It is definitely one of the most controversial books of the Bible, with many ranging interpretations of the meanings of the various names and events in the account. The identity of the author John is not completely clear. A traditional view is that the author of this book was John the apostle, but other scholars doubt that. The traditional Christian view is that this John was the same as the author of the Gospel of John and I, II, and III John. In the fourth century, St. John Chrysostom and other bishops argued against including this book in the New Testament canon, chiefly because of the difficulties of interpreting it and the danger for abuse. In the end, it was included, although it remains the only book of the New Testament that is not read publically in Eastern Orthodox Church. (Is it read from publically in the Roman Catholic Church, or otherwise included in any standard western lectionaries?)
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