OOPS, I DID IT AGAIN!

[indianasmith]

I just wrote 'THE END' at the conclusion of my sixth novel, THE EMPEROR AND THE APOSTLE.
This one took me over a year and a half to finish, but I sure do like the end result!   

[Pacman000]

Congratulations!

[Allhallowsday]

Tell us what you can about this story.  Congratulations! 

[indianasmith]

This is the third volume of my "Rome" trilogy that began with THE REDEMPTION OF PONTIUS PILATE and continued in THEOPHILUS.
It begins in 79 AD, with the death of the Emperor Vespasian.  It follows the lives of Vespasian's sons and successors, Titus and Domitian, along with the latter years of the Apostle John. 
Domitian was a cruel and warped ruler, deeply paranoid, who despised and persecuted the Christian movement.
He decided to make a public spectacle of executing the last living disciple of Jesus . . . but, well, it backfired on him.
Closely based on actual history, both that of Rome and that of the early church, I think this is a book that believers and non-believers can enjoy.

[Leah]

Congrats Indy! 

[Allhallowsday]

I find the stories of any of the apostles interesting; yet, John is the one who fascinates me. 

[indianasmith]

I find the stories of any of the apostles interesting; yet, John is the one who fascinates me. 

Me, too.  Lots of interesting extrabiblical stories about him, from the second and third centuries.
Some of them may reflect actual events, since he lived into the reign of the Emperor Trajan (98-117 AD).

[Allhallowsday]

I find the stories of any of the apostles interesting; yet, John is the one who fascinates me. 

Me, too.  Lots of interesting extrabiblical stories about him, from the second and third centuries.
Some of them may reflect actual events, since he lived into the reign of the Emperor Trajan (98-117 AD).

Indeed, JOHN is the apostle who lived a long life, yes?  Were all the others martyred? 
Do you believe JOHN wrote the gospel, epistles, and Revelation? 

[indianasmith]

According to several very early sources, John lived into the reign of Trajan (98-117 AD).
That would have put him at nearly 100 when he died.
Yes, I believe that John the Apostle wrote all five books attributed to him in the NT.
There simply isn't any real evidence of another person named John whose works would have been considered as authoritative.
The Gospel of John is my favorite book in the whole Bible.

[Allhallowsday]

According to several very early sources, John lived into the reign of Trajan (98-117 AD).
That would have put him at nearly 100 when he died.
Yes, I believe that John the Apostle wrote all five books attributed to him in the NT.
There simply isn't any real evidence of another person named John whose works would have been considered as authoritative.
The Gospel of John is my favorite book in the whole Bible.

We concur. 

You didn't answer me... Were all the others martyred?

[The Burgomaster]

 

6 seems to be a nice, round number for a boxed set . . . just sayin' . . .

[indianasmith]

According to several very early sources, John lived into the reign of Trajan (98-117 AD).
That would have put him at nearly 100 when he died.
Yes, I believe that John the Apostle wrote all five books attributed to him in the NT.
There simply isn't any real evidence of another person named John whose works would have been considered as authoritative.
The Gospel of John is my favorite book in the whole Bible.

We concur. 

You didn't answer me... Were all the others martyred?

To the best of our knowledge, although some of those traditions are late and impossible to verify.

[Allhallowsday]

According to several very early sources, John lived into the reign of Trajan (98-117 AD).
That would have put him at nearly 100 when he died.
Yes, I believe that John the Apostle wrote all five books attributed to him in the NT.
There simply isn't any real evidence of another person named John whose works would have been considered as authoritative.
The Gospel of John is my favorite book in the whole Bible.

We concur. 
You didn't answer me... Were all the others martyred?

To the best of our knowledge, although some of those traditions are late and impossible to verify.

Actually, my friend, I know there are many opinions about the stories of the Apostles, but I was interested in YOUR opinion because I'm sure you've done a lot of research. 

[indianasmith]

Well, of the ones whose fates are attestified early on - Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome in Nero's time - that was chronicled by multiple early sources.
James, John's brother, was killed by order of Herod Antipas - that's in the Book of Acts.
Josephus says that James the brother of Jesus was put to death in Jerusalem shortly before the rebellion broke out in 68 AD.
As for the others - every tradition we have says that all but John were martyred, so I am reasonably sure that was the case.
As to the whens and hows, traditions do vary.  Several sources say that Thomas tried to take the Gospel to India and was killed there.
The others met their fates in various corners of the Roman Empire, but I imagine, given the widespread persecution under Nero and all the upheavals that followed after, not to mention the great Jewish revolt, that all of but John had perished by around 70 AD.

One interesting tradition preserved by Tertullian (165 - 155 AD) says that Domitian, in trying to wipe out Christianity, located several surviving nephews or great-nephews of Jesus and had them brought to Rome.  He found them to be simple peasants and released them as unworthy of his attention.

[Zapranoth]

Thread title:  OOPS, I DID IT AGAIN

You played with my heart, got lost in the game?