early Christian; appears in fragments from Papias of Hierapolis as one of the author's sources; traditionally identified with John the Apostle, John the Evangelist, and/or John of Patmos (author of the Book of Revelations)
b. 1st century
John the Presbyter was an obscure figure of the early Christian Church who is either distinguished from or identified with the Apostle John and/or John of Patmos. He appears in fragments from the church father Papias of Hierapolis as one of the author's sources and is first unequivocally distinguished from the Apostle by Eusebius of Caesarea. He is frequently proposed by some as an alternative author of some or all of the Johannine books in the New Testament.