New Testament people named John

The name John (in Greek, Ἰωάννης) is prominent in the New Testament and occurs numerous times. Among Palestinian Jews of this period, the name was one of the most popular, borne by about five percent of men. Thus, it has long been debated which Johns are to be identified with which.

Simon Peter is at times called “Simon, son of John”, though in Matthew the text has Simon Bariona. The latter appears to be untranslated Aramaic, with bar meaning “son of” and Iona being Jonah, or according to Bauckham, Jôhana‘, an Aramaized form of John.

John the Baptist, son of Zechariah, figures prominently in the beginning of each of the four Gospels. The Synoptic Gospels distinguish him as “the Baptist”, but the Gospel of John omits this epithet, as no other John is therein mentioned by name. John the Baptist was beheaded during the ministry of Jesus, so in most cases he is easily distinguished from other Johns.

Ford proposes that Revelation originated as prophecy of John the Baptist, expanded by his followers to produce the book in its current form, but most scholars reject this theory.

John, son of Zebedee was one of the Twelve Apostles, along with his brother James. This John is mentioned frequently in the Synoptic Gospels, but always (with a lone exception) in company with his brother James or with Peter or often with both.

In the first eight chapters of Acts, Peter is always accompanied by a certain John, who is almost certainly his fellow apostle, and is presumably also the John that Paul elsewhere lists with Peter and James as “pillars”. But after the execution of his brother James in 44, this John is never again mentioned.

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