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CONGRUITIES AND INCONGRUITIES BETWEEN THE BIBLE AND THE QUR'AN |
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The Gospel according to St. John has a character totally different from the other synoptic Gospels. In addition to a different approach to Jesus Christ, it has a religious conception of its own. Both the subject matters treated and the style of the narrative are lofty.
Christians believe that the fourth Gospel had been written circa 90 A.D. in Ephesus. James and John, sons of Zebedee, a prosperous Galilee fishermen, were called by Jesus to assume apostolic functions.
On the other hand, there are many scholars who are of the opinion that the Gospel according to St. John had been written towards the end of the first century and the beginning of the second, circa 100 A.D.
The contemporary biblical scholars deny that the fourth Gospel had been written by St. John. The first counter-argument has to do with the age of St. John. Jesus Christ had departed from this world circa 30-35 A.D., while the Gospel in question was committed to paper some 65-70 years later. Supposing that John had been appointed apostle when he was twenty, the Gospel must have been penned when he was 90 years old which seems hardly probable. The second counter-argument has to do with the language of the Gospel which had been written in perfect Greek. A fisherman of modest education who spoke Aramaic could not possibly have written it. Moreover, the author had not revealed his identity; nor had he claimed to have known Christ and that he had been delegated by Him; on the other hand, when he had to speak about John, he referred to him as a third person.
The scholars agree today that the so-called Gospel according to St. John must have been written circa 100 by an author who had received a good education and was well versed in Greek philosophy. The author therefore must have been a well-educated Greek who had written the Gospel in question for Greek Christians.
James Still, New Testament scholar, wrote as follows: « John was written for the Greek Christian of the beginning of the second century. These recent converts were more educated, wealthy, and despised the Diaspora Jews who resided in their cities and who enjoyed the respect of Rome. John removes the offensive references to Jesus as a Jewish Messiah that are particular to the earlier gospels, in order to present the Logos in more palatable form. In so doing, John creates a simulacrum that is barely human. The earlier Synoptic traditions are emphatic in presenting Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, descendent of David, and eschatological messenger of the end of the world where God collects his Chosen People. John removes the unpleasantness of Jewish geneaology as well as all references to Palestinian and Davidic descent…».By the time the gospel of John was first written at the end of the first century, the number of tales about Jesus Christ had marked an enormous increase and Jesus was fully transformed into a Hellenized God.
It is acknowledged that the author of the fourth gospel also had largely drawn on the other gospels. However he was especially influenced by Paul's letters and elevated him to the rank of God and gave large space to the concepts that formed the basis of the doctrine of the Trinity. The author had elaborated on Paul's opinions in a milieu dominated by persons who had received Greco-Roman culture.
The doctrine of Trinity which forms the basis of contemporary Christianity found a fertile ground for development in the fourth gospel.
THE ITINERARY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT