Question about Patmos and John

[Tappanga]

First, please understand what I know about the Bible, you can write on the head of the pin between the dancing angels, so this might be a stupid question.

That being said, do we know why John was exiled to Patmos, either biblically or traditionally? I'm assuming it was for preaching about Christ, but is it listed anywhere specifically?

Thank you!

 

[Lisa0315]

First, please understand what I know about the Bible, you can write on the head of the pin between the dancing angels, so this might be a stupid question.

That being said, do we know why John was exiled to Patmos, either biblically or traditionally? I'm assuming it was for preaching about Christ, but is it listed anywhere specifically?

Thank you!

Revelations 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ
We have tradition to tell us how John came to be on the Isle of Patmos. Fox's Book of Martyrs is a good place to start.

 

[Tappanga]

Thank you! I haven't read Revelation yet, and ran across something about Patmos on the internet and the question crossed my mind. Thank you again for your quick answer!

 

[Lisa0315]

Thank you! I haven't read Revelation yet, and ran across something about Patmos on the internet and the question crossed my mind. Thank you again for your quick answer!

Anytime. Revelations is a tough read though. May I ask how long you have been a Christian?

 

[Tappanga]

I was saved as a child, but only recently began studying the Bible.

 

[Lisa0315]

I was saved as a child, but only recently began studying the Bible.

I am the exact opposite! I was saved two years ago, but have studied the Bible my whole life. I had a head knowledge, but no heart knowledge.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I am no expert by no means, especially on prophecy, but I can usually point you in the right direction.

Lisa

 

[Tappanga]

I am the exact opposite! I was saved two years ago, but have studied the Bible my whole life. I had a head knowledge, but no heart knowledge.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I am no expert by no means, especially on prophecy, but I can usually point you in the right direction.

Lisa

Praise God that your heart caught up with your head!

I appreciate all your help!

 

[Lisa0315]

Praise God that your heart caught up with your head!

I appreciate all your help!

Yes! Praise God for that! I sure wasn't looking to be a Christian. I studied the Bible to confront Christians not actually BECOME one! But here I am... God's Word is a sword. It cuts to the heart and that is exactly what I needed.

Lisa

 

[Optimax]

First, please understand what I know about the Bible, you can write on the head of the pin between the dancing angels, so this might be a stupid question.

That being said, do we know why John was exiled to Patmos, either biblically or traditionally? I'm assuming it was for preaching about Christ, but is it listed anywhere specifically?

Thank you!

There is not a lot on it that I have found. This is from Fox's Book of Martyrs
Hope it helps.

XVI. John
The "beloved disciple," was brother to James the Great. The churches of Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira, were founded by him. 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, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Nerva, the successor of Domitian, recalled him. He was the only apostle who escaped a violent death.
(from Fox's Book of Martyrs, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

 

[Tappanga]

There is not a lot on it that I have found. This is from Fox's Book of Martyrs
Hope it helps.

XVI. John
The "beloved disciple," was brother to James the Great. The churches of Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira, were founded by him. 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, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Nerva, the successor of Domitian, recalled him. He was the only apostle who escaped a violent death.
(from Fox's Book of Martyrs, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Thank you!

 

[Margim]

Not wanting to confuse the matter more, but there is actually no biblical indication that John the disciple and John of Patmos are the same figure at all...

Tradition has tied the two together (and we can't deny the possibility of them being linked), but there is nothing to offer proof one way or the other.

 

[Lisa0315]

Not wanting to confuse the matter more, but there is actually no biblical indication that John the disciple and John of Patmos are the same figure at all...

Tradition has tied the two together (and we can't deny the possibility of them being linked), but there is nothing to offer proof one way or the other.

Except there are similarities in the writing style of the five books attributed to the Beloved Disciple.

 

[Margim]

Except there are similarities in the writing style of the five books attributed to the Beloved Disciple.

Similarities yes, but that does not mean 'the same'. It is conjecture.

 

[Lisa0315]

Similarities yes, but that does not mean 'the same'. It is conjecture.

Perhaps, but it makes sense for it to be THAT John. We also have tradition that tells us that it was indeed the Apostle John.

 

[Margim]

Sure, and it can't hurt to believe that... I'd just caution against making any definitive statements based on a theory. It may well have been John, I just don't think we can say it 'was indeed John'

 

[Lisa0315]

Sure, and it can't hurt to believe that... I'd just caution against making any definitive statements based on a theory. It may well have been John, I just don't think we can say it 'was indeed John'

Well...maybe not. What other John could it have been?

Lisa

 

[Margim]

Well...maybe not. What other John could it have been?

Lisa

It could have been anyone... John was about as common a name back then as it is now.

We are often led to thinking that the stories of all key figures in the early church are known to us... yet many of the actual apostles themselves remain enigmas. There are likely many figures and leaders of whom nothing is recorded at all... everytime Paul clashed with the Jerusalem church, for example, there is a suggestion of a whole group of influential figures of whom we know nothing about.

By the time of the book of Revelation, Christianity has already spread significantly (its addressed to 7 churches throughout what we now call Turkey)... I'd suggest that Revelation's John was probably more a local leader from this group of churches (possibly familiar with John's gospel, hence the similarities). If John (the apostle) had undertaken significant missionary work around Asia-Minor (what Turkey was called then), I would think he would have recieved coverage in Acts much like Paul and Peter did.

Of course, all this is just conjecture on my part...

 

[Lisa0315]

It could have been anyone... John was about as common a name back then as it is now.

We are often led to thinking that the stories of all key figures in the early church are known to us... yet many of the actual apostles themselves remain enigmas. There are likely many figures and leaders of whom nothing is recorded at all... everytime Paul clashed with the Jerusalem church, for example, there is a suggestion of a whole group of influential figures of whom we know nothing about.

By the time of the book of Revelation, Christianity has already spread significantly (its addressed to 7 churches throughout what we now call Turkey)... I'd suggest that Revelation's John was probably more a local leader from this group of churches (possibly familiar with John's gospel, hence the similarities). If John (the apostle) had undertaken significant missionary work around Asia-Minor (what Turkey was called then), I would think he would have recieved coverage in Acts much like Paul and Peter did.

Of course, all this is just conjecture on my part...

John is most associated with the church in Jerusalam. Reason is because he was assigned to the care of Mary. So, I agree, at least for part of the early apostolic age, he was not an evangelist. After Mary's death is anyone's guess, but is likely why he is not a key character in the Acts of the Apostles. I think he kept a low profile to keep Mary safe.