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“What Is That To You?”: The Johannine Community’S Beloved Disciple, Molly Kluever

Obsculta

Considering his significance within the Fourth Gospel, the Beloved Disciple’s absence within the synoptic gospels is puzzling. And as modern biblical scholars continue to challenge his traditional identification as John, Son of Zebedee, the question looms ever greater: Who – or, perhaps what – is the Beloved Disciple? Though his name may be lost to history, the character’s role within the gospel narrative still informs our understanding of the Christian community that sprung up around his testimony. This paper seeks to articulate how this unnamed disciple influenced the development of the Johannine Community’s unique theological identity