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Who was Jesus’ favorite apostle?
Synoptics: Peter.
John: John.
From the Synoptics the conclusion is inevitable that if there was one disciple whom Jesus esteemed higher than the others it was Peter whom he is declared to have chosen for the head of his church. John, on the other hand, assuming that he wrote the Fourth Gospel, as claimed, takes frequent occasion to impress us with the idea that he was the bright particular star in the Apostolic galaxy. Four times ([xiii, 23]; [xix, 26]; [xx, 2]; [xxi, 20]) he declares himself to be “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”
If John wrote the Fourth Gospel this self-glorification proves him to have been a despicable egotist; if he did not write it the book is a forgery. The first assumption, if correct, impairs its credibility; the latter destroys its authenticity.