John, Saint, was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. He was the brother of the apostle James. With James, he was one of the first disciples to be called by Jesus. According to Mark 3: 17, Jesus called John and James the “sons of thunder,” apparently because of their rashness. John is usually associated with Peter and James as one of a select, inner group of disciples. In Gal. 2: 6-10, Saint Paul called John a “pillar” of the church. The Acts of the Apostles reports that John was arrested with Peter because of his preaching in Jerusalem.
John is traditionally regarded as the New Testament author of the fourth Gospel, the three Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation. But many Biblical scholars believe that these works, or some of them, were written by his followers, not by John. John has often been considered the “beloved disciple” mentioned in the fourth Gospel, but scholars are unsure of this reference.
In addition to the Biblical evidence, later tradition records that John preached in Ephesus in Asia Minor until he was very old. He is honored as the patron saint of Asia Minor. John is also said to have been martyred in Rome by being boiled in oil. His feast day in the Roman Catholic Church is December 27. In the Eastern Orthodox Churches, John’s feast day is celebrated on September 26.
