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CHA P. XX.

The three Epiftles of St. John.

Π.

I. Their Genuinneffe fhewn from Teftimonie, and internal Characters. II. The Time of writing the first of thefe Epiftles. III. The People, to whom it was fent. IV. Obfervations upon the fecond Epiftle. V. upon the third VI. The Time, when they were writ.

Their Genuinneffe.

I

I. **** HAVE already writ the hiftorie of St. John, one of Chrift's twelve Apoftles, and an Evan**** gelift. I have alfo obferved what is needfull concerning the Gospel, writ by him. We are now to confider his Epiftles.

The regard fhewn to them by the ancients, may be foon perceived by recollecting briefly what has been largely alleged by us from them in the feveral volumes of this work.

...

St. John's first epiftle is referred to by Polycarp. Vol. i. p. 118. is quoted by Papias. 242. 250. 253. and is referred to by the Martyrs of Lyons. 340. His first and fecond epiftles are quoted by Irenaeus. 375They were also received by Clement of Alexandria. ii. 473. 509. 511. 512. And fays Origen: "John, befide the Gospel, and Revelation, has left us an epiftle of a few lines. Grant alfo a second and a third. For all do not allow thefe to be genuine." Vol. iii. 236. Dionyfius, of Alexandria, receives John's first epiftle, which he calls his Catholic Epistle, soan n xaboλixń. He likewife mentions the other two, as afcribed to him. Vol. iv. 672. . 674. The first epiftle was received by Cyprian, and, probably, the other two likewife. p. 832.... 836. The fecond epiftle is quoted by Alexander, Bp. of Alexandria. Vol vii, 250. Eufebius fays: "Befide his Gofpel, his first epistle is universally acknowledged by thofe of the prefent time, and by the ancients: but the other two gre contradicted:" that is, doubted of by fome. Vol. viii. 95. See alfo p. 96. 97. and 157. 158. All the three epiftles were received by Athanafius. p. 227. by Cyril, of Jerufalem. p. 270. by the Council of Laodicea. p. 292. by Epiphanius. p. 304. 310. Áll three were received by Jerome. Vol. x. 77. but the two laft were doubted of by fome in his time. p. 99. 100. All three were received by Rufin. p. 187. by the third Council of Carthage. p. 194. by Auguftin. p. 211. 248. and by all those authors, who received the fame canon of the New Teftament, that we do. They are in the Alexandrian manufcript. Vol. xi. p. 240. All three are alfo in the catalogues of Gregorie Nazianzen. ix. 133. and of Amphilochius. p. 148. But this laft obferves, that fome received one of them only. And indeed, it is acknowledged, that but one epistle of St. John is received by the Syrian churches. Vol. ix. 191. ... . 196. 217. Nor were any more received by Chryfoftom. Vol. x. 313. 337 339. Venerable Bede, near the begining of the eighth centurie, in his Expofition of the second epiftle, fays: "Some (a) have thought this, and the fol"lowing

(a) Quidam putant, hanc et fequentem epiftolam non esse Joannis Apoftoli,

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"lowing epiftle not to have been writ by John the Apostle, but by ano"ther, a Prefbyter of the fame name, whofe fepulchre is ftill fhewn at "Ephefus; whom alfo Papias mentions in his writings. But now it is "the general confent of the Church, that John the Apostle wrote also "these two epiftles: forafmuch as there is a great agreement of doctrine "and ftile between these and his first epiftle, and there is also a like zeal against heretics." They who are defirous to fee more quotations of ancient writers, may confult the Table of principal matters, in the twelfth Volume, in St. John, Catholic Epistles, and Authors, who had the fame canon of the N. T. with that, which is now generally received. Which article may be found under Canon of the fcriptures of the

N. T.

All the three epiftles are now generally received as St. John's in these parts of the world. And with good reason, as feems to me. Said Origen: "He has alfo left an epiftle of a very few lines. Grant also a second, and a third." That is very right. One epiftle was received by all, as certainly genuine. And it is not worth the while to contend about the other two, when they are so very short, and resemble the first in fentiment, phrase, and manner of writing, as is well obferved by (b) Mill. And of the fecond epiftle, which confifts of only thirteen of our verses, eight may be found in the first, either in fenfe, or expreffion. The title of Elder at the begining of these two epiftles, affords no just exception. It (c) is a very honourable character, well becoming John as Apoftle, and now in years, refiding in Afia, as fuperintendent. of all the churches in that country. And St. Peter fpeaks of himself in the same character, in his epiftle univerfally acknowledged. ch. v. I.

Dr. Heumann supposeth, that (d) here is a reference to St. John's

great

fed cujufdam prefbyteri Joannis, cujus fepulchrum ufque hodie monftratur in Ephefo. Cujus etiam Papias, auditor Apoftolorum, et in Hierapoli Epifcopus, in opufculis fuis fæpe meminit. Sed nunc generalis Ecclefiæ confenfus habet, quod has quoque epiftolas Joannes Apoftolus fcrip ferit, quia revera multam verborum et fidei fimilitudinem cum prima ejus epiftola oftendunt, et fimili zelo deteftantur hæreticos. Bed. Exp. in z ep. Joan.

(6) Epiftolas autem iftas habere auctorem Joannem... ex eo plane conftat, quod in iftis omnibus eadem paffim fint vonuara, idem genus et character dictionis. Secundæ, certe diyosiy, (neque enim continet ultra tredecim verfus ex hodiernis noftris,) octo quidem verficulorum cum fenfus, tum ipfæ gneus, exftant in epiftola prima.. .. Epiftola autem tertia, ejufdem omnino coloris ac characteris cum fecunda, per omnia fapit Joannem Apoftolum. Mill. Proleg. num. 153.

(c) Quod aliqui Joanni cuidam alteri, Prefbytero vulgo dicto, adfcriptas volunt has duas epiftolas, ii neutiquam vident, quam fortiter contra illos militet illud gobúrizes xar' ¡§ox: quique privato homini, vel etiam Epifcópó, haudquaquam conveniat.... Imo vero Apoftolo noftro peculiariter adaptatum et accommedatum erat: utpote qui jam nonagenarius fuerit, omnibufque provinciæ Afiæ ecclefiis præfiderit. Mill. Ibid. num. 153. 154. Vid. et Lampe Prolegom. in Joan. 1. i. cap. 7. num. viii.

(4) Deinde articulo ô docet Joannes, nomen hoc fibi cum nemine commune

effe,

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great age, at the time of his writing these two epiftles. And he thinks, that St. John was then as well known by that title, as by his name. Elder therefore is as much, as if he had faid: The aged Apoftle. And he refers to Wolfius, and others, who had before faid the fame, or what is to the like purpose.

The want of a name at the begining is no objection. It is rather an argument, that they are his: that being agreeable to St. John, who prefixes not his name, to that epiftle, which is unquestionably his.

And fay Beaufobre and Lenfant in their preface to the second and third epiftles: "It is certain, that the writer of the third epiftle fpeaks with an authority, which the Bishop of a particular church could not pre"tend to, and could not fuit John the elder, even fuppofing him to have "been Bishop of the church of Ephefus, as the pretended Apoftolical "Conftitutions fay he was appointed by John the Apoftle. For if "Diotrephes was Bifhop of one of the churches of Afia, as is reckoned, "the Bishop of Ephefus had no right to fay to him, as the writer of this "epiftle does ver. 10. If I come, I will remember his deeds which he does. "That language, and the vifits made to the churches, denote a man, "who had a more general jurifdiction, than that of a Bishop, and can "only fuit St. John the Apoftle."

The Time of writing the firft Epiftle.

II. That may fuffice for fhewing the genuinneffe of the three epiftles. Let us now make fome remarks upon each of them, begining with the firft. Concerning which there are two inquiries, that may be proper: the time when, and the perfons to whom it was writ.

Grotius thought this (e) epiftle to have been writ in Patmos, before the deftruction of Jerufalem. Hammond and Whithy likewife were of opinion, that it was writ, before that great calamity befell the Jewish nation. Dr. Benfon (f) is inclined to place it in the year of our Lord 68. of Nero 14. that is, after the Jewish war was broke out, and not long before the deftruction of Jerufalem. Mill (g), and Le Clerc (b) who follows him, place this epiftle in the year 91. or 92. Bafnage (1) speaks of this epiftle at the year 98. and Baronius (k) at the year 99. Beausobre and Lenfant in their preface to this epiftle exprefs themselves after this manner: "Al"though we cannot fay any thing certain concerning the time, when St. John wrote this epiftle: we may be fatisfied, that it was near the end of

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effe, adeoque vifo T Teories titulo ftatim fcriptorem harum literarum agnoviffe.... Nihil proinde reftat, quam ut ftatuamus, a Joanne ifto titulo indicari ætatem fuam proveétiffimam, morifque tum fuiffe, eum appellitari honoris ac reverentiæ cauffa Senem, five Seniorem, vet etiam Senem Apoftolum.. .. Græca proinde hæc, 'O IIgoregos Tai, melius reddi Latine non poffunt, quam hoc modo: Grandævus Apoftolus falutem dicit Caio.... Heuman. Comm. in Joan. Ep. iii. ap. Nov. Syllog. Diff. p. i. P. 279. 280.

(e) Puto autem fcriptam, ut alibi dixi, ex Patmo hane epiftolam, non multo ante excidium Hierofolymitanum. Grot. Pr. in ep, Joan. (f) Preface to St. John's first epiftle. §. iv.

(g) Proleg. num. 148.

(b) H. E. an. 91. num. i. (i) Ann. 98. num. iv.

(k) Ann. 99. num, vii.

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150.

"the first centurie, when the Apostle was far advanced in age." Du Pin (1) fays, it is not known, when it was writ, but most probably, near the end of the Apoftle's life. Mr. Whiston (m) thought, this, and the other two epiftles of St. John, to have been written not long after each other, about the year of Chrift, 82. or 83. Mr. Lampe (n) fuppofeth this first epiftle to have been writ after the Jewish war, before St. John's exile in Patmos, and, probably, fome good while before it. Confequently, he and Mr. Whiston do not differ greatly about the time of this epiftle.

I muft likewife fay, though the exact time is not known, I am of opinion, it was not writ, till after the Jewish war was over. My reason is, that the arguments alleged, for proving it to have been writ fooner, are not fatisfactorie. And in examining them, perhaps, fome things may occur, affording hints of a later date.

One argument is taken from ch. ii. 18. it is the last time, or hour: meaning, as (0) fome interpreters think, the laft hour of the Jewish state and conftitution. Nevertheless, there (p) are learned men, who do not affent to that interpretation. Grotius himself owns, that (g) the phrase is fometimes ufed concerning the world, or mankind in general, as well as the Jews. And Mr. Lampe, who fuppofeth the phrase to relate to the divine judgement upon the Jewish People, fays, it (r) might be ufed not only at the time when it was inflicting, but alfo after it was accomplished. Which he supposes to be meant by thofe expreffions. ch. ii. 8. the darkneffe is paft, and the true light now fbineth: [though (s) Wolfius thinks

(1) Diff. Prelim. 1. 2. ch. 2. §. xi.

(m) Commentarie upon St. John's three Catholic Epiftles. p. 14.

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(n) Acquiefcimus igitur hactenus in judicio clariffimi Enfii de Canone N. T. p. 270. Scriptæ tamen creduntur Joannis epiftolæ ante exilium in Patmum infulam. Neque eft ratio, ob quam non ftatueremus, eas diu ante illud tempus fuiffe confcriptas. Lampe Prol. cap. 7. num. iv. not. (h).

(0) Ultima hora: id eft, ultimum tempus, ubi ad Judæos fermo eft, fignificat tempus, proximum excidio urbis, ac templi, et reipublicæ Judæorum. Grot. annot. in 1 ep. Jo. ii, 18.

(2) Vid. Wolf. Prolegom. in 1 ep. Joann. p. 243. 244. Conf. eund. ad 1 ep. cap. ii. ver. 18.

(4) Nomen bora extreme modo totum humanum genus refpicit, modo populum Judaicum, ex quo erant Apoftoli, et non pauci Chriftianorum. Grot. in loca quædam N. T. de Antichrifto: Speciatim in 1 ep. Jo. cap. ii. Opp. Tom. 3.

(r) Alii maturius, aut brevi ante, aut faltem circa excidium Hierofolymitanum fcriptum effe exiftimant, qui nobis maxime ad verifimilitudinem accedere videntur. Probabile enim eft, per ioxarn gav intelligi tempus judicii divini in Judæos. cap. ii. 18. ejufque confummationem fpectare verba cap. ii. 8. Lampe Prol. 1. 1. c. 7. n. iv. p. 106.

(و)

fed non video, quomodo imminens illud judicium argumentum effe poffit, quo Apoftolus ad inculcandum et urgendum amorem mutuum uti voluerit. Tenebræ omnino inferunt priftinam et Judæorum et Gentilium conditionem, per quam non folum erroribus, fed et vitiis ita erant immerfi, ut vini exérus appellari potuerint. Wolf. Cura im. Jo.ii. 8.

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no fuch thing there intended.] And therefore, he fays, he (t) does not. acquiefce in the reafons alleged by Grotius and Hammond, to prove, that this epiftle was writ before that event.

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Let me add here alfo a part of Wall's note upon ch. ii. 18. which to me appears not amifs. "The faying of St. John, it is the last time, is, "spoken as a great many such sayings of St. Paul, and the other Apo"files, had been, according to the general charge, given by Christ to the Apostles, and to all other Chriftians, to live in a continual expectation "of the judgement. They that interpret it otherwife, of the deftruc-, "tion of Ferufalem, as Grotius, and Hammond, are forced to fuppofe "this epiftle to have been written just before that destruction, about the. « year 69... Nor are St. John's words here like thofe of any one, "that was foretelling that event: but rather of one that was fpeaking "of the present state of the Chriftian religion."

Again, it is argued, that (u) the Apoftle might refer to the calamities of the Jewish People in those words ch. ii. 17. The world paffeth away, and the luft thereof. But thofe are only general expreffions, representing the uncertainty of all earthly things. And therefore afford not any argument, that the Apoftle had therein a regard to affairs in Judea. For, if he had, his expreffions would have been more diftinct, and particular.

Thirdly, an argument is alfo brought from ch. ii. 13. I write unto you, fathers, becaufe ye have known him that is from the begining. Whereby St. John has been fuppofed by fome to intend fome aged Christians, who had feen Jefus Chrift upon earth. Which is more likely to have been the cafe of fome in the year 68. about thirty five years after Chrift's afcenfion, than many years afterwards. To which I anfwer, that (x) by him that is from the begining, probably, is intended God the Father, not Jefus Chrift. It is equivalent to what is afterwards faid of others, in the same verfe. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. But it would not found fo well, to fay: I have written unto you, fathers, becaufe ye have known the Father. See alfo ver. 14.

Fourthly, it is (y) argued to the like purpose from ch. ii. 7. I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment, which ye had from the begining. But thereby may be meant no more than the commandment, which

(t) Grotius et Hammondus ante excidium Hierofolymitanum fcriptam effe fufpicantur. Quod tamen loca adducta non evincunt. Licet enim excidium illud in actum datum effet, dici tamen etiamnum poterat, quod hora illa ultima venerit. Id. ib. not. (h).

(u) Unde etiam per mundum tranfeuntem cum fuis cupiditatibus ad idem excidium Reipublicæ Judaicæ refpicere Evangelifta potuit. Lampe ib. p.

106.

(x) Noftis Deum, qui Senex Dierum. Dan. vii. 9. 13. 22. Dat cuique ordini quæ ipfi conveniunt. A prima ætate noviftis Deum, hujus mundi opificem. Is autem is eft, qui Chriftum mifit, eumque pro fe audiri voluit. Grot. ad ver. 13.

(y) Accedit, quod ad fratres fcribat, qui præceptum a principio audiverant. cap. ii. 7. per quod intelligi debet principium prædicationis evangelicæ. A quo igitur non nimium removeri debent illi, quos Apoftolus alloquitur. Lampe ubi fupra. p. 106.

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