St. John the Beloved – Life & Spirituality

Vocabulary flashcards covering key people, places, concepts, and theological terms from the lecture on St. John the Beloved’s life and spirituality.

St. John the Beloved

Son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of James the Greater; apostle, evangelist, and the ‘beloved disciple’ of Jesus.

Zebedee

Father of John and James; a Galilean fisherman by trade.

Salome

Mother of John and James; follower of Jesus who supported His ministry.

Bethsaida, Galilee

Fishing village in the Roman Empire where John was born.

Apostle (John)

John’s vocation at age 25, called by Jesus to be one of the Twelve.

Evangelist (John)

Role of John as author of the Fourth Gospel, proclaiming Christ as the incarnate Word.

Beloved Disciple

Title highlighting John’s unique closeness to Jesus, present at key events like the Last Supper and Calvary.

Gospel of John

The ‘spiritual’ gospel emphasizing Christ’s divinity rather than parables or exorcisms.

Spiritual Gospel

Aspect of John’s Gospel that presents Jesus as pre-existent with God.

Mystical Gospel

Aspect of John’s Gospel portraying Jesus as beyond mere history and time.

Divinity Gospel

Focus of John’s Gospel on the mystery of Christ’s divine nature, consubstantial with the Father.

Transfiguration

Event on Mount Tabor where Jesus’ divine glory was revealed to Peter, James, and John.

Mount Tabor

Site of the Transfiguration that ‘lets there be light’ for believers.

Agony in the Garden

Jesus’ intense prayer and sorrow in Gethsemane; witnessed by Peter, James, and John.

Gethsemane

Garden where Jesus accepted the Father’s will, reversing Eden’s disobedience.

Paschal Mystery

Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection culminating at Calvary.

Calvary

Hill outside Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified; John stood with Mary at the cross.

Wood of the Cross

Symbolic ‘tree’ of victory over sin, contrasting the Tree of Eden.

DUC IN ALTUM

Latin for “Put out into the deep” (Luke 5:4); Jesus’ call that inspired John’s missionary zeal.

Son of Mary (John)

Title given when Jesus entrusted His mother to John: “Woman, behold your son.”

Consubstantial

Term meaning ‘of the same substance’; John’s Gospel affirms Jesus is consubstantial with God.

Omnipotent

Attribute of God as all-powerful, emphasized in John’s spirituality.

Omniscient

Attribute of God as all-knowing, central to John’s mystical vision.

Omnipresent

Attribute of God as always present, highlighted by John’s theology.

St. John’s Institute

Educational community embracing John’s spirituality of truth and life.

Soar Johnians

Institute motto linked to John’s call to rise higher in faith and knowledge.

Holistic Approach (Institute)

Integration of spiritual, community, cultural, pastoral, and academic disciplines inspired by John.

Minor Patron

Status of St. John as a guiding patron of the Institute alongside other saints.

Fisherman Heritage

John’s early occupation that shaped his readiness to ‘fish for people’ in Christ’s mission.

Roman Ephesus

Probable place where John spent his final years and died.