THE INTERTESTAMENTAL PERIOD

1
THE INTER-TESTAMENTAL PERIOD

• 400 Years of History in Ten Minutes

2
LIFE UNDER THE GREEKS

• Alexander the Great dies in 323 BC
• His empire is divided among his three generals
• Israel is caught between
• Ptolemy in the south (Egypt)
• Seleucids in the north (Syria)

3
LIFE UNDER THE GREEKS
4
LIFE UNDER THE GREEKS

• Greek culture has powerful influence, leading to
  translation of OT into Greek
• The Septuagint (LXX)

5
LIFE UNDER THE GREEKS

• 198 BC, the Seleucids defeated the Ptolemies and
  gained control of Judah, but not Egypt.
• The Seleucids were determined to civilize the
  people of Judah.

6
ANITIOCHUS IV

• 175 B. C., Antiochus IV, Epiphanies(the
  illustrious one).
• The Jews called him Epimanes (the madman).
• Antiochus looked upon orthodox Judaism as an
  obstacle to the unification of his empire.

7
ANITIOCHUS IV

• He looked upon the office of high priest as a
  political office.
• A Benjaminite named Melanus pays money to become
  High Priest.
• The orthodox Jews were infuriated.
• Antiochus attacks Egypt.
• Almost won, but was defeated by the Romans.

8
ANITIOCHUS IV

• Antiochus takes his anger out on Israel.
• He sent his army to attack the orthodox Jews on
  the Sabbath.
• He decreed that Greek deities were to be
  worshipped.
• He put a statue of Zeus in the Temple and
  sacrificed a pig on the altar.
• He held drunken orgies to the god Bacchus and
  forced attendance.

9
ANITIOCHUS IV

• Antiochus takes his anger out on Israel.
• He forbid the Jews to practice circumcision on
  the threat of death.
• The Sabbath was forbidden.
• The observance of Jewish feasts was forbidden.
• Copies of the Scriptures were burned.

10
THE MACCABEES

• 165 BC, An aged priest, named Mattathias, was
  commanded to offer a sacrifice to Zeus at the
  town of Modin.
• He refused and killed the next man who tried.
• Together with his five sons, he destroyed the
  altar and ran for the hills.

11
THE MACCABEES

• For the next few years, they fought a guerrilla
  war against the Seleucids.
• After having several killed on the Sabbath, when
  they would not fight, Mattathias decreed that
  fighting in self-defense on the Sabbath was
  allowed.

12
JUDAH THE MACCABEE(the Hammer)

• He continued the raids and guerrilla warfare.
• Antiochus had battles in other parts of his
  kingdom and couldnt focus on them.

13
JUDAH THE MACCABEE(the Hammer)

• Eventually, the Maccabees took Jerusalem, entered
  the Temple and removed all signs of paganism that
  they found there.
• They tore down the altar to Zeus and built a new
  altar to the Lord.
• One day of oil burned for eight.
• This is the Festival of Lights or Hanukkah.

14
JUDAH THE MACCABEE(the Hammer)

• Judahs victory was short-lived.
• Antiochus sent his army against him, promising
  religious freedom if they surrendered.
• The people chose to surrender and Judah ran away.
  
• He did not stop fighting, however, and died in
  battle.

15
JONATHAN, JUDAHS BROTHER

• Won by diplomacy.
• Jonathan sought to become high priest, even
  though he was not of the right lineage.
• The Syrians later murdered him.

16
SIMON,ANOTHER BROTHER

• Became both military commander and high priest.
• Expelled the Syrians from the land.
• The offices of priest, field commander, and ruler
  were all given to him by the people and made
  hereditary.
• Began the Hasomanean dynasty.

17
THE HASOMANEAN DYNASTY

• The parties of the Pharisees and the Sadducees
  began
• After about 75 years, the Hasomeaneans fell to
  fighting each other.
• The Roman general, Pompey, offered to mediate.
• He conquered the land and ended the arguments.
• In 63 BC, Israel came under Roman domination.

18
THE ROMANS

• Jews generally fared well Romans gave a lot of
  independence
• Still, longed for freedom
• Herod the Great
• Began ruling in 37 BC
• Rebuilt several cities and six fortresses
• In 20 BC, began building Temple finished in 68 AD

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THE NEW TESTAMENT ENVIRONMENT
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GRECO-ROMAN WORLD

• Genuine belief in the gods and goddesses of
  Greece and Rome had given way to a general
  agnosticism.
• Growth in superstition and astrology

21
GRECO-ROMAN WORLDPhilosophies

• Platonism
• Taught that true reality is not found in the
  objects of sense, but in the idea or form which
  lies behind each object.
• By grasping and participating in the eternal
  forms, the soul is lifted and attains true
  well-being.
• The souls real home is the world beyond the
  senses.
• The body is a prison for the soul.
• This release takes place at death.

22
GRECO-ROMAN WORLDPhilosophies

• Cynics
• Believed simple pleasures are the best and
  taught an extreme frugality.
• Salvation lies in returning to nature.
• Cynics took their beliefs to the people.
• Cynics style called the diatribe which
  consisted of questions and answers.

23
GRECO-ROMAN WORLDPhilosophies

• Epicureans
• Rejected Plato
• How you feel should be the standard of truth.
• Wisdom consists in the pursuit of happiness and
  enjoying life, but not to excess.
• There is no afterlife, so you best enjoy life now
  while you can.
• The gods, if they do exist, have nothing to do
  with us.
• At death, the body dissolves.
• This tended to bring about atheism and
  self-indulgence.

24
GRECO-ROMAN WORLDPhilosophies

• Stoics
• Encouraged the development of a moral fiber.
• Divine Reason pervades the universe and it is our
  duty to live in accord with Reason.
• Ethical living was very important to the Stoics.
• Interpreted the Roman myths allegorically.
• The soul is the divine spark of Reason trapped
  within the human body.
• We have the ability to rise above our
  circumstances and face them with dignity.

25
GRECO-ROMAN WORLDMystery Religions

• Most of these started in the east and were
  brought to Rome later.
• Believed everyone worshiped the same god or gods,
  just used different names.
• They are called mystery religions because the
  members were not supposed to tell non-members
  what was going on.
• Generally, anyone could join.

26
JUDAISM AND ITS DIVISIONS

• Synagogues
• Synagogue means meeting place.
• Not sure when they began, probably during the
  Babylonian Captivity.
• The synagogues were places for the reading of
  Scripture and prayer.

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JUDAISM AND ITS DIVISIONS

• Synagogues
• There was a synagogue in virtually every village
  in Israel
• One rule for the establishment of a synagogue
  there had to be ten men.
• Men and women sat in different sections of the
  building.
• The God-fearers stood along the back wall.

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THE TEMPLE

• Built by Herod the Great
• Temple itself took 18 months to build
• The surrounding courts took another 82 years
• No cement or mortar used in construction

29
THE TEMPLE

• Grounds ran 1,000 X 1,500 feet
• Shorter walls had 160 huge columns
• Covered in alabaster and marble
• Finished in 63 AD
• Destroyed in 70 AD

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THE TEMPLE
31
THE TEMPLE
32
VARIOUS GROUPS Pharisees

• Mostly laypeople
• Pharisee means The holy ones
• Started as a rebellion against Greek influences
• Applied to join then a probationary period

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VARIOUS GROUPS Pharisees

• Beliefs
• Accepted Entire OT and oral tradition
• Divided OT law into 613 laws and sub-laws
• Wanted to build a fence around the commandments

34
VARIOUS GROUPS Pharisees

• Beliefs
• Believed that all Jews would be in Jerusalem when
  Messiah came
• The Jews who had died would be raised to life
• Much of modern Judaism is from the Pharisees

35
VARIOUS GROUPS Sadducees

• Name is derived from the OT priest Zadok
• The Sadducees were the priestly establishment
• Very powerful politically
• Most Jews despised them

36
VARIOUS GROUPS Sadducees

• Beliefs
• Only accepted the Pentateuch
• Rejected belief in angels, demons, immortality
  and the resurrection

37
VARIOUS GROUPS Scribes

• Could be Sadducees or Pharisees most Pharisees
• Learned and taught the Law
• Looked upon as people with wisdom
• The Masoretes were their descendants

38
VARIOUS GROUPS Zealots

• Political,not theological
• Wanted freedom from Rome NOW!
• Refused to pay taxes or honor Caesar
• Fought for Jewish autonomy

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JEWISH MESSIANIC EXPECTATIONS
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JEWISH MESSIANIC EXPECTATIONS

• The Spirit of God would return to-the covenant
  land.
• God would send the Messiah to free His covenant
  people and the covenant land from the Romans

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JEWISH MESSIANIC EXPECTATIONS

• Of Davidic line
• Man, not divine, but empowered by God's Spirit
  sad kept righteous
• He would be righteous and just in His rule,
  serving as God's Messianic agent.

42
JEWISH MESSIANIC EXPECTATIONS

• The Messiah's victory would be marked by Judgment
• Non-Jews and all wicked Jews destroyed
  --Tax-collectors, prostitutes, other public
  sinners
• The covenant people would be set free and
  empowered to live totally as Gods people.

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JEWISH MESSIANIC EXPECTATIONS

• An age of "heaven on earth"
• Imagery of the year of Jubilee
• An abundance of food with little work and toil

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JEWISH MESSIANIC EXPECTATIONS

• No more sorrow, sickness and death
• No more oppression or unrighteousness
• Non-Jews would, sometime in the future, stream to
  Jerusalem to become part of the covenant people.
• The coming of a "new heaven and a new earth"

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THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEMQ AND SOURCE THEORY
CRITICAL THEORIES
46
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM

• What is the relationship among the three Synoptic
  Gospels?
• The Synoptic Gospels are Matthew, Mark and Luke
• A historical question, does not necessarily
  impinge upon authorship and inspiration.

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THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM

• That there is a relationship is obvious
• The general scheme of the three Gospels is the
  same.
• Not only do Jesus words match, but also the
  narrative events.

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THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM

• Where there is a difference
• Matthew and Mark agree the most often.
• Sometimes Luke and Mark agree.
• Rarely, Matthew and Luke agree.

49
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM

• There are passages that Matthew and Luke have
  that Mark does not.
• Some stuff in Matthew and Luke is similar, but
  not identical.
• Each Gospel has its own material.

50
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM

• What is the relationship?
• St. Augustine
• Matthew wrote first.
• Luke used Matthew.
• Mark wrote a Readers Digest version of them.

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THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM

• Early Church
• Matthew wrote first.
• Mark wrote his Gospel independently, using Peter
  as his source.
• Luke used Matthew to write his Gospel.

52
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM

• Current Scholarship
• Mark was the first Gospel written.
• Matthew and Luke used Mark and an unknown source
  called Q.
• From the German Quelle meaning source.

53
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM

• Why do scholars think that Mark is the first
  Gospel?
• The amount of Mark found in the other Gospels.
• Generally, Marks order of events used.
• Sometimes, Matthew and Mark have a different
  order than Luke.
• Sometimes Luke and Mark differ from Matthew.
• But Matthew and Luke never differ from Mark.
• Historical candor
• Style

54
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM

• Biggest problem with Markan priority
• Early church witness states that Matthew was the
  first Gospel written.
• There is no external evidence to back up this
  claim.
• Still, most scholars think this scheme answers
  more questions that it gives.

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Q AND SOURCE THEORY

• Q Information that is common to Luke and
  Matthew, but not in Mark
• About 250 verses, mostly sayings with very little
  narrative material.
• Eusebius quotes a man named Papias who wrote
  early in the second century.
• Papias states that Matthew wrote down the logia
  (sayings, oracles) of Jesus in the Hebrew
  dialect.
• Many think that this might have been a type of Q
  document.

56
Q AND SOURCE THEORY

• Except for the temptation of Jesus, most of this
  material is in different locations in each
  Gospel.
• This means one of two things
• Jesus taught the same thing more than once
• That one or the other edited the material and put
  it where he wanted.
• Most scholars think Luke has the original order.

57
Q AND SOURCE THEORY

• Q Problems
• There is no hard evidence of its existence.
• There is absolutely no parallel type of
  literature in that era.

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Q AND SOURCE THEORY

• Q Problems
• Q had no passion account.
• Scholars have come up with no less that 18
  different possibilities of what was in Q.
• Some of the stuff in Q strikes me as two
  different parables or something that Jesus would
  have taught more than once.

59
Q AND SOURCE THEORY

• What Do We Do With All This?
• This is a historical question and does not
  necessarily impinge on authorship or inspiration.
• We know that Luke, at least, used sources.
• A good argument can be made for putting Mark
  first.
• Q is a open question.

60
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES

• Form Criticism
• Definition The task of inferring what the oral
  tradition of Jesus was like before it was written
  down.

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OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES

• Form Critics identify five types of literature
• Paradigms
• A story that ends with an important saying.
• Plucking ears on the Sabbath.
• Tales (Miracle stories)
• These have no important sayings and tend to show
  Jesus as a miracle worker.
• The stilling of the storm.

62
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES

• Sayings
• Not attached to a narrative.
• The Sermon on the Mount and the parables.
• Legends
• Poor choice of words.
• The idea was an extraordinary story about a holy
  person.
• The infancy narratives.

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OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES

• Myths
• Another poor choice of words.
• Times when Jesus and God interacted.
• The transfiguration.

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OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES

• Positives of Form Criticism
• The Form Critics help bring attention to the
  preaching and teaching character of the Gospels.

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OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES

• Negatives of Form Criticism
• Biggest problem the presuppositions which the
  critics use.
• Began with the belief that the Church either
  modified or totally made up the words and actions
  of Jesus.
• The Gospels tell us more about the life situation
  of the early church than they do about Jesus.
• They divided the Jesus of history from the
  Christ of faith.

66
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES

• Negatives of Form Criticism
• Biggest problem the presuppositions which the
  critics use.
• The Gospels have layers geographical notations,
  dating, miracles, and doctrinal elements were all
  added by the later church.
• Critics argue that we need to strip the layers
  from Gospels to get to the real Jesus and the
  real words of Jesus.
• This lead to the so-called search for the
  historical Jesus.
• When the search for Jesus is stripped away, you
  are left with someone who looks much like you do.

67
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES

• Negatives of Form Criticism
• The uncertainty of exact classification
• Often arbitrary in selection of forms paradigms,
  tales, sayings, legends, myths
• All interest in the person and life of Christ are
  ruled out
• The "community myth"
• Contradicts all we know about primitive
  communities
• Rules out the influence of Christ and of the
  apostles on the community
• The Good News produced the community, not vice
  versa

68
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES

• Negatives of Form Criticism
• The folk-lore analogy is dubious
• A little more or less than a generation separates
  Mark from the event
• Ignores the memory of men who were eyewitnesses
• Neglects the tradition of Jesus' actual words
• Makes insufficient allowance for the existence of
  an authentic tradition of Christ's words, e.g. 1
  Cor. 710, 12, 25 153 - 11

69
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES

• Negatives of Form Criticism
• Ignores the way people learned
• Memorizationthe only way to preserve a statement
  or text and the Jews were very tenacious about
  it.
• The Rabbis spoke tersely and incisively. The
  avoided wordy talk they expressed themselves in
  concise terms.
• There were poetic devices alliteration, parable,
  rhythmic phrases, etc.
• Repetitionwhich would answer why the same stuff
  shows up in more than one gospel in a different
  location, Jesus was repeating himself.
• Recitation

70
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES

• Negatives of Form Criticism
• Overstepped the legitimate limits of their method
• Went from form, speculative in itself, to content
• Over-ruled or ignored literary and historical
  truths
• If the main contention of form criticism were
  true, then the burning issues of the early church
  would be reflected in the Gospels, e. g.
• The problem of integrating the non-Jew into the
  Christian community
• Speaking in tongues.

71
OTHER CRITICAL THEORIES

• Redaction Criticism
• Why the material is arranged the way it is
• Overall, pretty positive
• However, comes from form-critical school with its
  problems.
• Tends to see a theological motive where others
  might not.

72
FEATURES IN THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS
73
THE BIRTH OF JESUS

• When was Jesus born?
• Herod the Great died in 4 BC
• There was an imperial census in 8 BC.

74
THE BIRTH OF JESUS

• The Problem of Quinirius.
• Quinirius was governor around 6 AD, which is too
  late for the birth of Jesus.
• There are three possible answers
• Luke is in error here.
• Luke has been mistranslated.
• First should be translated before
• Governor should be translated governing
• Luke doesnt give the whole story.
• Started under Herod
• Completed under Quinirius

75
THE BIRTH OF JESUS

• The Genealogies
• Two suggestions
• Matthew is highlighting Josephs heritage Luke
  is highlighting Marys.
• But both say they are Josephs heritage.
• If Mary, Jesus would be considered illegtimate.
• Joseph is the product of a Levirite marriage.

76
JESUS MINISTRY

• PARABLES
• One third of Jesus teaching was done in
  parables.
• The parables describe the Kingdom of God in
  action.
• There are 3 kinds of parables
• A simple saying
• A comparison
• Allegories
• A parable has only one main point of comparison

77
JESUS MINISTRY

• MIRACLES
• Jesus miracles are well-attested to.
• Josephus calls Jesus a doer of wonderful deeds.
• Babylonian Talmud accuses Jesus of sorcery.

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JESUS MINISTRY

• MIRACLES
• Miracles were part of Jesus message.
• Jesus Mission statement Luke 4.
• The Kingdom of God had come to set people free
  from
• Sickness
• Demons
• Evils of nature
• Death
• The key to understanding the miracles was faith
  realizing that the miracles were the kingdom of
  God at work.

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THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION

• The Last Supper
• Did Jesus celebrate the Passover?
• Synoptics Most definitely yes!

80
THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION

• Did Jesus celebrate the Passover?
• John Well, maybe not John 1828, 1914
• John uses the word Passover in a wide sense
  Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread
• Friday was normally called Preparation Day
  meaning Preparation for the Sabbath.

81
THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION

• Did Jesus celebrate the Passover?
• John Well, maybe not John 1828, 1914
• Saying this was Preparation for the Passover
  could mean Friday in Passover Week.
• There were other important meals during Passover
  week that might be what John is referring to.
• There is some discussion as to whether or not all
  the Jews used the same calendar

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THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION

• THE LAST SUPPER
• The Order of the Meal
• First cup of wine (Luke 2215-18) A
• t this time, Jesus would have spoken the blessing
  over the wine.
• The footwashing (John 131-20)
• One of you will betray me (Luke 2222 Matthew
  2623-24)
• Washing the right hand was followed by
  preliminary dish.
• It consisted of herbs that were dipped in sauce.

83
THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION

• THE LAST SUPPER
• The Order of the Meal
• First cup of wine (Luke 2215-18)
• Jesus says that the betrayer would be one who
  dipped his hand into the dish with me.
• John asks Jesus who the betrayer was.
• Jesus says it is the person he gives a dipped
  portion to Judas.

84
THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION

• THE LAST SUPPER
• The Order of the Meal
• First cup of wine (Luke 2215-18)
• Judas leaves.
• All of you will leave me. Matthew 2631-35
  Mark 1427-31 Luke 2231-38 John 1331-38

85
THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION

• The Main Part of the Meal
• After the preliminary dish, the second cup of
  wine was distributed.
• The meal was put on the table.
• The youngest would ask, Why do we eat this
  meal? and the father of the family would respond
  with the Passover story.
• This was followed by singing some of the Hallel
  Psalms (Psalms 111-118).
• The second cup of wine was then drank and both
  hands would be washed.

86
THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION

• The Third Cup, the Cup of Blessing or
  Thanksgiving (Eucharist).
• It was at this point that Jesus instituted the
  Lords Supper.
• Finally, after the meal, Jesus had his great
  discourse in John.

87
THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION

• PONTIUS PILATE
• Pilate served from 26 to 36 AD.
• There were three major incidents before the trial
  of Jesus (RAGS)
• Roman Standards
• Aqueduct
• Golden Shields
• When the Jews protested, they basically
  threatened Pilate.
• Tiberius was not well.
• Pilate would have faced exile or suicide.

88
THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION

• Crucifixion
• There were two types of crosses T and Latin
  cross
• The cross beam was carried by the accused it
  weighed about 100 lbs.
• A superscription given the reason for the
  crucifixion was either put above the head or
  around the neck.
• A wooden seat was positioned about half way up.
• A piece of wood was used to help the body stay
  on the cross.
• Death was caused by suffocation.

89
THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION

• If Jesus Didnt Rise, then What happened?
• The stolen body theory
• The wrong tomb theory
• The swoon theory
• The hallucination theory

90
THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION

• Evidence in Scripture for the resurrection
• The women
• Early church preaching
• The Gospels vary in their accounts
• The disciples
• Paul

91
THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION

• What did the Resurrection mean?
• That Jesus is the Son of God.
• That God accepted Jesus sacrifice for us.
• That we live a new, forgiven life.
• That we will rise again.

92
THE FOUR GOSPELS
93
THE GOSPELS

• The Gospels are not biographies as we would
  normally understand that term.
• The purpose of the Gospels is to present Jesus to
  the readers.

94
MATTHEW

• Author Matthew, the apostle
• Attested to throughout church history
• Best argument against it Why would rely so
  heavily on Marks Gospel?
• This is an assumption.
• He could have read Marks Gospel and then decided
  to incorporate it to show apostolic unity.
• If Matthew not the author, then you have to show
  why church tradition is wrong.

95
MATTHEW

• Place of writing Somewhere in Palestine
• Written to Jewish Christians
• Date of writing Depends on presuppositions.
  Probably around as 50-60 AD.

96
MATTHEW

• Key Themes
• Messianic interest
• Jesus is the new Moses, I.e. the Promised Prophet
• Structure
• Birth and Infancy of Jesus (1-2)
• Book 1The Kingdom of Heaven is Announced
• Narrative (Galilean ministry 3-4)
• Teaching (Sermon the Mount 5-7)
• Book 2The Kingdom of Heaven is Preached
• Narrative (81-934)
• Teaching (935-111)

97
MATTHEW

• Key Themes
• Messianic interest
• Jesus is the new Moses
• Structure
• Book 3The Mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven
• Narrative (112-12)
• Teaching (parables) (131-52)
• Book 4The Church as the Kingdom of Heaven
• Narrative (1353-17)
• Teaching (18)

98
MATTHEW

• Key Themes
• Messianic interest
• Jesus is the new Moses
• Structure
• Book 5The Advent of the Kingdom of Heaven
• Narrative (19-22)
• Teaching (23-26)
• The Passion and Resurrection (26-28)

99
MATTHEW

• Key Themes
• Jesus is the fulfiller of prophecy
• His passages sometimes bring questions
• Jew first, then the Gentile
• The Church
• Only Gospel writer to use the word Church
• Eschatology (end times)

100
MARK

• Author John Mark
• Papias states that he wrote from Rome with Peter
  as his source.
• Is he the naked guy?
• Date 50 to 60 AD
• Written to Roman Christians

101
MARK

• Key themes
• Jesus as a busy man
• Gospel for gentiles
• Blunt view of people
• Textual question The ending of Mark

102
LUKE

• Author Luke, a doctor and companion of Pauls
• Author of both Luke and Acts
• Both dedicated to same man
• Only Gentile author in the NT
• Some wonder if there is medical language or
  interests in his Gospel

103
LUKE

• Date 60-65 AD ?
• Written to Theophilus
• Most Excellent a social rank
• Strong catechetical emphasis

104
LUKE

• Themes in Luke
• Universality of the GospelGentiles and women are
  prominent
• Prayer
• Holy Spirit

105
JOHN

• Author John the apostle.
• John Drane The question of authorship has
  always been rather confused.
• No, it has not.

106
JOHN

• Author John the apostle.
• Early Church evidence
• Irenaenus states that Polycarp, who was a student
  of Johns, said that he was the author of this
  Gospel and that it was written in Ephesus.
• The Elder John
• This comes from Papias, once again quoted in
  Eusebius.
• Would the early church would give a Gospel to man
  of whom nothing was really known?
• Eusebius mentions the Elder John is to get away
  from the idea that Revelation was written by the
  apostle.

107
JOHN

• Author John the apostle.
• Internal evidence
• Gives great deal of geographical detail
• Author claims to be an eyewitness
• John, son of Zebedee, is never named.
• There is the disciple whom Jesus loved.
• This disciple is one of the 12
• Close connection with Peter
• Given care of Jesus mother

108
JOHN

• Date Around 85-100 AD.
• Purpose John 2030-31
• Themes
• Emphasis on the Old Testament
• The Sprit
• Love, truth, light, life, and abiding are all
  abstract themes that keep coming up.