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.
117
Is the Apostle James mentioned in John?
He is not. This omission is the more remarkable when we remember that James was not only one of the chief apostles, but the brother of John.
Respecting this omission, Strauss says: “Is it at all probable that the real John would so unbecomingly neglect the well-founded claims of his brother James to special notice? and is not such an omission rather indicative of a late Hellenistic author, who scarcely had heard the name of the brother so early martyred?” (Leben Jesu, p. 353.)
118
What other disciples besides the Twelve did Jesus send out?
Luke: “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come” ([x, 1]).