How many johns in the bible: a complete guide with 5 key facts

how many johns in the bible

If you have ever wondered how many johns in the bible there are, you are not alone. It is a surprisingly common question, and the answer depends on how precisely you define the name “John”, which Bible translation you use, and whether you are counting only the New Testament or the whole Bible. In this guide, we will explain the different people called John (and closely related forms of the name), why the figures sometimes get conflated, and how to reach a sensible total without getting lost in the details.

Understanding how many johns in the bible helps you read Scripture with more confidence, so that you do not mix up key figures such as John the Baptist and John the Apostle, or assume that John of Patmos must be the same person as the Evangelist. Along the way, we will note common pitfalls, give examples, and point you to trustworthy resources for further study.

Why answering how many johns in the bible is not straightforward

At first glance, counting Johns might seem as simple as scanning for a name. In practice, several factors complicate a neat tally of how many johns in the bible:

• Language and translation: “John” is the English form of the Greek name Ioannes, which itself renders the Hebrew Yohanan or Yehohanan. Old Testament occurrences are usually transliterated as “Johanan” or “Jehohanan”, not “John”.
• Identity questions: Some traditions treat John the Apostle, John the Evangelist (traditionally credited with the Fourth Gospel and letters), and John of Patmos (author of Revelation) as the same person; many modern scholars separate at least one of these figures.
• Ambiguous references: In Acts 4:6, a “John” appears among the high-priestly family; he may be the Jonathan mentioned by Josephus, but the text itself simply says “John”.
• Textual variants: Simon Peter is called the “son of John” in some passages and “son of Jonah” in others, depending on the manuscript and translation. Should his father be counted as a distinct “John”?
• What counts as a “John”: Do we include people whose name is combined with another (e.g., “John Mark” in Acts), or book titles (“the Gospel according to John”) when the title is not a person’s mention?

Because of these factors, you will see different answers to how many johns in the bible across study Bibles, dictionaries, and articles. The important thing is to be clear about your counting criteria.

A quick answer: the most widely cited numbers for how many johns in the bible

Here are the most common ways people answer how many johns in the bible, with brief explanations of each approach:

• New Testament, distinct individuals, merging Evangelist and Patmos with the Apostle: 5. This usually includes John the Baptist; John the son of Zebedee (also seen as Evangelist and seer of Revelation in a single identity); John Mark; the “John” of Acts 4:6; and the “John” who is Peter’s father (in passages that read “son of John”).
• New Testament, distinct individuals, separating Evangelist and/or Patmos from the Apostle: 6 or 7. The extra one or two arise from distinguishing the author of Revelation and possibly the author of the Fourth Gospel from the Apostle.
• Whole Bible, counting Hebrew forms (Johanan/Jehohanan) as “John”: well over a dozen. The Old Testament contains numerous men named Johanan or Jehohanan (e.g., Jeremiah 40–43; Ezra 8:12; Nehemiah 12:23; 1 Chronicles 12:4; 2 Chronicles 28:12), which increases the total significantly.

So, if your question is focused on the New Testament alone, a careful answer to how many johns in the bible is roughly five to seven distinct people, depending on whether you treat the Evangelist and the seer of Revelation as the same person as the Apostle.

The name and its variations behind how many johns in the bible

To understand how many johns in the bible we might count, it helps to know where the name comes from. The English “John” reflects Greek Ioannes, which translates the Hebrew Yohanan or Yehohanan, meaning “Yahweh is gracious.” Because the Old Testament is primarily translated from Hebrew, you will typically see Johanan or Jehohanan there; in the Greek New Testament context, it appears as Ioannes, rendered “John” in English.

You will also meet combined names such as “John Mark” (Acts 12:12), where “John” is the Hebrew/Aramaic name and “Mark” the Latin/Roman name used in the wider Greco-Roman world. Finally, be aware that some English translations vary between “John”, “Jonah/Jonas”, and similar forms in passages about Simon Peter’s patronymic, which affects counts that include named fathers.

The New Testament Johns most relevant to how many johns in the bible

In the New Testament, the central figures for most readers asking how many johns in the bible are those connected to Jesus’ ministry and the early Church. These are the core profiles:

John the Baptist

John the Baptist is the forerunner of Jesus, a prophetic figure who preaches repentance, baptises in the Jordan, and identifies Jesus as the one to come (e.g., Matthew 3; John 1:29–34). He is executed by Herod Antipas (Mark 6:17–29). John the Baptist is never confused with other Johns in the narrative; he stands alone as a distinctive figure central to the Gospels’ opening chapters. Any attempt to answer how many johns in the bible in a New Testament context begins with him.

John, son of Zebedee (the Apostle)

John, brother of James and son of Zebedee, is one of the Twelve (e.g., Mark 1:19–20). He belongs to Jesus’ inner circle with Peter and James (Mark 5:37; 9:2; 14:33). Early Christian tradition often identifies this John as the beloved disciple, the Evangelist, and sometimes the author of Revelation, though modern scholarship debates these identifications. He is crucial to Jesus’ ministry and the early Jerusalem Church (Galatians 2:9).

John the Evangelist (traditional author of the Fourth Gospel and the Johannine letters)

Tradition ascribes the Fourth Gospel and the three letters of John to the Apostle, but many scholars suggest the Gospel may reflect the work of a “Johannine community” associated with a prominent elder named John. Because the texts themselves are anonymous or only refer to “the elder” (2 John; 3 John), readers who explore how many johns in the bible may count the Evangelist as either the Apostle or a separate figure.

John of Patmos (author of Revelation)

The book of Revelation names its author simply as “John” (Revelation 1:1, 1:9), writing from the island of Patmos. Early tradition is split on whether this is the Apostle, the Evangelist, or another prophetic teacher known as John. Stylistic differences between Revelation and the Fourth Gospel make many scholars cautious about equating them. In counts of how many johns in the bible, John of Patmos may be folded into the Apostle or listed separately.

John Mark

Acts 12:12 introduces “John, also called Mark,” the cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10). He accompanies Paul and Barnabas on missionary journeys, though he departs early once (Acts 13:13; 15:37–39). Early church tradition commonly identifies John Mark with Mark the Evangelist, the figure associated with the Gospel of Mark. While not all scholars agree the identification is certain, John Mark is a distinct New Testament individual who must be included when deciding how many johns in the bible.

John of the high-priestly family (Acts 4:6)

In Acts 4:6, as Peter and John (the Apostle) are examined by the Sanhedrin, the text lists Annas, Caiaphas, and “John” among the high-priestly family. Ancient sources outside the New Testament (e.g., Josephus) suggest a Jonathan son of Annas served as high priest, leading some to