The Gospel according to St. John was written during the 1st century AD in Asia Minor. The author of the book cannot be conclusively proven according to the Zinderfan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, but there is strong evidence that the author was John the apostle. The author had in-depth knowledge of Jewish traditions and the geography of Palestine. The gospel provides many explanations of these things because the recipients were the Gentiles. It is unlikely that a Gentile would have had the knowledge necessary to provide the background information presented by the author. The author of the gospel identifies himself as the "disciple whom Jesus loved". In the gospel most of the disciples are mentioned by name and therefore can be eliminated as authors of the gospel. Those not mentioned were Matthew, James the Less, Simon the Zealot, James, and John. James the Less and Simon the Zealot were minor disciples and therefore not even in the running as "disciple whom Jesus loved". Matthew is associated with another gospel, which reads differently enough from the Gospel according to John to exclude him as the author. James and John are therefore the most likely candidates. James's early death almost certainly proves that John was the author of the Gospel according to St. John. Unger's Bible Dictionary provides detailed background on John. John was the son of Zebedee. Little is said about his father's devotion to the faith. John's mother, Salome, was presumably a devout follower of Christ as she was present at the crucifixion (Mark 15:40). It is reasonable to assume that John grew up in a religious family. It is likely that he was also well educated as evidence suggests that his family was financially well off. John and his brother James were fishermen. T......middle of paper......to hear all the miracles Jesus performed and all the times he and other people claimed he was the Christ, and didn't believe it. I too was very moved by how much love Jesus showed for the Gentiles. There seems to be an idea in some circles that Jews are and always have been God's favorite people. This is demonstrated repeatedly in the Old Testament when Jews won battles or took lands from people of other nations. It is sometimes easy to forget, when reading the Old Testament, that God loves all of his children. His love for both Jews and Gentiles in the Gospel according to John offers God a new and more loving perspective. It contrasts somewhat with God's harshness toward non-Jews in the Old Testament. It gives a clear picture, for the first time, of God's love for all his children. It was a pleasure and an enriching witnessing experience to read it.