John was one of the few apostles who escaped martyrdom—perhaps the only apostle. Most believe John was the youngest apostle. Peter may have been the rock on which Christ built his church, but John was the one who lived to tell the church’s story—dying when he was about 92.
It is traditionally accepted that John is the author of the Gospel of John, The Book of Revelations, and the First Epistle of John (many believe the other Epistles bearing his name were written by another John).
The stories he must have had to tell—he had seen all of his brothers and sisters in Christ die—suffering for what they believed. Unlike any other Christian in history, he was able to look back and see what had become of it—how it had grown and spread. Unlike the other Gospels, which were written much earlier to convert believers, John’s gospel seems to be an attempt to mature Christians—he’s writing to make sure what really happened is documented. There were already people making up things about the church, and he wanted to make sure people knew the real story.
John was the philosopher of the group, and to him was tasked one of Christianity’s greatest responsibilities: write the final book of the New Testament—the prophecy of what is to come.
It’s likely that after his brother, James, suffered martyrdom, the apostles realized that they could no longer be close; if the church was to survive, then the disciples would have to scatter.
It is traditionally held that John wrote the Book of Revelations while in exile. According to this tradition, he was first put into boiling oil, but he did not die—he was not even burned.
It is traditionally accepted that John is the author of the Gospel of John, The Book of Revelations, and the First Epistle of John (many believe the other Epistles bearing his name were written by another John).
The stories he must have had to tell—he had seen all of his brothers and sisters in Christ die—suffering for what they believed. Unlike any other Christian in history, he was able to look back and see what had become of it—how it had grown and spread. Unlike the other Gospels, which were written much earlier to convert believers, John’s gospel seems to be an attempt to mature Christians—he’s writing to make sure what really happened is documented. There were already people making up things about the church, and he wanted to make sure people knew the real story.
John was the philosopher of the group, and to him was tasked one of Christianity’s greatest responsibilities: write the final book of the New Testament—the prophecy of what is to come.
It’s likely that after his brother, James, suffered martyrdom, the apostles realized that they could no longer be close; if the church was to survive, then the disciples would have to scatter.
It is traditionally held that John wrote the Book of Revelations while in exile. According to this tradition, he was first put into boiling oil, but he did not die—he was not even burned.
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