The Two Johns

"The disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 21:20) wrote the gospel of John. This disciple is the apostle known as the apostle John. The gospel writer Mark records how Jesus called John, along with his brother James, to serve Him (Mark 1:19-20). In the process, John and James gave up their careers as fishermen. After being recruited, Jesus named James and John as two of His twelve apostles (Luke 6:12-16). These two apostles (along with Peter) were also witnesses to the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-2; 2 Peter 1:16-19).

Ireneus of Lyons (A.D. 180), when quoting from Polycarp (a disciple of the apostle John after Jesus' death) gave the apostle John the credit of writing the gospel of John.

Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia (Kirby).

It is believed that John wrote his gospel several years after Christ's death.

Several witnesses verified the accuracy of John's gospel.

John 21 24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

These witnesses were those who knew "that his testimony is true" precisely because they could verify its accuracy which means they personally witnessed Jesus and things that He did.

The apostle John also wrote one of the John letters found in the New Testament called 1 John. John's writing style could be seen in his work. For example, he did not give his direct name and he referred to Jesus as the "Word" (John 1, 1 John 1) and the "light" which gives light to those who follow him (John 1: 5,9; 1 John 1:5-7).

The letters 2 John and 3 John and the Book of Revelation, is often credited to the apostle John as their writer. However, they were actually written by John the Elder who was also one of Jesus' disciples. Though the Elder was not one of Jesus' twelve apostles, it is believed he was one of the chosen 70 (Luke 10:1). Like the apostle John, John the Elder had his own writing style. He identified himself as "the Elder" (2 John 1; 3 John 1) or simply as John (Rev. 1:1). John's disciple Polycarp identifies both John's, the apostle and the Elder, and credits the Revelation work as that written by the Elder (Gonzalez 36).

There are two traditional sources that comment on the apostle John's demise. One of those sources claims he died as a martyr in a pot of boiling oil (Gonzalez 36). Another source teaches he was the only apostle that was not martyred, and that he lived to be over 100 years. Ireneus says that John moved to Ephesus in his later years where he wrote his gospel (Kirby).

Because the two John's have often been fused in to the same person, it is possible that Ireneus was actually writing about the Elder and not the apostle in his works. Likely, it was the elder who lived to be over 100 whereas the apostle John was martyred.

According to the apostle John's disciple Polycarp, John was martyred in Jerusalem, as was his brother James (Badham 539). That John would be martyred was predicted by Jesus.

Mark 10 39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized.

If the apostle John suffered an early martyrdom, then his gospel had an earlier writing than the second century, putting its writing previous to A.D. 50. and making his gospel (alongside Matthew's book to the Hebrews) the first to be written. The earlier writing of John's gospel would account for those witnesses of his gospel who were still alive and could verify its accuracy based on their own personal testimonies (John 21:24).

John the Elder, also called John of Patmos, wrote his Revelation after having been banished to the island of Patmos (Rev. 1:9) which is assumed to have taken place under the rule of Domitian (A.D. 81-96). It is further believed he was recalled by Nerva (A.D. 96-98) and allowed to live in Ephesus (during the Trajan rule of A.D. 98-117) for the remainder of his days.

It is more likely, however, that John wrote Revelation during Nero's rule (A.D. 54-68) when the seven churches of Asia still existed (Rev. 1:4) before the temple destruction in A.D. 70. Set free by Nerva, his lived the remainder of his days in Ephesus during Trajan's rule. Polycarp's witness to John the Elder's Revelation during Domitian's time possibly led to the belief by certain early church fathers such as Ireneus that the apostle John who was fused with the elder wrote his work during this same time.

Earlier dating of the Book of Revelation shows John the Elder prophesied the temple destruction (Rev. 11:1-2) and the Nero/Domitian rule (Rev. 13, 17) as they related to the Daniel and Jesus prophesies (Dan. 2, 7, 8, 9; Matt. 24, Mark 13, Luke 21).


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		The Two Johns

	*"The disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 21:20) wrote the gospel of John. This disciple is the apostle known as the apostle John. The gospel writer Mark records how Jesus called John, along with his brother James, to serve Him (Mark 1:19-20). In the process, John and James gave up their careers as fishermen. After being recruited, Jesus named James and John as two of His twelve apostles (Luke 6:12-16). These two apostles (along with Peter) were also witnesses to the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-2; 2 Peter 1:16-19*). Ireneus of Lyons (A.D. 180), when quoting from Polycarp (a disciple of the apostle John after Jesus' death) gave the apostle John the credit of writing the gospel of John. Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia (Kirby). It is believed that John wrote his gospel several years after Christ's death. Several witnesses verified the accuracy of John's gospel. John 21** 24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. These witnesses were those who knew "that his testimony is true" precisely because they could verify its accuracy which means they personally witnessed Jesus and things that He did. The apostle John also wrote one of the John letters found in the New Testament called 1 John. John's writing style could be seen in his work. For example, he did not give his direct name and he referred to Jesus as the "Word" (**John 1, 1 John 1) and the "light" which gives light to those who follow him (John 1: 5,9; 1 John 1:5-7). The letters 2 John and 3 John and the Book of Revelation, is often credited to the apostle John as their writer. However, they were actually written by John the Elder who was also one of Jesus' disciples. Though the Elder was not one of Jesus' twelve apostles, it is believed he was one of the chosen 70 (Luke 10:1). Like the apostle John, John the Elder had his own writing style. He identified himself as "the Elder" (2 John 1; 3 John 1) or simply as John (Rev. 1:1). John's disciple Polycarp identifies both John's, the apostle and the Elder, and credits the Revelation work as that written by the Elder (Gonzalez 36). There are two traditional sources that comment on the apostle John's demise. One of those sources claims he died as a martyr in a pot of boiling oil (Gonzalez 36). Another source teaches he was the only apostle that was not martyred, and that he lived to be over 100 years. Ireneus says that John moved to Ephesus in his later years where he wrote his gospel (Kirby). Because the two John's have often been fused in to the same person, it is possible that Ireneus was actually writing about the Elder and not the apostle in his works. Likely, it was the elder who lived to be over 100 whereas the apostle John was martyred. According to the apostle John's disciple Polycarp, John was martyred in Jerusalem, as was his brother James (Badham 539). That John would be martyred was predicted by Jesus. Mark 10** 39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized. If the apostle John suffered an early martyrdom, then his gospel had an earlier writing than the second century, putting its writing previous to A.D. 50. and making his gospel (alongside Matthew's book to the Hebrews) the first to be written. The earlier writing of John's gospel would account for those witnesses of his gospel who were still alive and could verify its accuracy based on their own personal testimonies (*John 21:24). John the Elder, also called John of Patmos, wrote his Revelation after having been banished to the island of Patmos (Rev. 1:9*) which is assumed to have taken place under the rule of Domitian (A.D. 81-96). It is further believed he was recalled by Nerva (A.D. 96-98) and allowed to live in Ephesus (during the Trajan rule of A.D. 98-117) for the remainder of his days. It is more likely, however, that John wrote Revelation during Nero's rule (A.D. 54-68) when the seven churches of Asia still existed (Rev. 1:4) before the temple destruction in A.D. 70. Set free by Nerva, his lived the remainder of his days in Ephesus during Trajan's rule. Polycarp's witness to John the Elder's Revelation during Domitian's time possibly led to the belief by certain early church fathers such as Ireneus that the apostle John who was fused with the elder wrote his work during this same time. Earlier dating of the Book of Revelation shows John the Elder prophesied the temple destruction (Rev. 11:1-2) and the Nero/Domitian rule (Rev. 13, 17) as they related to the Daniel and Jesus prophesies (Dan. 2, 7, 8, 9; Matt. 24, Mark 13, Luke 21*). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Works Cited Badham, F.P.”The Martyrdom of John the Apostle.” The American Journal of Theology.* Vol. 8, No. 3. July 1904. http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/478469. Accessed 13 January 2018. Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity: Volume 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of Reformation/ Edition 2. HarperColins Publishers, 10 August 2010. Kirby, Peter. “Ireneus of Lyons, Book III.” Early Christian Writings. http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/irenaeus-book3.html. Accessed 13 January 2018.