All he wants is to be the beloved disciple, to know that he comes first.

Do not be ashamed of your questioning, beloved disciple.

Furthermore, while the author of this gospel accepts Peter's authority and his teaching, he also claims that the "beloved disciple" surpasses Peter.

John, especially, the beloved disciple, who has recorded with minuteness the conversation and the transactions of that memorable evening, has quite omitted such a notice.

She tells Peter and "the beloved disciple", who run to the tomb and find the grave-clothes, then go home.

Later, the Ephesians claimed this fugitive had actually been the beloved disciple himself.

Since the apostle John, unlike the other twelve, is never named in that gospel, the "beloved disciple" is assumed to be him.

In the text, this beloved disciple is present at the crucifixion of Jesus, with Jesus' mother, Mary.

There had been a rumor that the End would come before the beloved disciple died.

One common proposal is that the author concealed his name due simply to modesty, even though calling him/herself the "beloved" disciple may not sound that humble.