Early Church History 

Antichrists, and whom the Apostle Paul frequently assails), he was urged by almost all the bishops of 

Asia then living, and by deputations from many Churches, to write more profoundly concerning the 

divinity of the Saviour, and to break through all obstacles so as to attain to the very Word of God (if I 

may so speak) with a boldness as successful as it appears audacious. Ecclesiastical history relates that, 

when he was urged by the brethren to write, he replied that he would do so if a general fast were 

proclaimed and all would offer up prayer to God; and when the fast was over, the narrative goes on to 

say, being filled with revelation, he burst into the heaven sent Preface: "In the beginning was the Word, 

and the Word was with God, and the Word was God: this was in the beginning with God."

715

    When was the Gospel of John written? Both Eusebius and Jerome state that John's Gospel was written 

last.

716

 Eusebius even tells us that John had copies of each of the three other Gospels.  The three gospels 

already written were in general circulation and copies had come into John's hand. 

717

 The Gospel of Luke was 

written after Matthew and Mark's Gospels, and was most likely completed sometime between early 

A.D.

 44 

and early 

A.D.

 46 (as concluded above). By the time that John wrote his Gospel, Luke's Gospel had not only 

been written, it had been in general circulation and a copy had made its way to John. At least several years 

must have passed for Luke's Gospel to enter general circulation. 

    The last verses of John's Gospel present themselves as having been written, not by John, but by some of his 

disciples.  This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we 

know that his testimony is true.  (Jn 21:24). The expression  we know that his testimony  shows that this 

verse was written by a group of persons who knew John well, persons to whom John had testified about his 

faith in Christ. Such persons are referred to as John's disciples. The present tense is used to signify that John 

was still alive at the time that these last verses were added to the Gospel of John:  This is the disciple who is 

bearing witness .  No mention is made of John's actual death, even though the idea of his future inevitable 

death is discussed in these last verses (Jn 21:20 23). John's disciples completed his Gospel while he was still 

alive. 

    On the other hand, Peter's actual death is mentioned (Jn 21:18 19). This text is not proof that John's Gospel 

was written after Peter's death. Jesus was making a prophecy of Peter's future martyrdom. However, part of 

verse 19, placed within the description of Jesus' future prediction, could be a comment on that prediction, a 

comment added after Peter had died.  (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.)  (Jn 

21:19). Here is one indication that John's Gospel was written after the death of Peter, and probably after the 

end of Nero's reign. 

    Some assert that John wrote his Gospel after he wrote the Apocalypse, and after the Roman emperor 

Domitian died and John had been released from the island of Patmos and had returned to Ephesus.

718

However, I find evidence that John wrote his Gospel before he wrote the Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation). 

First, the comments at the end of John's Gospel do not refer to any other writings of John (Jn 21:24 25). 

John's disciples refer, in those words, to John's testimony, to his bearing witness, and to other books that 

could be written. The subject of other writings is raised, yet no mention is made of any book, other than the 

Gospel, written by John. This indicates that the Apocalypse had not yet been written. 

    Second, the beginning of the Apocalypse refers to the Gospel of John:   his servant John, who bore 

witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.  (Rev 1:1 2). John 

bore witness to the Word of God in his Gospel, which begins:  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word 

was with God, and the Word was God.  (Jn 1:1). John's Gospel is his testimony to Jesus Christ and to all that 

John saw. The first and second verses of the Apocalypse refer to the last verses of John's Gospel, which refer 

to John  bearing witness  and to  his testimony  (Jn 21:24). A little further in the Apocalypse, John states that 

he was exiled to the island of Patmos because of  the word of God and the testimony of Jesus  (Rev 1:9). Here 

again John refers to the Gospel of John, which is the written word of God and which testifies to Christ as the 

living Word of God. John is saying that the reason for his exile to Patmos was because of the Gospel he wrote. 

    Third, Eusebius' words support the idea that the Gospel of John was written before the Apocalypse.  There 

is ample evidence that at the time the apostle and evangelist John was still alive, and because of his testimony 

to the word of God was sentenced to confinement on the island of Patmos. 

719

 John was exiled to Patmos by 

the emperor Domitian because of his testimony to the Word of God, that is, because of the Gospel he wrote. 

John wrote the Apocalypse while he was confined to Patmos. Therefore, the Apocalypse was written after the 

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