The Gospel of John

The riddles of John's Gospel are many, and the answers provided by scholars are seldom convincing. Do the Fourth Gospel and the epistles of John share an author, and is he an eyewitness? Were these works written to a 'Johannine community?' Hugo Méndez has written a fascinating new history of this enigmatic Gospel, in which the community disappears, and the author moves onto center stage, one who uses the construct of an invented literary figure, a fictional disciple of Jesus, to put forward his bold new take on the tradition. A compelling account, beautifully written, which should change the field. * Mark Goodacre, Professor of Religious Studies, Duke University * What is remarkable about The Gospel of John: A New History is that it takes nothing for granted. Through his reevaluation of John's purpose and composition, Méndez offers an innovative perspective on literary production and ancient authorship that has far-reaching implications for the field. Free from the familiar claims of community and tradition, readers are invited to reconsider the entire Johannine corpus—and, indeed, early Christian history—on new terms. * Robyn Faith Walsh, Associate Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, University of Miami * In this provocative work, Méndez presents the case for John's Gospel as a falsely authored book by an invented author with a revisionary view of Jesus. Highly readable, lively and compelling, this is a must-read for biblical scholars and students alike. * Helen Bond, Professor of Christian Origins, University of Edinburgh *