He was the son of Count Palatine Stephen of Simmer-Zweibrücken and his wife, Anna of Veldenz.
After the death of Archbishop Frederick III of Magdeburg on 11 November 1464, the cathedral chapter unanimously elected John as his successor on 13 December 1464.
He formally became Archbishop when he received the papal bull, however, he had incurred debts in Münster and he was unable to accept his new office until the spring of 1466.
In order to expand the influence of the bishopric, he acquired several possessions, including Bernburg, Sandersleben, Gröbzig, Wormsdorf, Hohenerxleben, Gänsefurth and Jerichow.
The brothers were also wanted by Duke Henry II of Brunswick-Lüneburg for highway robbery.