John the Apostle
The Beloved Disciple
1st century AD
Brother of James, son of Zebedee; the disciple Jesus loved, who wrote a Gospel, three letters, and Revelation.
“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God.” — 1 John 4:16Talk with John the Apostle
The story of John the Apostle
John the Apostle, the son of Zebedee and brother of James, was one of the first disciples called by Jesus. Along with Peter and James, he belonged to the inner circle that witnessed the Transfiguration and the agony in Gethsemane. Jesus nicknamed the brothers 'Sons of Thunder,' likely due to their fiery temperament, though John later became known as the 'Apostle of Love.'
John refers to himself in his Gospel as the 'disciple whom Jesus loved.' He was the only apostle present at the foot of the cross, where Jesus entrusted the care of His mother, Mary, to him. After the Resurrection, John was a pillar of the early Church in Jerusalem, working closely with Peter to preach the Gospel and care for the growing community of believers.
In his later years, John lived in Ephesus and was eventually exiled to the island of Patmos for his faith, where he received the visions recorded in the Book of Revelation. He is traditionally credited with writing the fourth Gospel and three New Testament letters. According to tradition, he was the only apostle to die of old age rather than martyrdom, continuing to preach love until the end.
Key passages
Mark 3:13–17
Jesus calls John and James and gives them the nickname Sons of Thunder.
John 19:25–27
John stands by the cross and is told by Jesus to take care of Mary.
John 20:1–10
John and Peter run to the empty tomb and find that Jesus has risen.
1 John 4:7–21
John’s teaching on the necessity of love, reflecting his transformation as a disciple.
Revelation 1:9–11
John describes his exile on Patmos and the start of his heavenly visions.
Key books
- John
- 1 John
- 2 John
- 3 John
- Revelation
Questions you can ask
- “What was it like to lean on Jesus?”
- “Why do you call him the Word?”
- “Tell me about Patmos”
Common questions
Why is John called the 'beloved disciple'?
This title comes from the Gospel of John, where he describes himself as the one Jesus loved, reflecting their uniquely close relationship.
What books of the Bible did John write?
Tradition attributes the Gospel of John, the three letters of John (1, 2, and 3 John), and the Book of Revelation to him.
Did John die as a martyr?
Unlike the other apostles, tradition says John died of natural causes in old age, though he suffered persecution and exile for his faith.