What if the traditional assumptions are wrong?
I hope you find the following question intriguing rather than controversial:
Could it be that the real author of the Gospel of John - known only as the “Beloved Disciple” in the text - is not John, the son of Zebedee, as traditionally assumed - but instead Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, whom Jesus raised from the dead?
This possibility has been proposed by Dr. Ben Witherington III, a well-respected New Testament scholar and author who teaches at my alma mater, Asbury Theological Seminary.
It seems a strange theory at first, but if it is true, it answers so many questions!
- If he's just a Galilean fisherman, how does the author of the Gospel gain entrance to the High Priest’s house on the night of Jesus’ arrest?
- If he's one of the original 12, how is the author at the cross when the other 3 Gospels make clear the disciples all scattered?
- Why does the author take note of Jesus' grave clothes at the tomb ... and then believe? Is it because he remembers stumbling out of his own tomb wrapped in similar clothes?
- Why does a rumor get started that the author will not die? Is it because he's already been dead once?
Dr. Witherington’s blog post is a fairly lengthy read, but well-worth the effort.
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