Foreword Out of modesty, the author of the Fourth Gospel does not identify himself, nor does he make any reference to himself as one of the two disciples who first followed Jesus (John 1:37). Rather, he alludes to "another disciple," "the disciple," "the disciple whom Jesus loved," "that disciple," and "the disciple which testifieth these things" (John 18:15; 19:26; 21:20, 23, 24). The fact that other prominent disciples are mentioned by name, while the name of John is omitted, seems to indicate that he must have been the author of that Gospel.Tradition ascribes the Fourth Gospel to John the Beloved. In one of his writings (Against Heresies, 3:1, 1), Irinaeus claims to have received it from Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who was a disciple of the apostle John. Polycarp quotes the first epistle of John, which--due to its resemblance to the Fourth Gospel in the prologue, ideas, as well as vocabulary and style--shows that both the epistle and the Gospel almost certainly came from the same hand.John clung to Christ as the vine clings to the stately pillar. For his Master's sake he braved the dangers of the judgment hall and lingered about the cross, and at the tidings that Christ had risen, he hastened to the sepulcher, in his zeal outstripping even the impetuous Peter.The confiding love and unselfish devotion manifested in the life and character of John present lessons of untold value to the Christian church. John did not naturally possess the loveliness of character that his later experience revealed. By nature he had serious defects. He was not only proud, self-assertive, and ambitious for honor, but impetuous, and resentful under injury. He and his brother were called 'sons of thunder.' Evil temper, the desire for revenge, the spirit of criticism, were all in the beloved disciple. But beneath all this the divine Teacher discerned the ardent, sincere, loving heart. Jesus rebuked this self-seeking, disappointed his ambitions, tested his faith. But He revealed to him that for which his soul longed--the beauty of holiness, the transforming power of love."--The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 539, 540.May the spirit of Christ guide our studies this quarter, and touch our hearts in response to His love!
