While no
arrangement of these books can be made with absolute confidence, the following
dates are sufficiently reliable to serve the purpose of the Bible student.
James - 50 A.D. 1st & 2nd Thessalonians - 52-53.
Galatians - 55. 1st & 2nd Corinthians - 57. Romans - 57-58.
Philippians - 62-63. Colossians - 62-63. Philemon - 62-63.
Ephesians - 62-63. Luke - 63. Acts - 64. 1st Timothy - 65.
Titus - 65. 2nd Timothy - 66. Mark - 66. Matthew - 67.
Hebrews - 67. 1st & 2nd Peter - 67-68. Jude - 68.
Revelation - 68. John - c. 85. Epistles of John
- 90-95.
2 I suppose I must have read as many myths as most men in
Latin and Greek as well as, in translation, in other European and Asiatic
languages. They can be helpful. Even now we can “get the message” of the Sirens
of Circe about whom Homer wrote nearly three thousand years ago. But, apart
from the Book of Revelation, which stands in a class by itself, the New
Testament is not a myth. Its sparse vocabulary, its lack of writing for effect,
its general atmosphere of understatement is miles removed from the fantastic
world of magic and myth.
Here in the dark, cruel, fear-ridden world of what we now
call the first century, there came to birth in such unlikely places as Corinth and Ephesus, a new kind of human being and human community. Perhaps I
was fortunate in starting, not in some “quest for the historical Jesus,” but in
the most intimate imaginative contact with the letters of Paul.
For here I found real people, real situations, real
victories, and a few real failures.
Here is irrefutable evidence, that long before any “Gospel”
was written, people were being fundamentally changed in character and outlook.
This new unquenchable courage and certainty about God was never dreamed up.
The more closely I studied, the more I felt the hallmark of
reality and the ring of truth.
3 When and how did the Twelve Apostles die?
Summary: The Bible only mentions the deaths of two
apostles, James who was put to death
by Herod Agrippa I in 44 AD and Judas
Iscariot who committed suicide shortly after the death of Christ. The details of the deaths of three of the
apostles (John, the Beloved, Bartholomew and Simon the Canaanite) are not known
at all, either by tradition or early historians. The deaths of the other seven
apostles are known by tradition or the writings of early Christian historians. According
to traditions and the Bible, eight of the Apostles died as Martyrs. At least two of the Apostles, Peter and
Andrew were crucified. [Jesus died in 33 AD]
Simon surnamed Peter died 33-34 years after the death
of Christ. According to Smith’s Bible
Dictionary there is “satisfactory evidence that he and Paul were the founders
of the church at Rome, and died in that city. The time and manner of the apostle’s
martyrdom are less certain. According to the early writers, he died at or about
the same time with Paul, and in the Neronian persecution, A.D. 67,68. All agree
that he was crucified. Origen says that Peter felt himself to be unworthy to be
put to death in the same manner as his Master, and was therefore, at his own
request, crucified with his head downward.” [Paul had his head cut off]
James the son of Zebedee: He was put to death by Herod Agrippa I
shortly before the day of the Passover, in the year 44 or about 11 years after
the death of Christ. From Acts 12: 1-2.
John: No death date given by early writers. Death date is by conjecture only and is
variously assigned as being between 89 AD to 120 AD
Andrew: No accurate death
date given. A variety of traditions say he preached in Scythia, in Greece, in Asia Minor and Thrace.
He is reported to have been crucified at Patrae in Achaia.
Philip: Again, the Bible
does not say when he died nor do we have accurate information. According to tradition he preached in Phrygia, and died at Hierapolis. Update: FoxNews July 27, 2011 Tomb of
the Apostle Phillip is found in Hierapolis.
Bartholomew: There is no information concerning his
death, not even by tradition
Matthew: He must have lived many years as an apostle, since he was
the author of the Gospel of Matthew which was written at least twenty years
after the death of Christ. There is reason to believe that he stayed for
fifteen years at Jerusalem, after which he went as missionary to the Persians,
Parthians and Medes. There is a legend that he died a martyr in Ethiopia.
Thomas: The earlier traditions, as believed in the fourth century,
say he preached in Parthia or Persia, and was finally buried at Edessa. The later traditions carry him farther
east. His martyrdom whether in Persia or India, is said to have been by a lance, and is
commemorated by the Latin Church on December 21 the Greek Church on October 6,
and by the Indians on July 1.
James Alpheus : We know he lived at least five years
after the death of Christ because of mentions in the Bible. According to tradition, James son of Alpheus was thrown down from the temple by the
scribes and Pharisees; he was then stoned, and his brains dashed out with a
fuller’s club.
Simon the Canaanite – No information either in the Bible or
by tradition.
Jude (Thaddeus): according to tradition Jude taught in Armenia, Syria and Persia where he was martyred. Tradition tells us he was buried in Kara
Kalisa in what is now Iran.
Judas Iscariot: Shortly after the death of Christ Judas
killed himself. According to the Bible he hanged himself, (Matthew 27:5) at Aceldama, on the southern slope of the valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem, and in the act he fell down a precipice
and was dashed into pieces.
4 According to the period writer Clemens Alexandrinus, as
James the Great (the son of Zebedee) was lead to his death his accuser was so
moved by his courage and faith that he fell at his feet, accepted Christ, and
requested a pardon for James or else martyrdom for himself. Both were beheaded.
John, brother of
James the Great, was the only apostle who did not suffer a violent death. An
attempt was made, however. After he survived boiling in oil without injury, a
divine miracle, he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos where the book of
Revelation was written. Then in Ephesus upon his release he found those who were teaching that Jesus was only a spirit when He resurrected; thus his many referrals to Jesus being flesh & bone!
1 Chronological
Order:
2 For This Day, 365 Meditations by J.B. Phillips;
Word Books Publisher1975 – February 21.
