Regular readers of this blog (six that I know of, perhaps more) might remember a string of posts about Lazarus in May/June last year [post 1, post 2, post 3].
I had a comment on the first post from a guy called Jim Phillips who has studied the 4th gospel in detail and the story of Lazarus in particular and has come to the conclusion that Lazarus was the 'disciple whom Jesus loved' who wrote the gospel, not John. He has written a book called 'The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved' which can be read in its entirety online.I don't like reading long things (even, in this case, short books) online, so I tried to buy the book. But Amazon marketplace sellers in the UK charge an awful lot for a short, second-hand book, so I didn't buy it. In the end I printed out the online version and read it... eventually.
So, having now read the book, am I convinced by its reasoning?
Well, reasonably yes.
The (entirely biblical) evidence presented in the book is compelling. Certainly, it makes a very good case that the disciple John - one of "the twelve" - was not the author of the 4th gospel. It also makes a very good case for the belief that Lazarus wrote the gospel.
I am convinced.
That's not to say that I couldn't be convinced out of this belief if other evidence were presented, but for now I am content to believe that the 4th gospel was written by Lazarus. Or written by someone else from the point of view of Lazarus.
That second possibility there is one that is not considered in the book, yet still remains a possibility. Just because the book is written from the point of view of 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' (TDWJL), doesn't actually mean that it was that disciple who wrote it. But that is a minor point.
The one issue that the book hasn't addressed to my satisfaction is the question of why the other three gospels make no mention of Lazarus at all (except in the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus). Indeed, while the 4th gospel has Peter and TDWJL going to the empty tomb on the day of resurrection, Luke has Peter going alone (Matthew & Mark don't have Peter going there at all).
What's going on there? That't not just a case of two people remembering the event in different ways, this particular event was the one, central event which defined their whole belief system. This was the most important event they were writing about. If Peter had gone to the tomb alone every one of the disciples would have known. If he was accompanied by TDWJL (whoever that might be) they would have known it too.
So, as I see it there are two possibilities:
- The authors of the other gospels deliberately removed TDWJL from their accounts, or
- TDWJL wasn't there and his insertion into the 4th gospel is a fabrication.
However, I don't think that even the first option is completely compatible with the same premise. If the other gospels are factually accurate then TDWJL (whoever he might be) would not have been removed from the story. Sure, they might have recorded it as Peter going with an un-named disciple, but not as Peter on his own.
But let's face it, if the 4th gospel is true, then the other three gospels deliberately miss out the telling of one of Jesus's greatest miracles and the one which appears to have set the ball rolling towards his inevitable crucifixion. In the 4th gospel account it is the resurrection of Lazarus that brings about the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday.
If all gospels are inspired by the same God, then it is clear that he wants the story of Lazarus to be recorded, so why would the others - under the inspiration of the Spirit - omit this crucial story?
All of the possible reasons for omitting Lazarus from the other three gospels are human in origin. Not down to inspiration. Indeed, this whole issue is good evidence for the fallibility of the gospel accounts. Now I'm not saying they're not inspired, I'm just saying they're not infallible. Someone can be inspired to write something and then produce something flawed. Neither the inspiration or the intention is in question.
But why miss Lazarus out of the first three gospels? Re-reading the stories, I wonder if there might be a little bit of jealousy going on here. From the 4th gospel, we get the impression that TDWJL/Lazarus was more than simply a disciple. Jesus refers to him as 'friend' and he is the only one singled out as being 'loved' by Jesus. Perhaps Jesus was closer to Lazarus than to 'the twelve' and perhaps they were jealous.
I think there's a lot more still to uncover in the story of Lazarus and I'll continue pondering it in the weeks and months ahead. It'll certainly make me view the 4th gospel differently next time I read it...
11 comments:
great thoughts here...though i've always wondered why someone would pen a book and call him/herself "the disciple whom Jesus loved." i prefer the theory that the author is one of John's disciples, but John is the disciple whom Jesus loved. can't remember where i first encountered that theory, but that resonated with me...
i guess it's similar to saying Moses penned the Torah and then realize that Moses calls himself the "most humble person ever" and greatest prophet ever. sort of boastful if he wrote the whole thing!
Oh. I've never heard that one before.
The thing is, Jim Phillips's reasoning is pretty good as to why TDWJL can't be John (or, indeed, any of "the twelve").
One great point regarding it not being John is that the 4th Gospel makes it clear that TDWJL was 'known to the high priest' (Jn 18v15&16), while Acts (Ch 4) makes it quite clear that the high priest had no idea who John (or Peter) was, prior to this time.
But, as I said, just because the book is written from the perspective of TDWJL, doesn't actually mean it was written by him. It could, quite easily, have been written by a disciple of TDWJL...
R.
I find it helpful to think of the four Gospels not as biographies but as photo albums; four guys with cameras taking snapshots of the same events. What's in one snapshot may not be in another depending on the camera angle.
You'd get the same result if you and three friends go to the ballgame with cameras. Each photo you take would be "true" but may not show the same people or scenes as the other guys snapshots.
Thus, if you take a picture of the Finish Line, one may show a bunch of runners, another may show only the lead guy, and another may show the top two contenders--say like Peter and TDWJL or Peter only.
Just my luck, if I'd been there at the raising of Lazarus, like Mat, Mark & Luke, I'd have been so surprised that I'd have left my lens cap on too.
Enjoyed the posting. One thought: You say that, "All of the possible reasons for omitting Lazarus from the other three gospels are human in origin. Not down to inspiration."
Doesn't this imply that you know "all of the possible reasons for omitting Lazarus from the other three gospels"? How can you make that presumption?
JB Smith
I had a comment left on my site as well by a "bk" and following his link found interesting info that make me think that it is possible that TDJL could be Lazarus. Since he was being sought for the death sentence as well, it seems strange that he would have freely gone into the courtyard...but, perfect love does drive out fear...
The question that comes to me is why wouldn't the "eleven" have picked him to fill Judas' place?
And, why wouldn't Lazarus if still with the others have written a first hand account? Jealousy just doesn't seem to me to be the reason to surpress such miraculous knowledge or insight. Maybe they were protecting Lazarus at Jesus' request.
Act 4 : (14) And since they saw the man who had been cured standing there beside them, they could not contradict the fact or say anything in opposition.
I don't know who wrote the book of Act - but it clearly stated in verse 14, that there's "other guy" besides John and Peter there.
and as the verse use "who had been cured".. I think there is possibility, he was Lazarus.
Hi there.
I think the Acts 4 comment refers to the guy who was healed in Acts 3. Certainly it is implied that it is someone Peter and John healed.
But thanks for commenting!
my mistake ... :)
found just a few minutes ago, after read chapter 3 - that's why i hurrily come back here, to say I'm sorry ...:)
anyway, i like J.Phillip book - as it's detailed and more intrigue me than the idea it's john who wrote the 4th gospel.
thank you for your correction.
Thank you for the writing. I have been searching for years for someone close to my problem. A Christian doubting Thomas. Although I've never heard this view - I'm eager to read more and will.
Hi Rowena,
Saying the theory is 'totally wrong' is probably going too strong. Several of the presuppositions of this theory are questionable, so there are great reasons for doubting it, but no 'smoking gun' which totally blows it out of the water. Meanwhile your own reasoning also has questionable presuppositions, so there's always room for doubt. And room for doubt must always entail the possibility that a theory just might be true.
Hi Ricky,
I respect your opinion. As I said, maybe it wasn't really John. But since the scripture proves only the twelve were at the last supper and the beloved disciple is a fisherman, like John 21 shows, I don't know how Lazarus can fit on it.
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