Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard Thursday, March 19, 2009

Memory Verse John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

The Twelve Apostles 1. Simon-Peter 2. Andrew 3. James 4. John 5. Philip 6. Bartholomew 7. Thomas 8. Matthew, Levi 9. Simon the Zealot 10. James, the son of Alphaeus 11. Thaddaeus 12. Paul

His Role in the Early Church: John and Peter took a prominent part in founding and guiding the Church, after Jesus’ ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

The apostle John appears three times in the Book of Acts, each time with Peter. Acts 1:13; 3:1-11; 4:3, 13-20; 8:14

They were considered “uneducated and untrained men”, but they answered their accusers boldly. Acts 4:13, 20

John and Peter were sent to Samaria to confirm the conversion of Samaritans. Acts 8:14-15

Peter’s affection and concern for John are shown in his question, “Lord, and what about this man?” John 21:21

John remained ~ 12 years in the ministry of Jerusalem until the persecution of Herod Agrippa I, took his brother and scattered the Apostles. cf. Acts 12:1-19; 15:6

Paul mentioned John only once as a “pillar of the church”. Gal 2:9

His subsequent history is unrecorded. He was not there at Paul's last visit. Acts 21:15-40

His Missions: John probably remained in Judea until the death of Mary released him from his promise.

His N.T. writings imply: 1. After going to Ephesus, some persecution drove him to Patmos, Rev 1:9.

His N.T. writings imply: 2. The 7 churches in Asia Minor were the special objects of his affectionate solicitude, Rev 1:11.

His N.T. writings imply: 3. He encountered men who denied the truth (Gnostics), 1 John 4:1; 2 John 7, and others who disputed his authority, 3 John 9-10.

Extra-Biblical tradition tells us that John of Ephesus: (See handout)

The interior of John’s Holy Convent on the island of Patmos, Greece, where John was exiled.

“He died in Ephesus ~ A.D. 98, having outlived all of the apostles and many friends,” (Polycrates, bishop of Ephesus, c. 190, and Irenaeus c. 175–195).

His Legacy: He wrote 5 books of the NT: (the Gospel, 3 Epistles and Revelation). John the elder may have scribed the Gospel and Epistles at John's narration or it was just how he referred to himself. (Compare John 21:24 with 2 & 3 John 1)

The Gospel emphasizes Jesus as the Son of God, written for Christians in AD, although some date it as early as pre 70's. The other books in the late 80’s early 90’s.

John trained Polycarp who later became Pastor of Smyrna, who carried John's message to future generations.

His tomb is said to be at Selçuk, near Ephesus and became the site of a 4th century church built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian.

The traditional tomb of John at Ephesus, Turkey.

The apocryphal 2nd century Gnostic text “Secret Book of John” was attributed to him, though not by established traditional Christian orthodoxy.

Another, “The Acts of John”, 3rd century, records miraculous events, his journeys, exile on Patmos and death. It is a Docetic work condemned in AD 787.

Foxes Book of Martyrs: From Ephesus he was ordered to be sent to Rome, where it is affirmed he was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. He escaped by miracle, without injury.

Domitian afterwards banished him to the Isle of Patmos. Nerva, the successor of Domitian, recalled him. He was the only apostle who escaped a violent death.

Grace Fellowship Church Thursday, March 19, 2009 Meet the Apostles - John Upper Room Discourse, Part 249 Tape # Meet the Apostles - John Upper Room Discourse, Part 249 John 13:36; Acts 3:1-11; 4:3, 13-20; 8:14 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2009