Johannine

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to or characteristic of John, especially the apostle or the biblical writings attributed to him; connected to the theological themes or style found in these texts; pertaining to the Johannine community or tradition
2. Associated with the figure of John in religious contexts, particularly the New Testament; descriptive of the themes, doctrines, or literary traits in the writings linked to this figure; concerning the group or belief system historically connected to John
3. Pertaining to the Apostle John or the set of biblical books traditionally ascribed to him; reflecting the specific theological ideas or narrative features distinctive to these writings; related to the early Christian circles identified with John’s teachings

Etymology: "Johannine" is a straightforward formation: the Latin "Iōhannēs" (John), which came into Greek as "Iōannēs" and into English through Church Latin, plus the suffix "-ine", borrowed from Latin "-inus" and used to form adjectives meaning "of or belonging to." The result is a term meaning "of John," used especially for the apostle, the Gospel and Epistles that bear his name, and the Book of Revelation traditionally linked to him. The word's usefulness lies in its specialism. Scholars use it to point to a shared cluster of features across these texts: the language of light and darkness, the figure of the Word, and an emphasis on belief and abiding in God. Because the texts' authorship remains debated, the term describes a body of writing and its characteristic traits rather than a confirmed author. It can also refer to the community or tradition historically associated with these writings.

Synonyms: john's, apostolic, biblical