The apostle John and the presbyter John

Abstract

The article deals with the legacy of two venerated representatives of the ancient Ephesian Church — St. John the Apostle and the so-called Presbyter John. The author critically analyzes the work of R. Bauckham — the last fundamental study on this topic, in which all the acts and works of the apostle are attributed to the second John. Arguments are given in favor of the authenticity of the ancient church tradition, according to which the Apostle John is the author of the Fourth Gospel and the First New Testament Epistle, a ‘beloved disciple’ and a Christian spiritual leader (according to the author, a presbyter-bishop) of the province of Asia. At the same time, the existence of Presbyter John and his possible authorship of the two New Testament epistles are recognized.