Category: BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

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.

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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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Satan Attacks
30 AD
I. Attack from within
II. Continued Growth
III. Attack from without

1-11 The Big Lie. Consider today, how many tell lies and lose their church fellowship.
1 Ananias and Sapphira
2 They kept some of the money. Consider why this was wrong.
3 Satan was the cause of the lie, greed.
4-6 Results of the lie.
7-10 The wife continues the lie.
11 Great fear came upon ALL the Jewish church.
12-16 The church grew. Signs, wonders, healings and teaching the word cause growth.
17-18 High Priest (Jewish) and Sadducees had to do something to stop this.
19-21 God intervenes. Back to preaching in the Temple.
22-25 Discover the Jail cell empty.
26-28 Go get them, again. Listen STOP preaching.
29-32 Obey God not men.
33 We need to slay them.
34-39 Warning from one of their own, If this be of God, you cannot stop it.
40-42 Beat them command them to stop. Let them go.
They left, rejoiced and ceased NOT to teach and preach.

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    DEACONS  
    34 AD

ORGANIZATION
6:1-2 The Problem.
People being neglected.
6:3-6 The Solution. Deuteronomy 1:13
More workers needed
Honest Report, Full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.
Chose 7
6:7 The Results.
Word of God increased
6:8-14 Stephen stands out.
He’s charged by false witnesses
Blasphemy against Moses
Blasphemy against God
Blasphemy against the Law
Blasphemy against the Temple
Declaring that Jesus would destroy the Temple
That Mosaic costumes would be changed
6:15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

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STEPHEN 34 AD
7:1-53 Stephen’s reply to the Charges:
2-8 Obedience God and Abraham
9-16 God’s care Joseph to Egypt
17-22 God’s care Birth of Moses
23-29 Rejection Flight of Moses
30-34 Deliverer Call of Moses
35-43 Rejection Israel’s Idolatry
44-50 Change Accepted – Temple built
51-53 Rejection Prophets persecuted

7:54-60 Stephen Killed
54 Jewish leaders really upset
55-56 Stephen replies to their anger
57-60 They kill him by stoning
And Saul watched

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53 AD
Second Journey – Paul and Silas (and Luke)
Through Syria and Cilicia
1-5 Back to Galatia
Meet Timothy and he joins them
Traveled through cities delivering the decrees
Remember Acts 15:20,28
Churches established and increased in number
6-10 Guided by Holy Spirit where to go
Go to Macedonia
11-15 Worshipper saved
16-18 Slave girl freed
19-24 Mistreated and jailed
25-33 Philippian Jailer and family gets saved
35-40 Freed and on their way

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The council at Jerusalem
51 AD Galatians 2

1 Certain me from Judaea came saying “ Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved”.
2-3 Paul and Barnabas disagree and are sent to Jerusalem. Passing through Phenice and Samaria sharing the conversion of Gentiles.
4-5 At Jerusalem they declare all the God has done upsetting a sect of Pharisees.
6 A council meeting with apostles and elders (all Jews) to consider the matter
7-11 Peter defends his trip
12 Barnabas and Paul report on their work with Gentiles
13-19 James answers and quotes Amos 9:10-11
20-26 Gives requirements for Gentiles and has letters written for Barnabas and Paul to carry.
27-29 Judas ad Silas also sent. Repeats Gentile requirements.
30-34 On to Antioch
35-36 Barnabas and Paul continue teaching and then determine to visit every city again.
37-39 Contention and a split, Barn and Mark sail to Cyprus
40-41 Paul and Silas depart.

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45 AD
1st Journey
1 While in Iconium first to the synagogue of the Jews.
Speaks to multitude of Jews and Greeks (Gentiles).
2-5 Stayed there a long time granting signs and wonders.
Jews rulers tried to use them despitefully and stone them.
6-7 They flee to Lystra and Derbe, continuing to preach the gospel
8-10 Healing of a lame man
11-18 The people tried to make Paul and Barnabus gods.
19 Paul stoned to death (2 Corinthians 12:1-6) and dragged from city.
20-21 Returns to city
22-23 Sets up elders in all the churches and leaves
24-28 Passes through Pisidia on to Pamphylia, preaching in Perga and on to Attalia.
Sailed tom Antioch. Sharing all God had done through them, opening the door to the Gentiles, they abode there a long time.

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