By John S. Romanides
An important part of the problem concerning the authorship of the Fourth Gospel and its use in the primitive church involves the much debated question of whether or not it is known, presupposed, or used by Justin Martyr. The controversy over this question has a long history, the narration of which is beyond the scope of this paper. The discussion of the problem will be restricted primarily to an examination of the relationship between 1 Apol. 61, 4-5 of Justin and 3, 3-5 of John in the light of certain suggestions which will perhaps offer some useful points to the general question of the use of the Johannine Gospel in the ancient church.
There have been attempts at a comparison of Justin’s Gospel allusions with the Gospel of John in order to discover those points which have parallels only in the Fourth Gospel. Such attempts, if considered successful, would determine more definitely the relationship between 1 Apol. 61, 4-5 and John 3, 3-5. One of the leading exponents of this method of approach is A. Thoma who, after careful examination, comes to the conclusion that Justin “knows and uses almost every chapter of the Logos-Gospel, and in part very fully.” Besides a strong influence of the Fourth Gospel, Thoma also detects in Justin a good acquaintance with Paul, who is never quoted directly. Thoma is thus convinced that although Justin is influenced by both John and Paul, he could neither have regarded the Johannine Gospel as apostolic and historically authentic nor Paul as an Apostle.
