Birth and Ancestors

• Timeframe: c. 6 A
• Place: Bethsaida or Capernaum, Galilee
• Father: Zebedee (Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19-20)
• Mother: Salome (Mark 15:40; Matthew 27:56)
• Hebrew meaning of Name: "God is gracious" (Yohanan, from Yehovah-yachanan)
• Other Relatives of Note:
  • Brother: James (the Greater), also an apostle (Bible: Matthew 4:21)

Marriage and Descendants

• Spouse #1:
  • Story:
  • Children:
• Other Descendants of Note:

Land and Dwelling

Dwelling Places

• Fishing village on Sea of Galilee (Bible: Luke 5:1-11)
• Jerusalem: Early church gatherings (Bible: Acts 3-4)
• Ephesus: Later residence and bishopric (tradition)

Journeys

• Ministry with Jesus: Galilee to Jerusalem, including Transfiguration (Bible: Matthew 17:1) and Gethsemane (Bible: Mark 14:33)
• Samaria: Evangelism with Peter (Bible: Acts 8:14-25)
• Exile: Island of Patmos (Bible: Revelation 1:9)

Occupation and Military

• Fisherman by trade, Bible: Mark 1:16-20)

Medical and Death

• Exile: Patmos for preaching (Bible: Revelation 1:9)
• Death: Natural causes, old age (c. 100 AD) in Ephesus; only apostle not martyred
• Boiling oil attempt: Miraculously survived in Rome (tradition)

Righteousness and Unrighteousness

Righteousness

• "Disciple whom Jesus loved": Intimate witness to key events (Bible: John 13:23; 19:26-27; 21:20)
• Authorship: Gospel of John, Epistles, Revelation; pillar of early church (Bible: Galatians 2:9)
• Care for Mary: Entrusted by Jesus (Bible: John 19:26-27)

Unrighteousness

• "Sons of Thunder": Fiery temperament; sought to call fire on Samaritans (Bible: Luke 9:54)
• Ambition: Requested seats of honor (Bible: Mark 10:35-37)
• Early denial fear: Fled at arrest (Bible: Mark 14:50)

Other

• Nickname: "Beloved Disciple" (Bible: John 21:20-24)
• Inner circle: With Peter and James for Transfiguration, raising of Jairus' daughter (Bible: Mark 5:37; 9:2)
• Early disciple: Possibly of John the Baptist (Bible: John 1:35-40)

Extra Biblical Information

Landmarks:

• Tomb: Basilica of St. John, Ephesus (6th-century church over traditional grave
• House of the Virgin Mary: Ephesus vicinity, venerated as John's care site (tradition)

Archeology:

• Pool of Bethesda: Five porticoes confirmed (John 5:2; excavations in Jerusalem)
• Pool of Siloam: Healing site (John 9:7; excavated 2004)
• Jacob's Well: Samaria structure (John 4; dated to 1st century)
• Early Gospel manuscript: P52 (John 18, dated AD 125-175; source: Bible Archaeology Report )

Connections