Catholic Saints – St. John the Apostle

Podcast: Catholic Saints
Host: Taylor Kemp (Augustine Institute)
Guest: Dr. Jim Prothro, Professor of Sacred Scripture and Theology
Date: December 27, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the life, significance, and enduring legacy of St. John the Apostle—the beloved disciple, Gospel writer, and key figure of the New Testament. Host Taylor Kemp and scripture scholar Dr. Jim Prothro explore John’s role among Jesus’ closest followers, the unique aspects of his Gospel, his transformation through discipleship, and the deep themes of love and intimacy at the heart of his writings. The discussion also offers practical insights for reading John’s works and applying his example to everyday life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. St. John’s Feast Day and Scriptural Prominence

• Feast Day: December 27th, immediately following Christmas.
  • “The feast of St. John is celebrated on December 27th. It’s quite nice because at the beginning of the Christmas season, we read a whole lot from St. John, from his Epistle especially.”
    — Dr. Prothro [01:23]

2. Who Was John Before Sainthood?

• John, son of Zebedee, brother of James, a fisherman by trade.
• He and James were among the first disciples called by Jesus, leaving their nets and father behind to follow (cf. Synoptic Gospels).
• Part of Jesus’ “inner circle” with Peter and James:
  • Witness to Major Events:
    • Raising of Jairus’ daughter
    • The Transfiguration
    • The Agony in Gethsemane
    • Preparing the Passover (Last Supper)
• Quote:
  • “Peter, James, and John get to do things with Jesus that other people don't get to do...”
    — Dr. Prothro [02:28]

3. Levels of Discipleship and the ‘Inner Circle’

• The Gospels portray circles of relationship:
  • Crowds: Not necessarily disciples; often seeking miracles or spectacle.
  • Disciples: Committed followers, both men and women, including Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ mother.
  • The Twelve: Specially chosen “apostles” for leadership and authority.
  • Peter, James, and John: Core group for particular teachings and moments.
• Mission over Intimacy: The special role is about public mission rather than exclusive intimacy:
  • “He chooses the Twelve for a specific job...a kind of authoritative role in representing Jesus.”
    — Dr. Prothro [07:30]
  • “It doesn't mean that just because these three are in the inner circle they're destined to be closer to me than my mother or Mary Magdalene... it has to do with mission.”
    — Taylor Kemp [08:56]

4. John’s Character and Transformation

• “The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved”:
  • John’s Gospel rarely names him, referring instead to "the disciple whom Jesus loved."
  • Traditional scholarship and Church teaching identify this as John himself, signaling humility and a special bond (though some debate exists).
  • “He refers to himself kind of in the third person most of the time.”
    — Dr. Prothro [10:12]
• Traits:
  • Quick belief (at the empty tomb)
    • “When Peter... saw that the tomb was empty... then the other disciple leaned in and saw, and he believed. So John...believes in a way that others don't really quickly.”
      — Dr. Prothro [12:12]
  • Impetuousness:
    • Nicknamed “son of thunder”; sometimes ambitious and competitive (e.g., asking to sit at Jesus’ right and left in the Kingdom).
    • “That John doesn’t stay in that state of being impetuous...he learns...and he follows more intimately Jesus during Jesus’s earthly ministry and then certainly after that as an apostle to the rest of the church.”
      — Dr. Prothro [14:54]
  • Learns humility and charity through Christ’s correction—a model for modern discipleship.

5. John’s Later Life and Tradition

• Traditionally identified as the author of the Book of Revelation, written while exiled on Patmos "because of the testimony of Jesus."
• Served as bishop in Ephesus, returned after exile; lived to old age.
• Famous for his repeated exhortation:
  • “Little children, love one another.”
    — Cited by Dr. Prothro, referencing St. Jerome’s account [17:55]

6. The Core of John’s Teaching: Love

• Central message: The commandment to love is the heart of the Gospel and Christian life.
  • “All the law of God is summarized in two precepts: love God the Father and love your neighbor.”
    — Dr. Prothro [15:29]
• This message permeates the Gospel, the Epistles, and the narrative of the Last Supper (Jesus washing feet: “Love one another as I have loved you”).

7. Reading the Gospel of John: Approaches and Distinctives

• Spiritual Perspective:

  • John’s account is “spiritual”—it begins with the eternal Word, not a birth story, and focuses on revealing deeper realities.
  • “He’s offering a Gospel that will show us different things about Jesus that you might have missed if before you thought that this is another miraculous birth... John says, you’re not getting everything that’s there because really what this is, this is the eternal Word of God... who now has become flesh.”
    — Dr. Prothro [19:34]

• Complement to the Synoptics:

  • John written after the other Gospels, emphasizing what they do not.
  • The new covenant is closely linked with Jesus’ new commandment of love.

• Starting John’s Letters:

  • 1 John is an accessible entry point, emphasizing direct testimony and the goal of shared fellowship and joy.

• 1 John Opening:

  “We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands concerning the word of life…We declare to you what we’ve seen and heard so that you also might have fellowship with us…so that our joy may be complete…”
  — [1 John 1:1–5, cited by Dr. Prothro at 22:02]

8. John’s Privilege Is For Our Benefit

• John’s intimacy with Christ was never intended as exclusion but for the sake of sharing:
  • “The whole purpose of him being brought into those special moments is so he could see and then bring you to have the same fellowship and the same knowledge… By reading his Gospel and letters…we can share that same joy and the same knowledge of the eternal life that was with the Father in the beginning that he tells us about.”
    — Dr. Prothro [22:45]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Peter, James, and John get to do things with Jesus that other people don’t get to do.” — Dr. Jim Prothro [02:28]
• “He refers to himself kind of in the third person most of the time.” — Dr. Jim Prothro [10:12]
• “John is the first one in John’s Gospel, at least, to look in and go... He believes in a way that other people don’t, really quickly right after seeing the empty tomb.” — Dr. Jim Prothro [12:12]
• “That John doesn’t stay in that state of being impetuous and competitive for the rest of his life. He learns from that.” — Dr. Jim Prothro [14:54]
• “Little children, love one another.” — St. John (via St. Jerome), cited by Dr. Jim Prothro [17:55]
• “John’s gospel…starts off with…‘In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’” — Dr. Jim Prothro [19:34]
• “The whole purpose of him being brought into those special moments is so he could see and then he could bring you to have the same fellowship and the same knowledge.” — Dr. Jim Prothro [22:45]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening & Introduction – [00:05–01:06]
• Feast Day and Scriptural Introduction – [01:23–02:28]
• Who Was John? Background & Calling – [01:48–04:49]
• Levels of Intimacy Among Disciples – [04:49–08:55]
• John the Evangelist: The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved – [09:42–12:11]
• John’s Character: Faith, Flaws, Growth – [12:11–15:29]
• John’s Later Life, Revelation, and Teaching Legacy – [15:29–18:23]
• John’s Key Message: Love One Another – [18:23–19:34]
• How to Read John’s Gospel and Letters – [19:34–23:05]
• Final Reflections – [23:05–23:11]

Final Reflection

The episode concludes in fitting style, inviting the intercession of the apostle whose life and legacy beckons all believers into deeper relationship with Christ and neighbor:

“St. John, pray for us.” — Dr. Jim Prothro [23:11]

For those interested in exploring the life and writings of St. John more deeply, the podcast’s discussion offers historical, theological, and practical insights sure to inform, inspire, and enrich one’s faith journey.