Revision #10109
John
Localized for English-speaking readers (msgbatch_01GvFKF6zaroxwZ2RCatyoPp)
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## Definition and Meaning
=
- John was one of the Twelve Disciples. His name derives from the Hebrew *Yohanan* and is usually interpreted to mean "God is gracious." He is distinct from John the Baptist and from John Mark (Acts 12:12), who share his name. To distinguish him from them, he is called "John the Apostle" or "John the son of Zebedee."
+ John was one of the Twelve Disciples of Jesus. His name derives from the Hebrew *Yohanan* and is usually understood to mean "God is gracious." He is a different person from John the Baptist and from John Mark (Acts 12:12), who bear the same name. To distinguish him from them, he is called "John the Apostle" or "John the son of Zebedee."
=
= ## Biblical and Historical Background
=
- According to the Gospels, John was a Galilean fisherman. He was mending nets with his older brother James when Jesus called him (Mark 1:19–20). Jesus gave the two brothers the name "Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17). Together with Peter and James, John was present at key moments such as the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2) and the prayer in Gethsemane (Mark 14:33).
+ According to the Gospels, John was a fisherman from Galilee. He was mending nets with his older brother James when Jesus called him (Mark 1:19–20). Jesus gave the two brothers the name "Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17). With Peter and James, John was present at key events such as the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2) and Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane (Mark 14:33).
=
- The disciple "whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23), who appears in the Gospel of John, has long been identified with John. This disciple took Jesus' mother, Mary, into his care at the foot of the cross (John 19:26–27). Scholars disagree, however, on whether this disciple was in fact John.
+ The disciple "whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23), who appears in the Gospel of John, has long been identified with John. At the foot of the cross, this disciple took Jesus' mother, Mary, into his care (John 19:26–27). Scholars disagree, however, on whether this disciple was John.
=
- In the Acts of the Apostles, John leads the Jerusalem church alongside Peter (Acts 3–4). Paul called him one of the "pillars" of the church (Galatians 2:9).
+ In the Acts of the Apostles, John leads the Jerusalem church together with Peter (Acts 3–4). Paul described him as one of the "pillars" of the church (Galatians 2:9).
=
- Early church tradition holds that John ministered in Ephesus in his later years. The author of Revelation identifies himself as John, who was on the isle of Patmos (Revelation 1:9). Traditionally, the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation have been accepted as the works of John the Apostle. Since the modern era, biblical scholars have advanced various views on whether these books share a single author and whether the apostle himself wrote them.
+ Early church tradition holds that John ministered in Ephesus in his later years. The author of Revelation identifies himself as John, who was on the isle of Patmos (Revelation 1:9). Traditionally, the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation have been accepted as the works of John the Apostle. Since the modern period, biblical scholars have proposed various views on whether these books share a single author and whether the apostle himself wrote them.
=
- ## Practice in the Korean Church
+ ## Practice in Korean Churches
=
- Korean Protestants call him "Yohan," following the rendering in the New Korean Revised Version, and the five books listed above are sometimes grouped together as the "Johannine literature." In sermons and Bible study, John is commonly presented as the "Apostle of Love." A frequent interpretation holds that the impetuous "son of thunder" was transformed into a disciple who emphasized love.
+ Korean Protestant churches follow the naming used in the Revised Korean Version (New Revised Edition), and the five books listed above are sometimes grouped together as the "Johannine literature." In sermons and Bible study, John is commonly presented as the "Apostle of Love," and a frequent interpretation holds that the impetuous "son of thunder" was transformed into a disciple who emphasized love.
=
- Practices of commemoration vary by denomination:
+ Practices of commemoration in Korea vary by denomination:
=
- - **Anglican Church of Korea**: Has a tradition of observing a feast day in honor of John the Apostle in the liturgical calendar.
- - **Catholic Church**: Venerates John the Apostle as a saint, and his name is a popular baptismal name among the faithful.
- - **Most Protestant denominations**: Do not observe saints' days, focusing instead on teaching John as an example of faith.
+ - **Anglican Church of Korea**: Has a tradition of keeping a feast day in honor of John the Apostle in the liturgical calendar.
+ - **Catholic Church**: Venerates John the Apostle as a saint, and his name is widely used by the faithful as a baptismal name.
+ - **Most Protestant denominations**: Do not observe saints' days, emphasizing instead the teaching of John as an example of faith.
John was one of the Twelve Disciples of Jesus, the son of Zebedee and the brother of James. He has traditionally been regarded as the author of the Gospel of John, the Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation.
John was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, the son of Zebedee and the brother of James. He has traditionally been regarded as the author of the Gospel of John, the Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation.
Full revision
John was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, the son of Zebedee and the brother of James. He has traditionally been regarded as the author of the Gospel of John, the Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation.
Definition and Meaning
John was one of the Twelve Disciples of Jesus. His name derives from the Hebrew Yohanan and is usually understood to mean "God is gracious." He is a different person from John the Baptist and from John Mark (Acts 12:12), who bear the same name. To distinguish him from them, he is called "John the Apostle" or "John the son of Zebedee."
Biblical and Historical Background
According to the Gospels, John was a fisherman from Galilee. He was mending nets with his older brother James when Jesus called him (Mark 1:19–20). Jesus gave the two brothers the name "Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17). With Peter and James, John was present at key events such as the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2) and Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane (Mark 14:33).
The disciple "whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23), who appears in the Gospel of John, has long been identified with John. At the foot of the cross, this disciple took Jesus' mother, Mary, into his care (John 19:26–27). Scholars disagree, however, on whether this disciple was John.
In the Acts of the Apostles, John leads the Jerusalem church together with Peter (Acts 3–4). Paul described him as one of the "pillars" of the church (Galatians 2:9).
Early church tradition holds that John ministered in Ephesus in his later years. The author of Revelation identifies himself as John, who was on the isle of Patmos (Revelation 1:9). Traditionally, the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation have been accepted as the works of John the Apostle. Since the modern period, biblical scholars have proposed various views on whether these books share a single author and whether the apostle himself wrote them.
Practice in Korean Churches
Korean Protestant churches follow the naming used in the Revised Korean Version (New Revised Edition), and the five books listed above are sometimes grouped together as the "Johannine literature." In sermons and Bible study, John is commonly presented as the "Apostle of Love," and a frequent interpretation holds that the impetuous "son of thunder" was transformed into a disciple who emphasized love.
Practices of commemoration in Korea vary by denomination:
- Anglican Church of Korea: Has a tradition of keeping a feast day in honor of John the Apostle in the liturgical calendar.
- Catholic Church: Venerates John the Apostle as a saint, and his name is widely used by the faithful as a baptismal name.
- Most Protestant denominations: Do not observe saints' days, emphasizing instead the teaching of John as an example of faith.