Figure Out Which of the 3 Johns Wrote this Book of the Bible

Learn about which John wrote the gospel book of John and then discover its historical context and Bible events in this printable outline.

Who is the Man Who Wrote the Book of John?

This was such a sweet book for me to read through and study this month. I had never been very clear on who the 12 apostles were in relation to each other and then how they specifically interacted with Jesus (outside of Peter and Matthew).

When I did some digging into the 12 apostles, I realized that “the disciple whom Jesus loved” wasn’t a one-time phrase. It was found multiple times in the gospel and I had never put a name to this nickname. Turns out this disciple is John.

For example:

John 13:23
One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.

John 19:25-27
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

John 20:2
So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

John 21:7
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

John 21:20
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)

Which John Are We Talking About?

We read about three Johns mentioned in the New Testament. So who is the man who wrote the gospel of John? This is not John the Baptist, or the cousin of Barnabas named John who traveled with Paul later on his missionary trips. This is John, the apostle, the best friend of Jesus.

So when I read the book of John again through this lens, I felt the emotion in his words as he described a best friend he loved and lost. John was the only apostle present at the cross and Jesus even asked him to care for his mother after he died. Additionally, he was one of two apostles Mary Magdalene ran to when she found the empty tomb. He never doubted, always trusting.

It is said that all of the apostles died as martyrs–except John. It’s rumored that he was the only one to die of old age. John wrote 5 books in the New Testament:

Gospel of John
John 1, 2, 3
Revelation

I find it interesting that John was the man God chose to give the vision of Revelation to. The final book of the Bible gives us a glimpse into the end times and his plan for a new heaven and Earth.

I challenge you to go back and read the book of John through this lens with me. As a best friend, as a man Jesus confided in, trusted, and loved more than all of his other followers.

Printables for the Book of John

While a lot of the stories are the same from the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, I didn’t want my printable for the book of John in the Bible to be the same information repeated. In this printable I also expand on the notes from the previous gospels and give you: