John did not write the 4th gospel

Whether it was John, or a three-fingered monkey, they were merely the hand that put the words to paper; God is the author. The question isn't really who wrote the words, but who's the author and what's the message.

By turning the topic to whether John is the author, they're obscuring the real focus of the message.

 

Some people react to an irritant by ignoring it, others by swatting it, still others may react my distracting it.

My guess is that this ‘false teacher’ is distracting you.

This teacher may be attempting to have you examine your basic beliefs and determine what is utterly fundamental about what you believe.

Perhaps this person desires that you come to an understanding that much what you hold dear, much of what you react against really isn’t that important, and that uncertainty about something, or differences, don't really destroy the fundamental beliefs of the faith.

Rob

 

You are one stubborn guy. What you should NOT say is whom when clearly who is the proper word.

 

I agree with Don above. The gospel accounts are self-authenticating as are all Scripture. None of the 4 accounts have to be written by the names ascribed to it for it to be Scripture. We only know for certain what is written in the text. And the evangelists don't write their names down for us. So that is nothing to claim with certainty that John wrote the gospel according to John.

Now John's account does seem to indicate who the author is. But how we get to the conclusion that is John son of Zebedee brother of James is not as concrete as we may like. Regardless, I think the internal and external evidence points to John the Apostle fairly conclusively. Carson & Moo's fine textbook is a great treatment. I also like the NT intro put out by the SEBTS authors (yes I'm biased). That's The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown with Kostenberger and co. Both are excellent conservative approaches.

If you were going to buy a good commentary on John, Carson's in the Pillar series is probably the best. It is the only commentary that receives a perfect 100 on bestcommentaries.com (though that is probably biased too).