Biblical record. In this regard, notice that the author is distinguishable by the love that Jesus had for him. And notice that the Bible does record Jesus’ love for specific individuals (Mk. 10:17-22, Jn. 11:1-5, etc.). Given these facts, you may be shocked to learn that the Bible never singles out John in this manner! Thus, it is actually unscriptural to refer to John as ‘the beloved disciple’ – unless one can prove that the anonymous "disciple whom Jesus loved" and the Apostle John were the same person.

Thank God, it is possible to prove the identity of "the disciple whom Jesus loved" based solely on the evidence contained in the Bible. The facts can prove that a mistake has been made; this unnamed disciple was not John. This wasn’t the author’s fault; for example, the ‘title’ "The Gospel of John" was added to his book long after he had died. But, while things like this can distort a reader’s perceptions, they cannot overcome the truthfulness of the actual truth of scripture (much like a poorly translated word or a Bible typeset error). [And besides this, we know that God is sovereign, so none of these additions has escaped Him.]

Lest anyone mistake the thrust of this study, note that: God’s Word is not in error and nothing in this study suggests otherwise. In fact, this study will cite nothing but the scriptures in seeking to answer this question – because misconceptions regarding a Biblical topic are best corrected by paying very close attention to every ‘jot and tittle’ of truth that God has preserved for us in the Bible.

Consider what Acts 18:24-28 tells us about a man "named Apollos". Even though he was "mighty in the scriptures", "instructed in the way of the Lord", "fervent in the spirit" and "spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord", his understanding of the scriptures was lacking. We know this because when "Aquila and Priscilla had heard" what he was teaching, they "took him" and "expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly". [The Greek here says, "more accurately".] We are told that, up to that time, Apollos knew of "only the baptism of John". But the key point is that Apollos revised his teaching when the truth was presented to him. Thereafter, we are told that Apollos "mightily convinced the Jews" – "shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ". Apollos was "mighty in the scriptures" and he was still willing to be taught. So why not us?

In the Bible the term "mystery" refers to things misunderstood or kept secret (Rom. 11:25 & 16:25, Eph. 5:32 & 6:19, 1 Cor. 15:51, etc.). The ‘mystery’ of this author’s identity presents a paradox worth considering. If this author was John and his true identity was widely known soon after this Gospel was written, as many teach, then the author’s effort to remain anonymous was a complete failure.

Conversely, if this author wasn’t John, then the author’s effort was a huge success. And today, 2000 years later, many people believe that the Bible can’t reveal anything ‘new’ because the ‘scholars’ have already discovered everything of significance. But, as you’ll see, the Holy Spirit can still open our eyes to new information and teach important truths through the details preserved for us in God’s Word.

History proves that errors can become widely accepted as truth – the ‘evolution of life without God’ theory is just one example. Most people will take the ‘scholars’ word for it on such issues, assuming that what the ‘experts’ teach is the truth. But where the Bible is concerned, we can search the scriptures to verify whether or not what we are being taught is actually scriptural (like the Bereans of Acts 17:11).

In this study you’ll be challenged to let the words of scripture be your guide. You’ll be asked to weigh their meaning and the evidence they present, without letting others interpret these things for you. In order to render a fair and impartial verdict, you’ll have to guard against having your judgement of the facts distorted by what you’ve learned in the past. There is often a difference between what people say the Bible says and what it actually says. So we can best determine the truth on scriptural issues through a careful review of what the Bible itself really says.

As we seek to consider every verse in the Bible that can shed light on this topic, make sure to ask God to lead you to the truth – because our faith "should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (1 Cor. 2:5).

This book is based on the idea that the Bible is the best measure of truth on scriptural questions. It seems apparent that one should not be presenting the ‘John’ idea as if it is scripturally true, if there is not one verse that would justify teaching that idea. Likewise, if God opens our eyes to the fact that an idea that we assumed was scriptural actually is not, then honesty demands that we stop communicating that mistaken idea and cease perpetuating a myth. Furthermore, if we become aware that there may be a reason to question a given idea or if something causes us to suspect that an idea we’ve been taught may not be scripturally accurate, then it’s incumbent on us to search the scriptures for the truth.

What would you say to someone who asked, "Why should people read the Bible? If the best that one can hope for is to learn what the scholars have already discovered, then why not just tell people to read the writings of scholars, rather than reading the Bible and risk misunderstanding what it says?"

If the scholars can be wrong about the ‘John’ idea, then what else might they be wrong about? The lesson of this book should lead you to read the Bible more, to read it more carefully and to test the statements of your teachers, instead of assuming them to be true. [If you find this study to be a solid scriptural analysis, then please mention it to others. Also, if you received this book for free, then we ask you to pass it on to someone else when you finish reading it. Should you ever need to refer to the book later, you can read it online or downloaded and print a copy at TheDiscipleWhomJesusLoved.com or TheGospelOfJohn.com.]

Chapter 1 - THE TRUTH MATTERS

The Gospel Of The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved

The God inspired writer of our fourth Gospel was careful to never refer to himself by name. Since he deliberately withheld his identity, then perhaps it is not prudent to casually disregard his efforts and jump to the conclusion the author was ‘obviously’ the Apostle John, the brother of James. Shouldn’t we wonder why God’s inspired author used cryptic phrases like “the disciple whom Jesus loved” when referring to himself? Why didn’t he just use his name [as the Apostle Paul did in Gal. 1:1 & 5:2 and as the Apostle John did in Rev. 1:1 & 22:8, for example]?

Instead of simply identifying himself by name, this author cloaked himself in a veil of anonymity. Since God did not lead the author of this Gospel to identify himself as the Apostle John, should we be so nonchalant about presuming that this was John? Why would anyone encourage a rush to judgement on this matter – especially considering the fact that the author of this Gospel went to great lengths to hide his identity?

This is not to suggest that the identity of this unnamed author cannot be determined. There is an individual who does fit with all that the Bible reveals about this author. Passages like John 20:5 & 21:21 indicate that this author was a male. Establishing his identity, however, takes more effort. In order to do so, this study will seek to examine everything that the Bible can tell us about this individual. We will search the scriptures for an answer to the question that is implicitly presented to every reader of this Gospel: Who was “the disciple whom Jesus loved”?

The Integrity Of The Bible

The content of our fourth Gospel is true and trustworthy. This is not what is in question. Nothing presented herein casts any doubt whatsoever on the legitimacy of this Gospel as inspired scripture, nor its rightful inclusion in the New Testament. No one should think that this study in any way challenges the words of God’s inspired writers or the accuracy of scripture. Any such innuendo would plainly be a flagrant distortion of what is discussed herein.

A firm reliance on the Bible as the inspired Word of God doesn’t prohibit the questioning of the traditions of men. Jesus himself was quite willing to challenge religious teachings that were based on an erroneous understanding of the scriptures. It is not improper for us to question teachings or traditions, even widely accepted ones, if we discover evidence that suggests that something is amiss. If you love Jesus, then you love the truth. A search for truth, utilizing only the evidence contained in God’s Word, is what you will find in this study.

Just The Facts And Just The Bible

As stated earlier, the writer of this Gospel always described himself with phrases that avoided directly disclosing his identity. When one takes note of this, then mere dogmatic assertions regarding this author’s identity are likely to seem less convincing than they might have otherwise – since his identity is the very thing that God saw fit to have him conceal. However, as you‘ll see, the scriptures can reveal as well as conceal.

Those new to the Bible may be unaware that this Gospel’s inspired author did not entitle his work “The Gospel of John”. This title, like the chapter and verse divisions, was not the author’s doing. Others added these items at later dates. But, when the text of the Gospel is considered, it becomes self-evident that this title was not a product of the inspired author. It’s incongruous to think that the author would proclaim his name in a title, since the Gospel that he wrote clearly shows that he intended to hide his identity.

Ideally, this study will provoke you to examine the verses cited and think through the evidence that they present. The Bible is inspired and infallible, but hearsay evidence is not. So this case is presented without using the extra-biblical writings of individuals from the present or the past. You will not be asked to trust the opinions of “scholars” or ideas attributed to the “early church”. (When considering extra-biblical sources, remember that mans wisdom is not God’s wisdom – so extra-biblical writings need to conform to the Biblical record and not the other way around.)

This study will present its case using only scripture and the logical conclusions that result from comparing scripture with scripture.

Warning: Proceed With Caution

Acts 17:11 tells us the Bereans “were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so”. We ought to be just as diligent as these disciples were and test everything against the Bible.

When we read a book or listen to a teaching, we should be checking the Bible to determine if we are being taught correctly. The responsibility for this ‘truth test’ appears to rest on those who receive the message. The Bereans are praised for checking out Paul’s teaching, so how much more should we test what we are taught. Let’s be as conscientious about seeking the truth as the Bereans were and use the Bible to prove the ideas that others present to us.

Christians have nothing to fear from the truth. But, since new ideas challenge tradition, they are often mocked or simply dismissed. However, unless man has discovered all of the truth in the Bible, then we should always be open to the possibility that God may, at times, have something new to teach us.

The Truth Is Our Goal

Jesus often used questions in his teaching process. Likewise, when we find something in the Bible that arouses our curiosity, we should take a closer look. God knew that inspiring this author to refer to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” would cause some to ponder these scriptures further. So let’s look to the scriptures for the answer to this question: who was this anonymous author?

In answering this question, don’t assume you can trust the opinion of others more than your own. Popular opinion can be wrong. Even if ‘everybody’ thinks that something is true that does not make it so – such as when ‘all’ the educated people ‘knew’ that the earth was flat and anyone would be ridiculed if they questioned the accepted ‘truth.’

Let’s follow the example of the Bereans. They didn’t just take Paul’s word for it. They checked the scriptures! And we should do likewise when we are told that “the disciple whom Jesus loved” was John. If this teaching is true, then the evidence in the scriptures should support it. Yet, incredibly, the Bible never suggests that this unnamed author was John. Despite this, commentaries and teachers will often say that John was “the disciple whom Jesus loved” and they state this as if it was a fact. In reality, though, these assertions amount to opinion being mistakenly portrayed as fact. In this study you’ll see for yourself that this assertion fails ‘the Berean test’.

Commentaries or other books can be helpful, especially when they highlight details that we might otherwise miss. But, we need to test the statements they make. And you should treat this text likewise. Carefully evaluate the case presented herein and verify each scripture reference in its context.

The verses cited in this study are quoted herein, but looking up the verses will allow you to confirm the evidence in its context. By doing so you’ll become more grounded in God’s Word, and you will be built up in confidence and competence when it comes to discussing the topic of this study.

Finally, Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”. So, we should be sure to ask God to guide us, especially when it is the Bible that we are seeking to understand.

Jury Duty

As you read on, imagine that you are sitting on a jury and that the Bible has been introduced as Exhibit A. Your task is to consider the facts and decide whether or not this evidence is adequate to prove the identity of “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. You will be the one deciding this ‘case’, so it’s up to you to prayerfully seek the truth and consider the factual evidence without prejudice.

The first portion of this study seeks to prove, ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’, that the Apostle John was not “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. Although ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ is a very high standard, the Biblical evidence presented herein should be able to meet this standard, in your judgement. The facts will prove that the Apostle John and this unnamed author were two different individuals.

The last half of this study seeks to prove the true identity of this heretofore-misidentified “disciple” – to ‘a preponderance of the evidence’. It’s up to you to determine whether or not the evidence presented is sufficient to meet this standard. As you will learn, this Gospel author was one of the most noteworthy individuals in the New Testament, yet because he wrote anonymously, he has been largely overlooked.

Bible References And Quotes

The only source quoted in this study is the Holy Bible. The exact wording of your Bible may vary for some of the quotes, since there are many different versions of the Bible. Still, no matter which Bible version you use, you’ll be able to verify the accuracy and context of every passage cited. The differences in wording between Bible versions won’t alter the verdict that is demanded by the evidence.

All of the quotes in this study are taken from the King James Version (KJV). Thus, you’ll find some words that appear to be misspelled, like “shewed” or “Messias”. These are not errors. They are the result of exactly quoting the King James Version. While the King James can seem awkward at times, it is still the most widely held Bible version.

[Ten Greek references are included for clarification. These are from the Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, published by Baker Book House, 1981.]

A Worthwhile Pursuit And A Helping Hand

Some will ask, ‘If the contents of this Gospel are true and inspired by God, then what difference does it make who wrote it?’ We will consider this question later, but for now let it suffice that Jesus said a number of things that should indicate to us the truth matters (Jn. 8:32, 14:6, 17:19 & 18:37).

The Bible certainly notifies us that the pursuit of truth is a good thing. Here is one example of this from Proverbs 2:3-5: “if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God”. This suggests that we should be vigilant about seeking the truth and that doing so is a worthwhile endeavor.

We ought not to think, however, that this is a task that we should undertake alone. The Holy Spirit is referred to as “the Spirit of truth” in a verse that says, “he will guide you into all truth” (Jn. 16:13). In Luke 11:13, Jesus indicated that the Father would “give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him”. So be sure to take advantage of this wonderful promise.

Chapter 2 - THE BELOVED DISCIPLE WAS THE ONE WHO WROTE THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
 

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