U6 L7 The Authenticity Of The Epistles Of John Flashcards
When did the Epistles of John receive formal recognition?
Third Council of Carthage AD 397
What evidences supported the canonicity of the Epistles of John?
external and internal
Who was Polycarp?
bishop or overseer of Smyrna
Who was thought to have known John?
Polycarp and Papias
Why did the 3rd and 2nd letters not enjoy large circulation?
because of their brevity
Who accepted all of John’s letters as inspired?
Cyril of Jerusalem
What did Irenaeus quote from?
John 2
Who were early church writers who quoted from 1 John?
- Polycarp
- Tertullian
- Origen
- Dionysius
- MAYBE Clement of Alexandria
What are interesting fragments of John’s First Epistle that have been discovered?
- Muratarian fragment refers to two John letters, not named
- Clement of Alexandria refers to John’s longer letters, maybe John 1
The strongest support for authenticity of John’s letters is found in which evidence?
Internal
External evidences regarding what are less clear than those regarding John 1?
John’s shorter letters
The shorter letters of 2 and 3 John follow which style?
longer Epistle of 1 John
What are the 6 ways we know the 3 Epistles of John were written by the same author?
- content
- language
- vocabulary
- logic
- thought
- style
CLV LTS
What title is used in both 2 and 3 John, and further proves them having the same author?
elder
By the end of the 2nd century, what was John’s Gospel widely accepted as part of?
the inspired Word of God
How much doubt existed that the account of the Savior was not written by John?
little
What are the parallels between the Gospel of John and his Epistles?
- only begotten and born of God describe Savior
- conjunctions than subordinate clauses
- Common themes
What are the two phrases John used to describe the Savior?
- Born of God
- Only begotten
What does attest mean?
give proof
What does discrepancy mean?
lack of consistency
The () themselves attest to Johns authorship of John’s Gospel, 1, 2, and 3
Scriptures
Which book is regarded as the last writing of the Apostle John and New Testament?
Revelation
What is the style of Revelation?
less formal
Why was Revelation less formal than John’s other writings?
- John ministering in Ephesus, assistants and secretaries finalize Epistles
- exiled on Patmos island, Revelation written there, John alone, better reveals his tyle
Does John mention persecution as a problem affecting his readers?
no
Who are Domitian and Trajan? And what did they do?
- Roman emperors
- instituted persecutions against Christians
When was the destruction of Jerusalem?
AD 70
Between which years were the Epistles written?
AD 85 and 95
What age would have john been if the Epistles were written in AD 85-95?
70s
Who is 3 John addressed to ?
Gaius
Who was Gaius?
leader in an Asia Minor Church which John ministered
Who was 1 John written to?
- entire congregation of God’s people
- believers of various levels of maturity
Who might have 2 John been addressed to?
- Christian woman who gave hospitality to John
- Or church (elect/chosen lady refers to it)
What gender is the Greek term for church?
feminine
John’s ministry centered on which city?
Ephesus
What area was the Epistles written to teach and encourage congregations in?
Asia Minor
Who were the Gnostics?
- religious org
- rejected truths about Christ
Who was the Gnostic who was an opponent of John’s Ephesian Ministry?
Cerinthus
What did 1 John deal with?
- accurate understanding of God’s truth
- dispelled Gnostic tendencies
What was 2 John written to warn of?
entertaining those who taught false doctrine
What was numerously mentioned in 3 John?
personal names
Who was Diotrephes?
- laborer
- pride interfered with God’s work and purpose for him
What did 3 John include?
- encourage Gaius and warn him of Diotrephes
- praised Demetrius, upheld Word of God
What was the order in which John’s epistles were written?
reverse- John 3, 2, 1