Dict: smith - JOHN

smith:

JOHN - J>@ - the same name as Johanan, a contraction of Jehoanan, Jehovah’s gift . One of the high priest’s family, who, with Annas and Caiaphas, sat in judgment upon the apostles Peter and John. kjv@Acts:6:6) The Hebrew name of the evangelist Mark. kjv@Acts:12:12 kjv@Acts:12:25 kjv@Acts:13:5 kjv@Acts:13:13 kjv@Acts:15:37 )

JOHN THE APOSTLE - J>@ - was the son of Zebedee, a fisherman on the Lake of Galilee, and of Salome, and brother of James, also an apostle. Peter and James and John come within the innermost circle of their Lord’s friends; but to John belongs the distinction of being the disciple whom Jesus loved. He hardly sustains the popular notion, fostered by the received types of Christian art, of a nature gentle, yielding, feminine. The name Boanerges, kjv@Mark:3:17) implies a vehemence, zeal, intensity, which gave to those who had it the might of sons of thunder. JAMES The three are with our Lord when none else are, in the chamber of death, kjv@Mark:5:37) in the glory of the transfiguration, kjv@Matthew:17:1) when he forewarns them of the destruction of the holy city, kjv@Mark:13:3) in the agony of Gethsemane. When the betrayal is accomplished, Peter and John follow afar off. kjv@John:18:15) The personal acquaintance which exited between John and Caiaphas enables him to gain access to the council chamber, praetorium of the Roman procurator. kjv@John:18:16 kjv@John:18:19,28) Thence he follows to the place of crucifixion, and the Teacher leaves to him the duty of becoming a son to the mother who is left desolate. kjv@John:19:26-27) It is to Peter and John that Mary Magdalene first runs with the tidings of the emptied sepulchre, kjv@John:20:2) they are the first to go together to see what the strange words meant, John running on most eagerly to the rock-tomb; Peter, the least restrained by awe, the first to enter in and look. kjv@John:20:4-6) For at least eight days they continue in Jerusalem. kjv@John:20:26) Later, on the Sea of Galilee, John is the first to recognize in the dim form seen in the morning twilight the presence of his risen Lord; Peter the first to plunge into the water and swim toward the shore where he stood calling to them. kjv@John:21:7) The last words of John’s Gospel reveal to us the deep affection which united the two friends. The history of the Acts shows the same union. They are together at the ascension on the day of Pentecost. Together they enter the temple as worshippers, kjv@Acts:3:1) and protest against the threats of the Sanhedrin. ch kjv@Acts:4:13) The persecution which was pushed on by Saul of Tarsus did not drive John from his post. ch. kjv@Acts:8:1) Fifteen years after St. Paul’s first visit he was still at Jerusalem, and helped to take part in the settlement of the great controversy between the Jewish and the Gentile Christians. kjv@Acts:15:6) His subsequent history we know only by tradition. There can be no doubt that he removed from jerusalem and settled at Ephesus, though at what time is uncertain. Tradition goes on to relate that in the persecution under Domitian he is taken to Rome, and there, by his boldness, though not by death, gains the crown of martyrdom. The boiling oil into which he is thrown has no power to hurt him. He is then sent to labor in the mines, and Patmost is the place of his exile. The accession of Nerva frees him from danger, and he returns to Ephesus. Heresies continue to show themselves, but he meets them with the strongest possible protest. The very time of his death lies within the region of conjecture rather than of history, and the dates that have been assigned for it range from A.D. 89 to A.D. 120.

JOHN THE BAPTIST - J>@ - was of the priestly race by both parents, for his father, Zacharias, was himself a priest of the course of Abia or Abijah, ( kjv@1Chronicles:24:10) and Elisabeth was of the daughters of Aaron. kjv@Luke:1:5) His birth was foretold by an angel sent from God, and is related at length in kjv@Luke:1. The birth of John preceded by six months that of our Lord. John was ordained to be a Nazarite from his birth. kjv@Luke:1:15) Dwelling by himself in the wild and thinly-peopled region westward of the Dead Sea, he prepared himself for the wonderful office to which he had been divinely called. His dress was that of the old prophets
a garment woven of camel’s hair, ( kjv@2Kings:1:8) attached to the body by a leathern girdle. His food was such as the desert afforded
locusts, kjv@Leviticus:11:22) and wild honey. kjv@Psalms:81:16) And now the long-secluded hermit came forth to the discharge of his office. His supernatural birth, his life, and the general expectation that some great one was about to appear, were sufficient to attract to him a great multitude from "every quarter." kjv@Matthew:3:5) Many of every class pressed forward to confess their sins and to be baptized. Jesus himself came from Galilee to Jordan to be baptized of John. JESUS CHRIST From incidental notices we learn that John and his disciples continued to baptize some time after our Lord entered upon his ministry.
See kjv@John:3:23 kjv@John:4:1; kjv@Acts:19:3) We gather also that John instructed his disciples in certain moral and religious duties, as fasting, kjv@Matthew:9:14; kjv@Luke:5:33) and prayer. kjv@Luke:11:1) But shortly after he had given his testimony to the Messiah, John’s public ministry was brought to a close. In daring disregard of the divine laws, Herod Antipas had taken to himself Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip; and when John reproved him for this, as well as for other sins, kjv@Luke:3:19) Herod cast him into prison. (March, A.D. 28.) The place of his confinement was the castle of Machaerus, a fortress on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. It was here that reports reached him of the miracles which our Lord was working in Judea. Nothing but the death of the Baptist would satisfy the resentment of Herodias. A court festival was kept at Machaerus in honor of the king’s birthday. After supper the daughter of Herodias came in and danced the king by her grace that he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask. Salome, prompted by her abandoned mother, demanded the head of John the Baptist. Herod gave instructions to an officer of his guard, who went and executed John in the prison, and his head was brought to feast the eyes of the adulteress whose sins he had denounced. His death is supposed to have occurred just before the third passover, in the course of the Lord’s ministry. (March, A.D. 29.)

JOHN, GOSPEL OF - J>@ - This Gospel was probably written at Ephesus about A.D. 78. (Canon Cook places it toward the close of John’s life, A.D. 90-100.
ED.) The Gospel was obviously addressed primarily to Christians, not to heathen. There can be little doubt that the main object of St. John, who wrote after the other evangelists, is to supplement their narratives, which were almost confined to our Lord’s life in Galilee. (It was the Gospel for the Church, to cultivate and cherish the spiritual life of Christians, and bring them into the closest relations to the divine Saviour. It gives the inner life and teachings of Christ as revealed to his disciples. Nearly two-thirds of the whole book belong to the last six months of our Lord’s life, and one-third is the record of the last week.
ED.) The following is an abridgment of its contents: A. The Prologue. ch. kjv@John:1:1-18) B. The History, ch. kjv@John:1:19; kjv@John:20:29) (a) Various events relating to our Lord’s ministry, narrated in connection with seven journeys, ch. kjv@John:1:19; kjv@John:12:50) First journey, into Judea, and beginning of his ministry, ch. kjv@John:1:19; kjv@John:2:12) Second journey, at the passover in the first year of his ministry, ch. kjv@John:2:13; kjv@John:4:1) Third journey, in the second year of his ministry, about the passover, ch. (5:1). Fourth journey, about the passover, in the third year of his ministry, beyond Jordan, ch. kjv@John:6:1) Fifth journey, six months before his death, begun at the feast of tabernacles, chs. kjv@John:7:1; kjv@John:10:21) Sixth journey, about the feast of dedication, ch. kjv@John:10:22-42) Seventh journey, in Judea towards Bethany, ch. kjv@John:11:1-54) Eighth journey, before his last passover, chs. kjv@John:11:55; kjv@John:12:1) (b) History of the death of Christ, chs. kjv@John:12:1; kjv@John:20:29) Preparation for his passion, chs. kjv@John:13:1 ... kjv@John:17:1 The circumstances of his passion and death, chs. kjv@John:18:1 kjv@John:19:1) His resurrection, and the proofs of it, ch. kjv@John:20:1-29) C. The Conclusion , ch. kjv@John:20:30; kjv@John:21:1) Scope of the foregoing history, ch. kjv@John:20:30-31) Confirmation of the authority of the evangelist by additional historical facts, and by the testimony of the elders of the Church, ch. kjv@John:21:1-24) Reason of the termination of the history, ch. kjv@John:21:25)

JOHN, THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF - J>@ - There can be no doubt that the apostle John was the author of this epistle. It was probably written from Ephesus, and most likely at the close of the first century. In the introduction, ch. ( kjv@1John:1:1-4) the apostle states the purpose of his epistle: it is to declare the word of life to those whom he is addressing, in order that he and they might be united in true communion with each other, and with God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. His lesson throughout is that the means of union with God are, on the part of Christ, his atoning blood, ch. ( kjv@1John:1:7 kjv@1John:2:2 kjv@1John:3:5 ; 4:10,14; kjv@5:6) and advocacy, ch. ( kjv@1John:2:1) on the part of man, holiness, ch. ( kjv@1John:1:6), obedience, ch. ( kjv@1John:2:3) purity, ch. ( kjv@1John:3:3) faith, ch. ( kjv@1John:3:23 kjv@1John:4:3 kjv@1John:5:5 ) and above all love. ch. ( kjv@1John:2:7 kjv@1John:3:14 kjv@1John:4:7 ; kjv@5:1)

JOHN, THE SECOND AND THIRD EPISTLES OF - J>@ - The second epistle is addressed to an individual woman. One who had children, and a sister and nieces, is clearly indicated. According to one interpretation she is "the Lady Electa," to another, "the elect Kyria," to a third, "the elect Lady." The third epistle is addressed to Caius or Gaius. He was probably a convert of St. John, Epist. ( kjv@3John:1:4) and a layman of wealth and distinction, Epits. ( kjv@3John:1:5) in some city near Ephesus. The object of St. John in writing the second epistle was to warn the lady to whom he wrote against abetting the teaching known as that of Basilides and his followers, by perhaps an undue kindness displayed by her toward the preachers of the false doctrine. The third epistle was written for the purpose of commending to the kindness and hospitality of Caius some Christians who were strangers in the place where he lived. It is probably that these Christians carried this letter with them to Caius as their introduction.