taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to welcome such, that we may be fellow-workers with the truth. 9 I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his works which he doeth, prating against us with wicked words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and them that would he forbiddeth, and casteth them out of the church. II Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 12 Demetrius hath the witness of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, we also bear witness; and thou knowest that our witness is true. 13 I had many things to write unto thee, but I am unwilling to write them to thee with ink and pen: 14 but I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be unto thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name. 8. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PAUL AND THE CORINTHIANS IN THE INTERVAL BETWEEN HIS FIRST VISIT TO CORINTH AND THE 9. THE SUFFERINGS OF PAUL IN EPHESUS!. 218 10. THE EXPERIENCES OF PAUL IN THE INTERVAL BETWEEN FIRST II. THE DATE OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS 221 222 14. THE LITERATURE OF THE PERIOD OF THE Jewish WAR THE LITERATURE OF THE YEARS 70-100 A.D. 199 NOTE 1. THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE APOSTOLIC AGE. THERE are two events in the political history of Judea which are in the New Testament so connected with the history of the early church, and at the same time so definitely dated by the evidence of secular writers, as to make them of special importance in the construction of the chronology of the Apostolic Age. These two events are the death of Herod Agrippa I., and the accession of Festus to the procuratorship of Judea as the successor of Felix. The death of Herod Agrippa I. is recorded by Josephus, Ant. 19. 8. 2, as having occurred when he had completed the third year of his reign over all Palestine. Now since from Ant. 19. 5. 1 it appears that Claudius made him king over all Judea shortly after his own accession, and since Claudius became emperor early in 41 A.D., it follows that Agrippa died in 44 A.D. See Wieseler, Chronologie des Apostolischen Zeitalters, pp. 129-136, and Schürer, Jewish People in the Time of Christ, Div. I., Vol. II., p. 163. From the book of Acts, chap. 12, which gives an account of Herod's death not greatly unlike that contained in Josephus, Ant. 19. 8. 2, it appears that Herod died after the Passover, but how long after is not definitely indicated. Wieseler has indeed calculated from Josephus that Aug. 6th is the exact date, but his calculation rests upon insufficient data. Spring or summer of the year 44 A.D. is as definite a date as can be given for the death of Herod. Two noteworthy events are closely associated in the book of Acts with the death of Herod, namely, the death of James the brother of John, and the imprisonment of Peter. James perished by the sword of Herod not long before the Passover of this year 44, while Peter was imprisoned at about the Passover season and released just after that festival. The end of the earthly career of James is thus definitely dated for us. This imprisonment of Peter is also the latest event of his life the time of which can be exactly determined. Though he doubtless lived for many years after this, and though we know some of the events of his later life, no subsequent event of it can with confidence be assigned to a particular year. The exact date of the visit of Barnabas and Saul to Jerusalem to carry relief to the brethren of that city seems at first sight to be definitely fixed also |