The Fourth Gospel says that the Beloved Disciple
testified and wrote the Gospel. However, BD is not
clearly identified in the Gospel. Accordingly,
making the identity of BD clear may be meaningful.
One approach of previous research focused on whether
BD is John the apostle or another disciple. The
other approach focused on the function of the
chracterization of BD. There was a gap between the
two approaches. The former was not concerned with
the characterization of BD, while the latter not
with the identity of BD. However, this researcher
seeks to fill this gap, in addition to analyzing the
identity of BD. This research reveals that the
evangelist, John the apostle, cast BD in the Fourth
Gospel by characterizing himself as an idealized
disciple, a model for the believer. This approach
should help shed some light on understanding the
authorship of the Fourth Gospel and should be
helpful to everyone, including students, churchmen,
and scholars, who may have a great concern to know
the identity of BD.
testified and wrote the Gospel. However, BD is not
clearly identified in the Gospel. Accordingly,
making the identity of BD clear may be meaningful.
One approach of previous research focused on whether
BD is John the apostle or another disciple. The
other approach focused on the function of the
chracterization of BD. There was a gap between the
two approaches. The former was not concerned with
the characterization of BD, while the latter not
with the identity of BD. However, this researcher
seeks to fill this gap, in addition to analyzing the
identity of BD. This research reveals that the
evangelist, John the apostle, cast BD in the Fourth
Gospel by characterizing himself as an idealized
disciple, a model for the believer. This approach
should help shed some light on understanding the
authorship of the Fourth Gospel and should be
helpful to everyone, including students, churchmen,
and scholars, who may have a great concern to know
the identity of BD.