Author: Jim

The writings of John (the Gospel, 1,2 and 3 John, Revelation) are often assigned the latest dates of all New Testament literature, with some secular scholars placing them well into the second century A.D., and even most conservative scholars dating at least Revelation around 95 A.D., when John would have been over 80 years old. John and James were the sons of Zebedee, and disciples (Apostles) of Jesus.

It would perhaps be best to first establish the case that the same author is responsible for all the books associated with John.  The attributions within these books are not at all clear on this point, since the Gospel of John and 1 John are anonymous, 2 John and 3 John are letters from “The Elder”, and the Revelation is given to simply “His servant John” (Rev 1:1).

Unlike the other gospels, John the apostle is never named in the Gospel of John, though his name seems to be deliberately self-obscured by calling himself “another disciple” or the “disciple that Jesus loved” (John 13:23, 18:15-16, 19:26-27, 20:2-4, 20:8, 21:7, 21:20, 21:23-24). The “we” in John 1:14 indicates that the author, along with the other apostles, were eyewitnesses of Jesus.

Finally, Rev 1:1-2 “…John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw“. The author of Revelation was also the author of this Gospel.

Some scholars have argued for different authors for John and Revelation because of differences in how the Greek language is used in the two books. However, this can probably be explained by the circumstances of writing. John, the Galilean fisherman, would have learned Greek not as his mother tongue but as a second or third language. The Greek of Revelation is different and non-standard, probably because John wrote it as a letter without help. The Gospel of John, though clearly coming from John, looks like it was a collaborative effort. John 21:24 says: “This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.” The “his” in this verse at the end of the book is probably John, and the “we” is almost surely the Jewish Christian community working with him to put the book into its final form. A similar reference occurs in John 19:35 “And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe”.

There are different views to the time when the Gospel of John was written. Some believe it was written during the reign of Nero (A.D. 54–68), or during the reign of Vespasian (A.D. 69–79), or during the reign of Domitian (A.D. 81–96). Since Jerusalem and the Temple appear to still be in existence, 65-68 AD appear to be when The Apostle John wrote his epistle

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The epistles of John 1,2 and 3. John did not number these epistles, not were they written in this order. That was done many years later by a Church Council.

If the end or the last days were shortly after the writing of revelation (approx. AD 70), then how can John say in 1 John 2:18 “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.” Things were getting bad in Jerusalem and John probably thought the Tribulation was coming. 

Here there is little to go on, but some conclusions can be made. John writes as an “elder” to his spiritual “children”.
(1 John 2:1, 2:12, 2:18, 2 John 1; 3 John 1, 4).
Since John was apparently a youthful disciple, the younger brother of James, this implies that a good deal of time has passed since Jesus’ earthly ministry. Many of the themes in 1-3 John are also present in the Gospel of John. The subject of truth and the idea of a commandment of love is prominent in both books, along with the idea that God is light.

Also, John’s warns against a gnostic influence (1 John 1:1 says he “handled the Word of life (Jesus), in the flesh”). One of the gnostic teachings was that Jesus was a spirit-man rather than a real human. 1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.   A date around of 65 A.D. would seem appropriate as the date for this epistle..

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In the letter, 1, 2 and 3 John, remember, John did not number these epistles. That was done many years later by a church council.

Again, there is little to go on, but some conclusions can be made. John writes as an “elder” to his spiritual “children” (1 John 2:1, 2:12, 2:18, 2 John 1; 3 John 1, 4). Since John was apparently a youthful disciple, the younger brother of James, this implies that a good deal of time has passed since Jesus’ earthly ministry.

John does not identify himself as the author and there is a level of intentional anonymity – “the elder“, “the elect lady“, “her children“, “the children of your elect sister” (2 John 1, 13), and as he writes in 1 John 2:18 “Little children, it is the last times…” this might indicate a time of persecution. There is little dispute as to a common author for the short letters of 2 John and 3 John. Both are written by a man calling himself “The Elder.” In both books the author rejoices over “children walking in truth.” Many of the themes in 1-3 John are also present in the Gospel of John. The subject of truth and the idea of a commandment of love is prominent in both books, along with the idea that God is light.

A date around of 65 A.D. for all three letters would seem appropriate, and there does not seem to be a clear way to designate a particular order for the three letters.

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John writes as an “elder” to “the well beloved Gaius” (3 John 1, 4). Since John was apparently a youthful disciple, the younger brother of James, this implies that a good deal of time has passed since Jesus’ earthly ministry.

Also, John’s warns about Diotrephes (3 John 9), praises Demetrius (3 John 12).
He concludes “ I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face”.
(3 John 13-14).

There is little dispute as to a common author for the short letters of 2 John and 3 John. Both are written by a man calling himself “The Elder.” In both books the author rejoices over “children walking in truth.” Many of the themes in 1-3 John are also present in the Gospel of John. The subject of truth and the idea of a commandment of love is prominent in both books, along with the idea that God is light.

A date around of 65 A.D. for all three letters would seem appropriate, and there does not seem to be a clear way to designate a particular order for the three letters.

⇛ return to New Testament Epistles

Revelation is assumed by most scholars, including very conservative scholars, to have been written during a period of persecution under Caesar Domitian in 95 A.D. Supporting this date under Domitian are the early church fathers Tertullian, Victorious, Hippolytus, Clement of Alexandria, and Jerome. This should be considered as serious evidence.

John is the author, Rev 1:1-2, “…John, who bore record of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw“, could be read as saying that the author of this book previously wrote the Gospel of John as well.

Revelation looks to have been written before there was a clear break between Jewish Christians and Jews. Rev 2:9 and Rev 3:9 refer to those “who say they are Jews but are not“.

So, if Revelation is prior to A.D. 70, what date is most likely? The epistle fits best in the late A.D. 60’s. James, Peter and Paul had been martyred and the church in Rome was undergoing substantial persecution. Rome had been burned, and Nero has died, setting in motion a bitter and deadly power struggle that saw three different Caesars come and go within a year. And finally, Rome was locked in a death struggle with the Jews in the land of Israel. Since Nero died in June of A.D. 68, the year A.D. 69-70 seems most likely as a date of writing for Revelation, with the caveat that if it was written in A.D. 69-70 it was before July when Jerusalem was destroyed.

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