Who was the Beloved Disciple of the Fourth Gospel?
After hearing Dr. Steve Hunt’s lectures on the matter, I believe the case for Lazarus is strong. Ben Witherington III seems to agree.
Interested in the Fourth Gospel? Consider reading The Community of the Beloved Disciple by Raymond Brown. Brown’s book details the evolution of the Johannine community – their relationship with Apostolic Christians and non-Messianic Jews, and how those relationships influenced the theological ideas generated in the Fourth Gospel.
