Of these things long ag o, master john luide of oxford wrote learnedly unto me. The author of revelation mentioned his name, john, four times throughout the book revelation 1. Here, at the end of the book of revelation, john recorded the exact same message that he did in chapter 1. Tradition has long held that john the apostle, whom we have seen penned the fourth gospel and the three letters attributed to him, wrote the last book of scripture. Stylometric analysis, a process which analyses an authors style of writing, shows that the book of revelation and johns gospel display more differences to each. While church tradition has attributed the gospel of john, the letters of john, and the book of revelation to the same authorjohn the apostle and son of zebedeeinternal and external evidence may require us to attribute them to other individuals who may or may not have also been named john. John, the revelation to oxford biblical studies online. The book of revelation is also a letter addressed to whom. The author of the book of revelation calls himself john rev. The writer of revelation identifies himself as john. Who wrote the book of revelation and the fourth gospel.
Most scholars conclude that the apostle john wrote none of these works. In it i show what the first three drafts of revelation looked like. If so, john penned much of the new testament, with only paul and luke writing more than him. So how can we know that the apostle john wrote the fourth gospel. If revelation was not written by the disciple john, son of zebedee, this opens up questions for me. Even in the early church, there was no agreement as to which john wrote the book of revelation. The end of time in revelation and the gospel of john the. What verse in revelation can provide an outline of the book. Traditionally, the book of revelation has been dated near the end of the first century, around a.
Even though the book of revelation was finally included in the new testament canon because christian leaders came to think it had been written by jesus disciple. The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. Among early christians, john was a favorite name, especially since one of jesus disciples was named john. As with acts, revelation shows how the lord works with and through his servants. John of patmos also called john the revelator, john the divine or john the theologian. He had greeks in mind, as the gospel is evangelical in nature. John did not know greek well enough to write his gospel, as well as the book of revelation, in that language. This article will conclude our series titled who wrote the new testament.
The apostle john is the author of the book of revelation. The smell of acne face cleanser filled the room as i dove into mysterious depictions of fourfaced angels, beasts from the sea and land, of massive angels, and 100pound hailstones being hurled to the earth. The book of revelation is traditionally said to be written by john. Who wrote gospel of john, epistles of john and the. The last chapter is 58 pages long showing many more parallels such as the first three churches and the beast in chapter 3. John and revelation and 14 comparing thirtyeight verse pairs. This book cracks the mystery of the elaborate, and highly formulaic procedure john used, and gives readers the opportunity to observe how the book of revelation was written, line by line, as though they were peering. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to many political and religious prisoners or slaves. As those of you familiar with the content of this website know i have held a deep interest in. The book should be rightfully called the revelation according to jesus christ. Revelation, though nobodys completely positive that it was john the disciple who wrote it, its understood that it was since he was banished on an island for some time, as is understood also in revelation.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. It is the only book of the new testament classified as apocalyptic literature rather than didactic or historical, indicating thereby its extensive use of visions, symbols, and allegory, especially in. The dating one holds to generally affects ones thoughts on eschatology. This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true john 21. The elder, the seer, and the apostle bible odyssey. There was also a john who was a relative of annas the high priest acts 4. Objections to johannine authorshiprelation to fourth gospel iii. Eusebius asserted papias referred to two johns and the second wrote revelation. John and revelation and 14 comparing thirtyeight. While revelation holds mysterious and frightening images of the endtimes, the book of revelation was written to be an encouragement to christians of all times. Who wrote the book of revelation and where did he live.
Christians throughout history have given almost unanimous affirmation to the identity of the books author as john the apostle, who had been exiled to the island of patmos by the authorities for preaching the gospel in asia. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to. The text of revelation states that john was on patmos. He begins by saying that god sent the visions he is going to relate to his servant john rev. He begins the body of his book by saying that it is from john to the seven churches in asia rev.
The author of the book of revelation identifies himself only as john. The tradition of apostolic authorship several early authorities irenaeus, justin martyr, polycrates volunteer that the john who received this vision on patmos may have been john the. According to tertullian in the prescription of heretics john was banished presumably to patmos after being plunged into boiling oil in rome and suffering nothing from it. I believe the modern evangelical church reconciles matthew 24, luke 21, and mark book of john by claiming that jesus is talking about the destruction of jerusalem in 70 a. For whom was the book of revelation written and why. The apostle john, who wrote it under the inspiration of jesus christ revelation 1. This has been a question at the back of my mind for some time and its great to hear your reasons for believing john to be the author. Someone recently asked me if the same author could have written both the book of revelation and the gospel of john. Revelation to john appears to be a collection of separate units composed by unknown authors who lived during the last quarter of the 1st century, though it purports to have been written by an individual named johnwho calls himself the servant of jesusat patmos, in the aegean sea. The gospels, the first four books of the new testament, tell the story of the life of jesus. The only other clue to the authors identity is that he states he received his visions while. Some writers, however, have advanced the preterist from a latin word meaning that which is past view, contending that the apocalypse was penned around a. The clear purpose of revelation love worth finding with. Yet only onethe gospel of johnclaims to be an eyewitness account, the testimony of the unnamed disciple whom jesus loved.
It is important to begin with a discussion of authorship, in light of the christological controversy which permeates the three johannine letters. Revelation is written in much poorer greek than the gospel and letters are, and. Finally, that is the power whereby the lamb opened the book, and loosed the seven seals thereof when none could be found amongst all creatures by whom the book might be opened revelation 5. Who wrote the gospels evidence for john come reasons. The authorship of the johannine worksthe gospel of john, epistles of john, and the book of revelationhas been debated by scholars. John mark is an unlikely candidate, for no early christian writer believed he wrote revelation, and his book is identified by his surname rather than by the name john. Thus, revelation was not just for john and the saints of the seven churches but for other saints then and now. John was allegedly banished by the roman authorities to the greek island of patmos, where, according to tradition, he wrote the book of revelation. I believe the clear purpose of revelation is exactly what it says it is. Was the book of john written first or the book of revelation. When was the book of revelation written by the apostle.
Thank you very much for your recent post about whether the apostle john was the author of the gospel of john. But, who was it that penned the word of revelation. Clarify share report asked january 03 2017 anonymous. He was one of three who were with the lord at the raising of jairuss daughter mark. As a teenager, i remember being a bit frightened of the book of revelation. How john wrote the book of revelation is a behindthescenes look at the literary process used to create the book of revelation. He wrote the gospel of john, three epistles, and the book of revelation. He is believed to have outlived the other apostles.
Indeed, as we will see, the book speaks to our period even more than that of the seven churches. This confirms the internal evidence of the book of revelation regarding the place where john wrote revelation. The first verse in the book of revelation does not say exactly who that particular john is, but it is naturally assumed to be john the apostle since it was the apostles that were given the authority by god to write scripture. Revelation to john, also called book of revelation or apocalypse of john, last book of the new testament. We conclude the series with a look at archaeological and historical evidence relating to the last book of the bible, revelation. In our previous articles, we looked at evidence for mark and matthews authorship as well as lukes. For 1,700 years scholars have struggled with a quotation of papias given by eusebius. It makes a significant difference if the author particularly of 1 john was in fact an eyewitness to the earthly ministry of jesus christ as he appears to claim in 1 john 1. So it is not surprising to find in the new testament not only a gospel but also the book of revelation and three letters, all written by someone named john. Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries.
The two stories of satan, one where he is victorious and the second where he is defeated. Traditionally, both books have been identified as coming from the same person, john the son. The author was probably a christian from ephesus known as john the elder. While our modern bibles attach johns name to the beginning of the gospel, john just like the other gospel authors never documented his name within the book. Theology of suffering and victory from the book of revelation. The apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the most difficult to understand because it abounds in unfamiliar and extravagant symbolism, which at best appears unusual to the modern reader. Is john the theologian of isle of patmos fame, who wrote revelation, one and the same person as john the evangelist, john the gospel writer, or are these two. Eight reasons against john the apostle as the author of. Revelation of john definition and meaning bible dictionary. Remember, as we saw above, this is the main episode of revelation. Why is the book revelation placed at the end of the new testament canon. Was this person the same john that wrote 1, 2, and 3 john.
He wrote five books against marcion hippolytus 170235 a. He wrote it when he was about 92 years old, while a prisoner of rome on the remote desert penal colony of patmos, an island in the aegean sea. Johns audience did not have greek as their first and best spoken or written language. The commentary of the book supports the truths he expected to disclose apocalypse in greek to the people of the latter days. The masterful way in which john wrote the words of revelation are now revealed in the book that explains it all. John speaks in revelation about the fact that jesus has achieved victory already through his death on the cross and resurrection. When it comes to the book of revelation, there are various themes woven throughout the letter. John, who wrote the gospel of john, wrote it exquisitely, for he was steeped in jewish tradition and heritage. Is the book of john, john 1,2,3 and revelation all. Is this the same john who wrote the gospel account and three letters. Yet only onethe gospel of john claims to be an eyewitness account, the testimony of the unnamed disciple whom jesus loved.
The comforting promise of revelation when you are certain of your future, then you can concentrate on your present. John also wrote first, second, third john, and revelation. The book of revelation, often called the book of revelations, revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation, or simply revelation, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words or the apocalypse, is the final book of the new testament, and therefore also the final book of the christian bible. Speaking of the apocalypse from the previous post giving that odd video.