john john referred john written john book attributed john traditionally thought author gospel john john john private letter composed man named recommending group christians led come preach gospel area lived purpose letter encourage strengthen warn refuses cooperate author letter early church literature contains mention reference appearing middle century lack documentation likely extreme caused early church writers doubt authenticity early 5th century accepted canon john language john echoes gospel john conventionally dated likely written near end century contest view scholar dates john location writing unknown tradition places found oldest manuscripts text free major variants content doctrine laid john strictly personal letter overall theme importance especially comes men working spread gospel john shortest book bible word count john fewer verses book contain names jesus christ introduction letter written man named wealthy man author identifies elder think impose host traveling short time elder converted calls child faith records bishop early support statement occurs times mentioned macedonia traveling companion paul chapter later named paul seven traveling companions waited acts mentioned residing people household baptised paul founded church city lastly referred final portion romans romans paul host host church city paul writing time probably reason suppose men john verse author wishes material prosperity similar prosperity soul commonly proof text prosperity gospel teachings opponents prosperity gospel consider verse little wishing missionaries elder continues letter commending loyalty group traveling brothers brothers brothers faith missionaries accordance jesus command mark set journey money elder goes request provide brothers continue journey opposition elder describes conflict acknowledge elder authority like welcome missionaries sent elder elder mentions previous letter written church suppressed says intends visit church confront church apparently known likely member elder need provide information activities dispute elder based church leadership authority doctrine elder accuse teaching scholars connect letter elder mentions john john contain reference controversy described john argue elder referring previous letter recommendation argues elder fact referring john overlap john theme john elder closes section beloved imitate evil imitate good good god evil seen god injunction reminiscent passages john final conclusion verse introduces man named according ordained john bishop philadelphia jordan probably member group missionaries discussed earlier letter john likely serves recommendation letter recommendation letters common early church evidenced romans elder ending letter says things tell plans journey near future exact language john closing verse peace friends greet greet friends typical contemporary correspondence peace adopted christians jews authorship john certainly written author wrote john likely john individual john according scholar attempt identify anonymous author known individual little similarities john follow format personal letters era author self identifies term literally means elder deal themes conflict church extremely similar length probably written fit sheet john similar john works different words words like leaving significant words appear john gospel john unique john common john found john writings approximately significant words john appear john gospel compared john considerations indicate close affinity john john strongly connected john john minority scholars argue common authorship john held john based john john written strange oppose highly respected early church possible alternative view authorship arises fragment written quoted mentions man named john known individual possible positively identify author john date location writing letters john likely written years internal evidence indicates written gospel john placing second half century dating makes sense given allusions opposition teaching denied humanity jesus gaining end century argues date concluding absence references persecution letters probably written harsh reign roman emperor persecution christians prompted writing book revelation notes written pre era likely author personal disciple jesus marshall suggests date 60s 90s suggests dating assuming gospel john written 90s letters followed brown argues date letters composed close time proximity date past unlikely parts john john quoted letters indicate location authorship earliest quotations writings come province asia minor likely written asia church tradition typically places city manuscripts john preserved old manuscripts greek great contain contains john john missing catholic contains john latin translation languages greek armenian versions contain different copies major difficulties differences meaning little doubt determining original text canonical history doubtful similarities passages writings earliest definitive references come late second century written quotes john sentence john distinguish john quote john canon refer letters john possible interpret referring john extensively cited died addition quoting john wrote commentary john recognized 39th letter additionally blind wrote commentary showing early 5th century considered single unit reference john middle century says knew john reported saying consider genuine similarly alexandria pupil aware reputed second john time john thought known north_africa referred produced doubt authority john listing john disputed books despite describing known acknowledged believed wrote gospel likely doubt fidelity author john factor causing disputed end fourth century author john thought different person john opinion reported held attributed factor helps explain late john doubts authority short nature letter early writers simply occasion quote
Third Epistle of John