John, Son of Thunder

by Ellen Gunderson Traylor

The author takes John down desert paths, through the courts of the Holy City, and to his exile on Patmos. This is a fictional saga of adventure, romance, and discovery.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Biblical Fiction, Christian, Christian Fiction, Religion, Biblical

448 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1979

About the author

Ellen Gunderson Traylor, "America's Foremost Biblical Novelist," is a gifted storyteller who brings characters of the Bible to life. Her many bestselling novels have sold about a million copies in English, with numerous foreign translations.

In addition to writing bestselling novels, Traylor has been a magazine/newspaper columnist and correspondent. An award-winning feature writer, Traylor has written screenplays and political speeches, and was a contributing writer and researcher for the Tyndale Family Bible Encyclopedia project.

Reviews

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting read for me. I know that the author embelishes on the historical times of the book, but she does a great job in putting out some ideas that may just very well have been possibilities. I liked the way she seemed to draw John and Mary of Bethany together. What a match they may have made...the diciple whom Jesus loved and the woman who loved Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. It was a somewhat more lengthy than what I normally choose to read, but I was hooked from the beginning.I like it and would recommend it to my Christian friends.

[Shruthi D'Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brings the story of John to life. I've read the gospels, but this book stirred up emotions in my mind with strong convictions. While reading this book, I could feel as if I'm there among the 12 disciples and actually following Jesus. It did bring tears to my eyes. I loved this book.

[ClaraBelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this look on John, the beloved disciple of Jesus! It was neat how it focused on his relationship with John the Baptist and Jesus as well as to Peter and to his disapproving Pharisee father, Zebedee.
Rating: 5 stars
Recommend: for older readers
Warning: the only problems I had with it was: (1)the insinuation that his mother, Salome, left his father. And (2)that he was in love with and trued unsuccessfully to seduce Mary of Bethany. Not in the Bible so too much creative license.
Read: 5/3-30-20

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredibly well-written, thought-provoking book! It's these types of Biblically based books that bring the Bible characters to life. Traylor has certainly brought John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, alive, along with Peter, Matthew, Andrew, Mary, and if course Jesus. After Jesus had risen, and the disciples were being martyred one by one, I was too saddened to continue, so I put the book down for a good 6 months. I picked it up after returning from camp, and was so encouraged by the author's description of John on the island of Patmos where he received the vision of Revelation. So awesome!!! This is a wonderful book, So rich and descriptive. A five star for sure!!

[Jack Blashchishen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best biblical fiction out there. I think it treats the gospel of John as the historical reference of choice and tells the story of John from when Jesus called him and Andrew to John's own death on Patmos. I read this book at a very opportune time in my life when I was extremely responsive to its message and so it left tears in my eyes and my heart beating ferverously in my chest. I probably would not have the same reaction today. One perk of reading this is that it will help you to personalize each of Jesus' disciples and so allow you to remember them all.

[Sandi Layne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Heart-touching. Heartbreaking. Encouraging. Edifying.

Traylor brought me with John, made me understand this dear friend of Jesus of Nazareth, brought me into the world in which he lived and then made me live it with him. And it's such a hard life, in so many ways, for so many reasons.

This is a book for anyone who wants to walk where Jesus walked...and then some.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great book that pointed me to a Great Author! Slowly collecting all she wrote and reading them joyfully beside my Bible, finding them accurate, thought-provoking, and entertaining, as well as Faith-Building!

[Rose on aish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great! It's a fiction book and a few liberties are taken, but the author did an awesome job of being loyal to the Bible. Sometimes you felt like being part of the story :) but it was a little bit too long.

[Sneha · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the most important books in my life, thus far...i believe i read it in junior high -- it made me weep.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of all her titles.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the character development and "historical" fill-ins of the life of the "Disciple that Jesus Loved."

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helped me visualize what living in John's time would really be like.

[Byron Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Susan Ajaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

John is real in his search for a stronger, clearer meaning to the scriptures he has been living. John's father sits in the Sanhedrin and strictly adheres to the laws of the Nation's way of life. John's brother, James, follows in his father's footsteps. There lives revolve around the Temple in Jerusalem, and Zebedee's thriving fishing enterprise. John, Peter, James, and Andrew are all fisherman. John is constantly at odds with his father's religious indoctrination. The story begins John's journey as he seeks a prophet called John the Baptist. Tutored and mentored by the fore-runner of Jesus' ministry, John finds what the whole Jewish Nation has been looking for all their lives. John knows and loves this man, the hope of the future, the fulfillment of the past. He would break their minds and hearts and put them back together again, whole. They are made ready to spread the message.

I have read this book over and over many times. When I am the most troubled and lost it brings me back. The first fictional Bible reading I have brought into my life. Faith comes alive in this beautiful story and those I continue to read. I am forever changed.

[Clarissa Unruh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this account of johns life so fascinating. Lots of detail that was amazing to think about - not necessarily true but so possible. And lots that was true that I never paid much attention to. Especially in the last chapters of the persecution and johns part in all that. The Gnostics and his time enslaved on that island. Love the new perspective I have now…



Read for book club. Mary’s pick.

[Olivia Orndorff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Great read! It is like the Chosen series but this was out way before and has a different take on what some may have been like.

If it brings you closer to Jesus, it's worth it all. It has for me. I identify with John's strengths but it called me out on some of my weaknesses as well. It, like The Chosen, envigorates me to study God's word more and draws me closer to Jesus.

[Dion · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

The parts that work best are those that use the Bible as the starting point and then flesh out the characters, motivations, and events.

Sometimes it felt as if it rushed from one episode to another to cover everything.

Overall, insightful and entertaining.

[J.T. O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very educational and apparently well researched piece of historical fiction. Certainly brings the reader into the biblical accounts in a unique and imaginative way. Some room is made for plot points that are not at all historical (or important to the biblical account).

[Sue B · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Love one another--because, it is the Lord's command, and if this alone be done, it is enough..."

So well written. The words are full of imagery and tell so well the gospel of Christ.
Looking forward to reading this every year, and the Song of Abraham.

[Summer Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars because as I started studying to write Biblical novels it was my first, could have been better but will always be special

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read!!

[Cinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this telling of the Gospel in a fiction format. It stays surprisingly close to scripture, using direct quotations and imagery. Easy reading and inspirational.

[Lindsey Boese · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved how it brought the New Testament SO to real life. i found the end the most fascinating- how the disciples continued after Jesus went to heaven and the history of the beginning of the church…

[Olusola Anyanwu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerfully written story of John. Very interesting and touching. Worth its 5 stars!

[Vickie Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book about the apostle John. It starts with him following John the Baptist as a disciple, he then joins Jesus Christ as his disciple. The book ends with him as an old man. This is a book well worth reading.