When was John written?

The Gospel of John teaches that Jesus of Nazareth is God in human flesh and that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life (John 1:1, 14; 3:16). John’s purpose in writing is to persuade sinners to trust in Jesus for salvation (John 20:31). Compared to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, John’s Gospel is the most distinct in both content and date of writing. Most scholars believe John wrote it between AD 85 and 90, which is a key reason for its unique perspective.

The timeframe of John’s life helps determine when he wrote his Gospel. Historians estimate that he was born early in the first century AD and died around AD 95 to 100. This aligns with the view that John wrote the five New Testament books attributed to him, including the Gospel of John, near the end of his life. The Gospel preserves eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry, emphasizing teachings and events not included in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It especially highlights that Jesus is God and the offer of eternal life to all who believe.

External evidence for when John was written includes testimonies from the early church. The Gospel doesn’t clearly name its author, but early church leaders believed the apostle John wrote it. Polycarp (AD 69—155), a church leader who knew John personally, taught Irenaeus (AD 130—202). Irenaeus stated that John wrote the Gospel while living in Ephesus near the end of his life. This supports the idea that John wrote the book in the late first century. Other early leaders, like Clement of Alexandria (AD 150—215), also affirmed John’s authorship.

Arguments for a later date of the Gospel of John often point to the richness of its theology. To be clear, John shares theological unity with Matthew, Mark, and Luke. However, the way he expresses theological truths is often more developed than in the earlier Gospels. A clear example appears in the opening verses: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (John 1:1–2). Scholars suggest that descriptions like this are evidence of years of theological reflection.

Unlike other key New Testament figures such as Peter and Paul, John was still alive at the end of the first century. All of his writings, including the Gospel, the letters of John, and Revelation, are dated to this time period. His extended lifespan and firsthand witness to Jesus’ ministry lend credibility to the authority and authenticity of his writings.

Another example of John’s rich theological reflection appears in one of the most well-known verses in the Bible. John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This description of the Father’s love, Jesus’ mission, and the gift of eternal life reflects the perspective of a disciple who had spent decades contemplating the life and teachings of his friend and Savior. Thus, the church has been blessed to have three Gospels written soon after Jesus’ life, death, and ascension into heaven, and another written decades later, providing rich reflection on the significance of Jesus’ ministry.