Introduction
The dating of the Gospel of John has long been a topic of scholarly debate. While many scholars have traditionally assigned a composition date around A.D. 85–95, this article proposes an earlier date—approximately A.D. 65—based on internal biblical evidence and patristic testimony. The implications of such a dating are significant for understanding early Christian theology and the historical context of the New Testament.
Defining the Early Date
By “early date,” we refer to a composition of the Gospel of John prior to the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in A.D. 70. Many commentators posit that John wrote both his Gospel and first epistle around A.D. 85. However, strong reasons exist to argue that the Gospel was completed around A.D. 65, with his epistles following two decades later.
The P52 Papyrus Fragment
A significant artifact in the discussion is the Rylands Library Papyrus P52, a fragment of John’s Gospel found in Egypt and dated to approximately A.D. 125. This fragment undermines the liberal assumption that John’s high Christology must have developed over a long period, necessitating a late composition. While some suggest its presence in Egypt implies a considerably earlier original to allow for transmission time, this is not a requirement. Travel and communication in the ancient Roman world, particularly via the imperial postal system, were efficient enough to account for its early distribution. Nevertheless, the P52 fragment places a firm upper limit on the Gospel’s composition—no later than A.D. 125.
Patristic Testimony and the Order of the Gospels
Church tradition consistently places John’s Gospel as the last of the four canonical Gospels. Irenaeus wrote:
“Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia.”1)Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 3.1.1; in The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Edited by Alexander Roberts, D.D., & James, Donaldson, LL.D.), Hendrickson Publishers (Peabody, MA: 2012), Vol 1, p. 414
If John authored the Gospel in Ephesus, he must have departed Jerusalem before the Roman siege, which began in A.D. 68. Clement of Alexandria also observed:
“Last of all, aware that the physical facts had been recorded in the gospels, encouraged by his pupils and irresistibly moved by the Spirit, John wrote a spiritual gospel.”2)Eusebius, History of the Church From Christ to Constantine (Trans. G.A. Williamson), Dorest Press (1984), pp. 254-255
Irenaeus further indicated John wrote to refute early heresies:
“John, the disciple of the Lord, preaches this faith, and seeks, by the proclamation of the Gospel, to remove that error which by Cerinthus had been disseminated among men, and a long time previously by those termed Nicolaitans…”3)Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 3.11.1; in The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Edited by Alexander Roberts, D.D., & James, Donaldson, LL.D.), Hendrickson Publishers (Peabody, MA: 2012), Vol 1, p. 426
Irenaeus identifies the Nicolaitans with Nicolas of Acts 6:5, one of the original seven deacons who allegedly became an apostate and founded a heretical sect.4)Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 1.26.3; in The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Edited by Alexander Roberts, D.D., & James, Donaldson, LL.D.), Hendrickson Publishers (Peabody, MA: 2012), Vol 1, p. 352 Revelation 2:6 and 2:15 refer to the Nicolaitans, and Irenaeus states their error predates Cerinthus, suggesting that John’s Gospel was written in response to these earlier heresies, supporting a pre-70 date.
The Muratorian Canon, an early fragmentary list of New Testament books, also records:
“The fourth Gospel is that of John, one of the disciples. When his fellow-disciples and bishops entreated him, he said, ‘Fast ye now with me for the space of three days…’ and on the same night it was revealed to Andrew… that John should narrate all things in his own name.”5)Muratorian Canon, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Edited by Alexander Roberts, D.D., & James, Donaldson, LL.D.), Hendrickson Publishers (Peabody, MA: 2012), Vol 5, p. 603
This tradition, which references Andrew, implies a setting before Andrew’s martyrdom (commonly dated around A.D. 60). While not definitive, this context supports the plausibility of a composition before A.D. 70.
Internal Biblical Evidence
The Connection to 2 Peter
2 Peter 1:14 alludes to John 21:18–19, suggesting Peter’s audience was familiar with the Johannine tradition:
“Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.”
John 21:18–19 explains:
“When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God.”
If Peter references this prophecy, John’s Gospel must have been circulating by that time. Tradition holds Peter died under Nero around A.D. 68, implying that John’s Gospel was known before then.
Refuting the Rumor of John’s Immortality
John 21:23 addresses a persistent rumor:
“Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die…”
John’s clarification suggests he was eager to correct this falsehood. If so, it seems unlikely he waited until the late first century to address it. A date around A.D. 65 would be more consistent with the urgency to dispel the misunderstanding.
Present Tense in John 5:2
John 5:2 reads:
“Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool…”
The verb “is” (ἐστιν) is a present indicative in Greek, implying the pool still existed at the time of writing. As Jonathan Bernier notes:
“The most natural reading of the present tense in this passage is that this pool existed when the author was writing. Since the pool was destroyed in 70, we should prefer pre-70 composition for 5:2.”6)Jonathan Bernier, Rethinking the Dates of the New Testament: The Evidence for Early Composition, Baker Academic (Grand Rapids, MI: 2022), p. 97
Though some argue for a historical present, such usage is contextually unconvincing in this case.
Linguistic and Textual Considerations in 1 John 2:12–14
A subtle linguistic indicator may offer additional evidence. In 1 John 2:12–14, John shifts from present to aorist tense:
“I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”
The present tense is used for “children,” while the aorist (“I have written”) is applied to “fathers” and “young men.” The implication may be that John had previously written (i.e., the Gospel) to those who are now older, but not to the younger generation (i.e., the children), who are now receiving his words for the first time.
This suggests a temporal gap between the Gospel and the epistle. If 1 John is dated to around A.D. 85, a 20-year interval would place the Gospel’s composition at A.D. 65. The “young men,” based on the Old Testament usage of na’ar, would be individuals of military age—i.e., 20 and above.
The Textus Receptus preserves this grammatical distinction, unlike the Critical Text, which harmonizes the tenses. Ironically, the latter’s emendation violates its own principle of preferring the more difficult reading. Thus, the preserved reading in the Textus Receptus strengthens the case for interpreting the tenses as intentional and meaningful.
Conclusion
The cumulative case from early Christian testimony, New Testament intertextuality, linguistic cues, and historical context all converge to support an early date—around A.D. 65—for the composition of John’s Gospel. While not universally accepted, this view better accounts for the internal and external evidence, and it deserves renewed consideration in scholarly circles today.
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