GOD'S GREAT LOVE FOR US CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD

HOW GREAT A LOVE GOD THE FATHER HAS BESTOWED ON US...                                                                                 ......................................................................................CALLED THE SONS OF GOD

1 JOHN 3:1 Behold, what manner of love (o. agape) the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

i~dete potaph;n ajgavphn devdwken hJmi'n oJ path;r i&na tevkna qeou' klhqw'men: kai; ejsmevn. dia; tou'to oJ kovsmoß ouj ginwvskei hJma'ß o&ti oujk e~gnw aujtovn.

 Verse 1 What manner of love                                                                                                                    .  ................. potaph;n ajgavphn

(potaphn agaphn). Qualitative interrogative as in 2 Peter 3:11; Matthew 8:27. Only here in John's writings. Originally of what country or race.

Verse 1b ...the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.                                                            ......................devdwken hJmi'n oJ path;r........ i&na tevkna qeou' klhqw'men:

 Hath bestowed (dedwken). Perfect active indicative of didwmi, state of completion, "the endowment of the receiver" (Vincent). That we should be called (ina klhqwmen). Sub-final use of ina with the first aorist passive subjunctive of kalew, to call or name, as in Matthew 2:23. Children (tekna).

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,                                      .....o&soi de; e~labon aujtovn,           e~dwken aujtoi'ß     ejxousivan tevkna qeou' genevsqai,

    even to them that believe on his name:                                                                                                                                                                   ... toi'ß pisteuvousin    eijß to; o~noma aujtou',

12 As many as received him

(osoi elabon auton). Effective aorist active indicative of lambanw "as many as did receive him," in contrast with oi idioi just before, exceptional action on the part of the disciples and other believers. To them (autoiß). Dative case explanatory of the relative clause preceding, an anacoluthon common in John 27 times as against 21 in the Synoptists.

The right (exousian). In Luke 5:27 edwken (first aorist active indicative of didwmi) exousian means authority but includes power (dunamiß). Here it is more the notion of privilege or right. To become (genesqai). Second aorist middle of ginomai, to become what they were not before. Children of God (tekna qeou). In the full spiritual sense, not as mere offspring of God true of all men (Acts 17:28). Paul's phrase uioi qeou (Galatians 3:26) for believers, used also by Jesus of the pure in heart (Matthew 5:9), does not occur in John's Gospel (but in Revelation 21:7). It is possible that John prefers ta tekna tou qeou for the spiritual children of God whether Jew or Gentile (John 11:52) because of the community of nature (teknon from root tek-, to beget). But one cannot follow Westcott in insisting on "adoption" as Paul's reason for the use of uioi since Jesus uses uioi qeou in Matthew 5:9.

Clearly the idea of regeneration is involved here as in John 3:3. Even to them that believe (toiß pisteuousin). No "even" in the Greek, merely explanatory apposition with autoiß, dative case of the articular present active participle of pisteuw. On his name (eiß to onoma). Bernard notes pisteuw eiß 35 times in John, to put trust in or on. See also John 2:23; 3:38 for pisteuw eiß to onoma autou. This common use of onoma for the person is an Aramaism, but it occurs also in the vernacular papyri and eiß to onoma is particularly common in the payment of debts (Moulton and Milligan's Vocabulary). See Acts 1:15 for onomata for persons.

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.                                                                                                                                                             oiJ; oujk ejx aiJmavtwn oujde; ejk qelhvmatoß sarko;ß oujde; ejk qelhvmatoß ajndro;ß ajll# ejk qeou' ejgennhvqhsan.

Verse 13 Which were born (oi egennhqhsan). First aorist passive indicative of gennaw, to beget, "who were begotten." By spiritual generation (of God, ek qeou), not by physical (ex aimatwn, plural as common in classics and O.T., though why it is not clear unless blood of both father and mother; ek qelhmatoß sarkoß, from sexual desire; ek qelhmatoß androß, from the will of the male). But b of the old Latin reads qui natus est and makes it refer to Christ and so expressly teach the Virgin Birth of Jesus. Likewise Irenaeus reads qui natus est as does Tertullian who argues that qui nati sunt (oi egennhqhsan) is an invention of the Valentinian Gnostics. Blass (Philology of the Gospels, p. 234) opposes this reading, but all the old Greek uncials read oi egennhqhsan and it must be accepted. The Virgin Birth is doubtless implied in verse Acts 14, but it is not stated in verse Acts 13.

THE IDEA THAT ALL OF THE COSMOS CAME FROM NOTHING--AN ABSOLUTE VACUMVN OF NOTHING

OJOHN'S STUDY--verse 1:1

 (en arch). Arch is definite, though anarthrous like our at home, in town, and the similar Hebrew be reshith in Genesis 1:1. But Westcott notes that here John carries our thoughts beyond the beginning of creation in time to eternity. There is no argument here to prove the existence of God any more than in Genesis. It is simply assumed. Either God exists and is the Creator of the universe 

as scientists like Eddington and Jeans assume or matter is eternal or it has come out of nothing.

Was (hn). Three times in this sentence John uses this imperfect of eimi to be which conveys no idea of origin for God or for the Logos, simply continuous existence. Quite a different verb (egeneto, became) appears in verse Genesis 14 for the beginning of the Incarnation of the Logos.

 See the distinction sharply drawn in John 8:58 "before Abraham came (genesqai) I am" (egw eimi, timeless existence).

IRREDUCIBLE COMPLEXITY

MUCH in biological science in irreducibly complex. Like our eyes, all the parts have to be present for the organ to function.  

Blind trust is real.

if the universe had a beginning and, as they say. in their own words, nothing existed before the beginning

Either absolute nothing created something --something as complex as the universe, or there really is a super-super Being, existing outside of creation, that is the creating power. The Biblical  Transcendent Creator God must exist. s

       

          AT THIS POINT, obviously, because
none of us were alive at creation, we are stating our belief.. But we must do that in either case--that is believing the Bible or not believing the Bible, believing ior not believing in a fairy tale, that someone made up over 100 years ago--that nothing created everything.
What a choice. 

Believing a transcent personal absolutely powerful creator being or  transcent absolutely powerful creator nothing. this nothing must be absolutely nothingness, 
No time, energy, space, matter existed before creation.  

there are scientific facts present in both beliefs.

           
Some ,who object to the idea, might say that belief, faith, or trust is not in the realm of reality--that is it isn't real reality. To this I would say exercising our faith in reality-real life-- is an absolute must in today's world.  
We must do that all the time. In actual real life, it would be impossible to live in today's world, in fact, without exercising trust--in fact, when we practice faith today, we are exercising our ffaith more like a blind trust.

Obviously we trust in the proper functioning of our cars, when we drive a car.
What about flying in an airplane--how many of us have investigated and actually gathered factual information about the functioning of the airplane or the person controling or flying the thing. 
That you are, in actual fact, risking your life by blindly trusting in that airplane's properly functioning. In fact, we can and usually do, fly--at speeds of  550 miles/hour, at 40,000 feet above ground, in air temp. of -50 degrees--in an enviornment that would instantly kill us--that just a few inches of airplane wall separates us from absolute certainity of death -and we causelly do this by blind faith, trusting that wall will function right and the properly functioning airplane to fly, and we hardly know what it looks like  outside the cabin, let alone investigating anything.
I don't state these facts of reality to move you out of your blind trust, 
I only mean to point out that in the realness of life today, the excuse of exercising faith or trust being unreal is hardly a valid excuse--we constantly do it all the time.

Today you would probably be arrested. 
And what about trusting the pilot? 
We rarely know the pilot's name let alone his flying ability.
. We constantly practice our faith, and, apparently conditioned our minds to accept this. 
Isn't that Blind trust

The Bible says, "faith is the substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seeing." Hebrews 11:1

          There is no article in front of the word, "faith". Which would mean, generally speaking, we act on the basis of expectant facts. And, as stated above, in reality-- real life, that must be a common occurance. We would be thought delutional-- as if our thinking was not being in reality, if we didn't have this blind trust.

IN THE STUDY OF SCRIPTURES--notably John's writings and the Synoptic Gospels.

JOHN 1:1-3, 14-18 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.      John 1:1-3 (ASV) 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.    John 1:14 (ASV)

JOHN'S WRITINGS--THE OTHER APOSTLES

Language in which the New Testaments is written. A library has grown up on the subject, and various views have been influentially contended for.

What is relevant at this point are the following facts: (a) There is no evidence that our canonical Gospel was ever seen and the Hebrew (Aramaic) tongue. The Gospel which Jerome said he had seen in and translated into Greek and Latin, was not Matthew's, but an apocryphal Nazarene Gospel. (b) Matthew's Gospel was known to the early Church only in Greek. (Matthew's Gospel as the most Hebrew-isms and identified as to the Jew. Certainly it would've been written in Hebrew if any of them were.) (c) It is certain that the Greek Gospel was an original, and not a translation from a Hebrew text. (d) all the early writers quote this Gospel, refer only to Matthew in Greek.

This subject is of more than merely academic interest, for it helps us to understand certain references in the record, such as the translation of Hebrew words, which would have been unnecessary in a Gospel written in Hebrew; One of John the apostle's habits was to explain Hebrew words: (Rabbi--which is to say, being interpreted, Master. John 1:38; "the Messiah--which is, being interpreted, Christ" John 1:41; "Cephas which is by interpretation, Peter"--John 1:42; "Messiah, who is called Christ" John 4:25; "which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda" John 5:2....  There was also the explanation of customs, which Palestinian Jews would not need. A Hebrew collection of Logia, and our Greek Gospel, serve to show that at the time of Christ to languages were spoken by Jews. Aramaic was the language of the common people, and Greek was a literary language, show that those who spoke Aramaic could read Greek. Both Christ and Paul spoke these languages. In converse with Pilate our Lord would speak Greek, but on the cross he spoke Aramaic. Paul, addressing Romans, spoke in Greek, but on receiving permission to address the Jews he spoke in Hebrew. It was quite natural therefore for Matthew to write an ole Tom which would best be understood by Jews everywhere  (Scroggie) The Septuagint Translation It must be remembered that the translators were Jews, full of traditional thoughts of their own as to the meaning of Scriptures; and thus nothing short of a miracle could have prevented them from infusing into their version the thoughts which were current in their own minds. They could only translate passages as they themselves understood them. It would be however, too much to say that they translated with dishonest  intention; for it cannot be doubted that they wished to express their Scriptures Julie and Greek.... One difficulty which they had overcome was that of introducing theological ideas, which till then had only their proper terms in Hebrew, into a language of Gentiles, which till then they had terms for no religious notions except those of heathens. Hence the necessity of using many words and phrases in new and appropriated senses.     Introduction of Septuagint

BELIEVING THE UNIVERSE CAME FROM AN ABSOLUTE VACUUM

               I need to make one disclaimer concerning the last post about the Big Bang Theory. I never posted it because I necessarily believe in it, I believe the physical universe is dynamic--that is it's in motion, but usually this theory is stated in conjunction with their Darwinian Theory or the Evolutionary Theory, which I generally do not believe.

               My blog is not intended to present an overwhelming argument in either case. Other than that which has been written, I do not want to spend the time or use the space that would be required to accomplish that, and usually it doesn't turn out to be that productive--at least in my experience. There are others more devoted to that exercise, more capable and more versed in that debate. I would pray the Spirit would guide you to the truth.

I mention the Big Bang Theory, because, if the universe had a beginning and, as they say. They, in their own words, say nothing existed before that or an absolute absolute vacuum existe.

         I believe that the cosmos or universe  is so cenormous that it is beyond our imagination. I.also believe that it's expandin, obviously in an outward direction. 
But the question of where is it going to raises an equally enormous question. 
Someplace out there-- is there a wall or edge, beyond which nothing can penetrate
? 
But what's beyond that
Where and what started it all

 Obviously,  in that belief, either one believes absolute nothing created something --something as complex as the universe, or there really is a super-super Being, existing outside of creation, that is the creating power-- or God exists

              ..nn 

	A GRAPH USED TO SHOW  THE BIG BANG  THEORY
	THIS IS ONLY A SMALL PART OF THE UNIVERSE AND THIS BEGAN  FROM ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

   

               In view of what has been mentioned--that is the creation of the universe, I would pray that the reader must respect and appreciate God for His many awesome powers and attributes. "That which is known about God is evident within them for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen in being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." (Romans 1:19-20)

               I'd also pray that as we study the Scriptures that it might not be a mindless reading, but continually be conscious that where reading a communication from an awesome God--A Being of universe-creating power. Obviously, He wants to tell us something.

               May His overwhelming mercy, agape love and divine grace stand out as the chief motivator and guide in doing His will--that we might continually shape our real worldview and real purpose in this life.

                IN THE STUDY OF SCRIPTURES--notably John's writings and the Synoptic Gospels.

JOHN 1:1-3, 14-18

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.      John 1:1-3 (ASV)

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.    John 1:14 (ASV)

The big bang

THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT I KNOW I EXIST.           see my blog post on an absolute truth.
--I KNOW MY ENVIORNMENT EXISTS.

(Without going out in the weeds ie...that's only my brain interpreting things my eyes, ears, etc encounter) 

BUT HOW? WHY?

The Bible has an answer...

What About Non-biblical sources?                         

 Presently there is the

BIG BANG THEORY...

The following are direct quotations taken from the Internet, and found by searching for the Big Bang Theory. The writer, I quote, writes concluding statements surprising in frankness and truthfulness. While the conclusions may not reflect the conclusions  of all, the defining statements undoubtedly are identical. The universe had a beginning, andthe beginning begin with nothing--actually the would be an absolute-absolute vacum.  The emphasis are mine, and the internet writer's in quotes as follows: "Big Bang Theory - The Premise The Big Bang theory is an effort to explain what happened at the very beginning of our universe. Discoveries in astronomy and physics have shown beyond a reasonable doubt that our universe did in fact have a beginning. Prior to that moment there was nothing; during and after that moment there was something: our universe. The big bang theory is an effort to explain what happened during and after that moment."  According to the standard theory, our universe sprang into existence as "singularity" around 13.7 billion years ago. What is a "singularity" and where does it come from? Well, to be honest, we don't know for sure. Singularities are zones which defy our current understanding of physics. They are thought to exist at the core of "black holes." Black holes are areas of intense gravitational pressure. The pressure is thought to be so intense that finite matter is actually squished into infinite density (a mathematical concept which truly boggles the mind). These zones of infinite density are called "singularities." Our universe is thought to have begun as an infinitesimally small, infinitely hot, infinitely dense, something - a singularity. Where did it come from? We don't know. Why did it appear? We don't know.             After its initial appearance, it apparently inflated (the "Big Bang"), expanded and cooled, going from very, very small and very, very hot, to the size and temperature of our current universe. It continues to expand and cool to this day and we are inside of it: incredible creatures living on a unique planet, circling a beautiful star clustered together with several hundred billion other stars in a galaxy soaring through the cosmos, all of which is inside of an expanding universe that began as an infinitesimal singularity which appeared out of nowhere for reasons unknown. This is the Big Bang theory. Big Bang Theory - Common Misconceptions                         IT WAS LIKE A BALLOON EXPANDING WITHOUT POPPING.  There are many misconceptions surrounding the Big Bang theory. For example, we tend to imagine a giant explosion. Experts however say that there was no explosion; there was (and continues to be) an expansion. Rather than imagining a balloon popping and releasing its contents, imagine a balloon expanding: an infinitesimally small balloon expanding to the size of our current universe.  Another misconception is that we tend to image the singularity as a little fireball appearing somewhere in space. According to the many experts however,  space didn't exist prior to the Big Bang. Back in the late '60s and early '70s, when men first walked upon the moon, "three British astrophysicists, Steven Hawking, George Ellis, and Roger Penrose turned their attention to the Theory of Relativity and its implications regarding our notions of time. In 1968 and 1970, they published papers in which they extended Einstein's Theory of General Relativity to include measurements of time and space.1, 2 According to their calculations, time and space had a finite beginning that corresponded to the origin of matter and energy."3  The singularity didn't appear in space; rather, space began inside of the singularity. Prior to the singularity, nothing existed, not space, time, matter, or energy - nothing. So where and in what did the singularity appear if not in space? We don't know. We don't know where it came from, why it's here, or even where it is. All we really know is that we are inside of it and at one time it didn't exist and neither did we. ·  First of all, we are reasonably certain that the universe had a beginning. ·  Second, galaxies appear to be moving away from us at speeds proportional to their distance. This is called "Hubble's Law," named after Edwin Hubble (1889-1953) who discovered this phenomenon in 1929. This observation supports the expansion of the universe and suggests that the universe was once compacted. ·  Third, if the universe was initially very, very hot as the Big Bang suggests, we should be able to find some remnant of this heat. In 1965, Radioastronomers Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson discovered a 2.725 degree Kelvin (-454.765 degree Fahrenheit, -270.425 degree Celsius) Cosmic Microwave Background radiation (CMB) which pervades the observable universe. This is thought to be the remnant which scientists were looking for. Penzias and Wilson shared in the 1978 Nobel Prize for Physics for their discovery.- See more at: http://www.big-bang-theory.com/#sthash.hE2UwGd4.dpuf Finally, the abundance of the "light elements" Hydrogen and Helium found in the observable universe are thought to support the Big Bang model of origins this all sounds so unreall Did this really happen I absolutely know creation happened.  I am here. Big Bang Theory - The Only Plausible Theory? we are using philosophical criteria

BIG BANG THEORY - AN OVERVIEW "Big Bang Theory - What About God? Any discussion of the Big Bang theory would be incomplete without asking the question, what about God? This is because cosmogony (the study of the origin of the universe) is an area where science and theology meet. Creation was a supernatural event. That is, it took place outside of the natural realm. This fact begs the question: is there anything else which exists outside of the natural realm? Specifically, is there a master Architect out there? We know that this universe had a beginning. Was God the "First Cause"? We won't attempt to answer that question in this short article. We just ask the question:"              MOST ABOVE QUOTES ARE FROM THIS WEBSITE AND A FEW BELOW FROM OTHER INTERNET QUOTE

Big Bang Theory - The Only Plausible Theory? we are using philosophical criteria
Is the standard Big Bang theory the only model consistent with these evidences? No, it's just the most popular one.

 Internationally renown Astrophysicist George F. R. Ellis explains: "People need to be aware that there is a range of models that could explain the observations….For instance, I can construct you a spherically symmetrical universe with Earth at its center, and you cannot disprove it based on observations….You can only exclude it on philosophical grounds. In my view there is absolutely nothing wrong in that. What I want to bring into the open is the fact that:

"Creation was a supernatural event"

THE BIBLE SAYS: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...." Genesis 1:1

KINGDOM

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM Eph 1:11-14 (NKJV) 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
not yet have possession of this inheritance. However, we have more than a promise; God has given unto us the Holy Spirit as an earnest (A.V.) or a guarantee eR.S.V.).

What is an earnest? We do not use this word frequently in everyday conversation, but we have a different word to express the same idea. An earnest is a down-payment. It is far more than a "guarantee," as R.S.V. translates it, it is partial but actual possession. If you decide to buy a house, you search until you find the house you want. Perhaps it costs twenty thousand dollars; the price is a bit high, but it is the house for which you have been looking. Thereupon you promise the owner that on an appointed day you will deliver the money, and you sign a bill of sale. Does that give you a claim upon the house? It does not. Suppose you say, "Let us go down to the notary public, and I will put myself under oath that on such and such a date, I will pay for the house."

I Will that give you a claim on the house? It will not. Suppose ~ you bring a group of friends as character witnesses who testify I) what an honest, honourable fellow you are and what a good bank account you have. Will that give you a claim on the house? It will not.
There is one thing that will bind the agreement: Money!! Cash! Not $20,000, not the entire cost of the house but a substantial down-payment. This is "earnest money." ,
The present possession of the Holy Spirit is a down-payment. OR EARNEST OF THE KINGDOM

PERCEPTION

The ‘‘born above’’ part which Jesus mentions in verse 3 relates directly to even « beholding » the Kingdom of God. Looking at this word closer : ‘‘BEHOLDING’’ εἴδω


The Kingdom of God—the reign of God cannot even be perceived unless ‘‘born above’’

ABOVE

Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

BORN

John 2:13-25 (NKJV) 13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables.
16 And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!"
17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."
18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?" 19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.


23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

John 3:2-8 (NKJV) 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered and said to him, ",except a man be born above he cannot behold the Kingdom of God.'' 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

JOHN

JOHN
Chapter 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:1-5 (NKJV)



14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth John 1:14 (NKJV)
14 και ο λογος σαρξ εγενετο και εσκηνωσεν εν ημιν και εθεασαμεθα την δοξαν αυτου δοξαν ως μονογενους παρα πατρος πληρης χαριτος και αληθειας John 1:14 (Stephanus)

DISCOURSES IN JOHN'S GOSPEL
The dis¬courses in the Fourth Gospel are many and intricate, inculcating, for the most part, deep mystical truths which are enforced by a ceaseless reiteration tending to obscure the exact line of the argument, and illustrated by not a single parable, properly so-called.'
The doctrine and discourses of Jesus (in the Fourth Gospel) cannot in the main be the writer's, John, because in the main they are clearly out of his reach'; no man could have con¬ceived the ideas which are here recorded; they can have come only from Him who spake as never man spake (vii. 46). And Dr. James Orr says: 'The supreme guaranty of their (the Gospels) trustworthiness, is found in the narratives themselves; for who in that (or any) account could imagine a figure so unique and perfect as that of Jesus, or invent the incomparable sayings and parables that proceeded from His lips! Much of Christ's teaching is high as heaven above the minds of men still.' When, therefore, writers say that the Evangelist 'put words into the mouth of Jesus,' and this is frequently said, let us remember that they are giving some man credit for something of which no man has ever been capable. Dr. Reynolds has well said: 'It is inconceivable that the author of the Gospel invented, rather than recited, marvellous utterances of the Christ; that he appealed

John was a fisherman. He was first a follower of John the Baptist (i, 35, 40), and he left him to follow Christ. There appear to have been three stages in his fellowship with Christ: attachment (i, 40); dis¬cipleship (Matt. iv. 21, 22); and apostleship (Luke vi. 13, 14). John's relation to Jesus was unique. If, as is conjectured, Salome was the sister of Jesus' mother, John would be Jesus' cousin. (See Div. A, Pt. 1,6, p. 62, Salome). He was one of the first two disciples to be called (i. 35-40); one of the first Apostles named (Matt. iv. 18-22); one of the three privileged Apostles (Mark v, 37; Matt. xvii, I; xxvi 37); one of the four who drew forth our Lord's great prophetic discourse (Mark xiii, 3); and one of the two sent to prepare the Passover (Luke xxii. 8). He was 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' (xiii. 23; xix. 26; xx, 2; xxi, 7,20), and to whom He committed the care of His mother (xix. 25-27).

John the apostle's hometown was Bethsaida, and there was a family of four, the father and mother, Zebedee, and Salomé, and two sons, James and John (Mark 1:19, 20; 15:40; Matthew 27:56).

The father and sons were fishermen (Matthew 4:21;Salomé, the mother, was ambitious for her boys (Matthew 20:20, 21; Mark 10:35, 37). There is clear evidence that the family had some wealth, because they hired servants, and they ministered of the substance, as well as being influential in official orders Mark 1:20; Matthew 27:56; Luke 8:3; John 18:15, 16; 19:27).

One important fact about John: he lived close to Jesus Christ from the beginning of  Jesus' ministry, to His ascention. He witnessed most of the experiences Jesus endured, including the bloody physical events.  He stood and witnessed the sight of Jesus' crucifixion.  He witnessed the soldier confirming Jesus' death by ramming his spear up under Jesus' rib cage to His heart and blood and water gushing out. John witnessed numerous times Jesus walking and talking and eating following Jesus' resurrection. John viewed all these things personally and no doubt spoke often with the resurrected Jesus.

In the closing two chapters of John's Gospel, John writes a historical narrative of Jesus' actions following Jesus' resurrection, as we mentioned above. In one of those closing chapters, John 20:30-31, the Apostle writes: 

         30  Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31  but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:30-31 (ESV)

 Was John the Apostle telling a lie? He calls us to believe and put your trust in Jesus. 

John lived this faith through many trying very turbulent years.

A relative Roman Peace existed in New Testament time, from Christianity's beginning to Paul and Peter's execution, offering some safety for the spread of the Gospel. 

 However, starting in 67 AD, a Jewish revolt flashed into life and quickly spread.  Nearby, the 12th Roman Legion quickly quelled most of the rebels, but with winter approaching, turned back, heading to their winter camp.  The rebels managed to surprise them in an ambush, and scored a victory over the Romans.  This victory included the capture of the 12th Roman Legion's eagle.     While Rome could never let such a defeat stand, this humiliation of the Roman Army by the rebels turned the revolt into a war, which included the added motivation of Roman revenge.  That war lasted until 70 AD.  Following that war, Israel, as a nation, no longer existed.  Jerusalem and and the Jewish Temple were burned down.


JOHN THE APOSTLE

John the Apostle moved. Tradition tells us John escaped with Mary, Jesus' mother, to Ephesus.  With the Jerusalem gone, the Christian Center moved and the years witnessed the rapid expansion of Christianity, and it's center moving from Jerusalem to Ephesus. The last remaining apostle, John, moved to  

John would also have been aware of the cost of witnessing or teaching those facts. He would also have known that what he was teaching could mean the death or torture to those he was teaching. John's writings are written 50 to 60 years after Jesus crucifixion.  Archeologist discovered a papyri copy of a part of John's Gospel, , the John Rylands Fragment,  dating it at about 125AD.  They discovered the fragment around Alexandria Eypt, meaning Christianity had spread y location  Tthat would was 

John appears three times in the book of Acts: and the Temple (3:1); before the Council (4:13); and at Samaria (8:14). After the general reference to him and Ask 15:2, 22, 23, the next contact with them is about 18 years later (A. D. 69), and the Book of the Revelation (1:1, four, nine), and about 26 years later still in the gospel (A. D. 95), and the Epistles bearing his name.

Tradition tells us that John left Jerusalem and went to Asia. He probably took Mary the mother of Jesus along with Intuit Ephesus. The Jewish Roman war would surely have driven him out of Jerusalem. The deaths of Paul, Peter, Tennessee, and Titus, would also have left the Asian churches without a leader. John settled at Ephesus which has in the monument for him. That at Ephesus he spent a great deal of his life, died and was buried there, tradition affirms.

It was probably about A.D. 69 that the apostle Paul was banished to Patmos, or he received and recorded divisions of the book of revelations. Jerome places his death about A. D. 98.

CHRISTIAN

JOHN THE APOSTLE
Out-side of Jesus Christ, John the Apostle had no education. As with the other N.T. writers, (exception maybe of Paul and Luke and the writer of Hebrews) what John wrote was far above what he normally would know. John and his brother James were both common fisherman. The Jewish high religious court, the Sanhedrin, recognized John and Peter as ‘‘unlearned and ignorant’’ and were amazed (Acts 4 :13). These are words from the Lord.
John’s home town was Bethsaida (1. 44; Luke 5. 10), and there was a family of four, the father and mother, Zebedee, and Salome, and two sons, James and John (Mark 1. 19,20; xv. 40; Matt. 22, 56). The father and sons were fishermen (Matt. 4. 21); Salome, the mother, was ambitious for her boys (Matt. 20. 20, 21; Mark 10. 35-37). There is clear evidence that the family was prosperous, for they had hired servants, they minis¬tered of their substance, and they were influential in official quarters (Mark 1. 20; Matt.22, 56; Luke 8. 3; John 17, 15,16; 19. 27).
JOHN KNEW AND FOLLOWED JESUS FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS
John was one of the first followers of Jesus Christ (1 ; 40)--he left John the Baptist to follow Christ.
He was one of the first two disciples to be called (1. 35-40); one of the first Apostles named (Matt.4. 18-22); one of the three privileged Apostles (Mark 5, 37; Matt. 17.1; 26. 37); one of the four who drew forth our Lord's great prophetic discourse (Mark 13, 3); and one of the two sent to prepare the Passover (Luke 22. 8).
John was 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' (13. 23; 19. 26; 20, 2; 21, 7,20). Jesus while on the cross, committed the care of His mother to John. (19. 25-27).
JOHN NOT ONLY WATCHED JESUS DIE ON THE CROSS—HE WAS WITH THE GROUP THAT SAW JESUS ALIVE.
JOHN WENT THROUGH THE CHRISTIAN REVIVAL GENERATED FROM SEEING JESUS ALIVE, AND HE WAS STILL GOING STRONG AT 60 PLUS YEARS LATER..
John appears three times in the Acts: in the Temple (3. I); before the Council (4. 13); and at Samaria (8. 14). After the general reference to him in Acts 15. 2, 22, 23, our next contact with him is about 65 years later (95A.D—some claim 69AD), in the Book of the Revelation (1. 1,4,9), and about 60 years in (85-90A.D.), in his Gospel, and the Epistles which bear his name.

APOSTLE

JOHN THE APOSTLE
The particulars may be classified and summarized under six heads: the home and occupation of John; his discipleship and service-life; references to him in the history of the Church; the portrait of him derived from tradition; his character as reflected in his writings; and his place in the apostolic age.

THE HOME AND OCCUPATION OF JOHN
His home town was Bethsaida (i. 44; Luke v. 10), and there was a family of four, the father and mother, Zebedee, and Salome, and two sons, James and John (Mark i. 19,20; xv. 40; Matt. xxvii, 56). The father and sons were fishermen (Matt. iv. 21); Salome, the mother, was ambitious for her boys (Matt. xx. 20, 21; Mark x. 35-37). There is clear evidence that the family was prosperous, for they had hired servants, they minis¬tered of their substance, and they were influential in official quarters (Mark i. 20; Matt. xxvii, 56; Luke viii. 3; John xviii, 15,16; xix. 27).

THE DISCIPLESHIP AND SERVICE-LIFE OF JOHN
He was first a follower of John the Baptist (i, 35, 40), and he left him to follow Christ. There appear to have been three stages in his fellowship with Christ: attachment (i, 40); dis-cipleship (Matt. iv. 21, 22); and apostleship (Luke vi. 13, 14). John's relation to Jesus was unique. If, as is conjectured, Salome was the sister of Jesus' mother, John would be Jesus' cousin. (See Div. A, Pt. 1,6, p. 62, Salome). He was one of the first two disciples to be called (i. 35-40); one of the first Apostles named (Matt. iv. 18-22); one of the three privileged Apostles (Mark v, 37; Matt. xvii, I; xxvi 37); one of the four who drew forth our Lord's great prophetic discourse (Mark xiii, 3); and one of the two sent to prepare the Passover (Luke xxii. 8). He was 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' (xiii. 23; xix. 26; xx, 2; xxi, 7,20), and to whom He committed the care of His mother (xix. 25-27).
REFERENCES TO JOHN IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
John appears three times in the Acts: in the Temple (iii. I); before the Council (iv. 13); and at Samaria (viii. 14). After the general reference to him in Acts xv. 2, 22, 23, our next contact with him is about eighteen years later (A.D. 69), in the Book of the Revelation (i. 1,4,9), and about twenty-six years later still (A.D. 95), in his Gospel, and the Epistles which bear his name.