Johannine literatureJohannine literature is the collection of New Testament works that are traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, John the Evangelist, or to the Johannine community. They are usually dated to the period AD 60–110, with a minority of scholars such as John AT Robinson offering the earliest of these datings. Johannine literature is traditionally considered to include the following works: The Gospel of John The Johannine epistles The First Epistle of John The Second Epistle of John The Third Epistle of John The Book of Revelation Of these five books, the only one that explicitly identifies its author as a "John" is Revelation.
Authorship of the Johannine worksThe authorship of the Johannine works (the Gospel of John, the Johannine epistles, and the Book of Revelation) has been debated by biblical scholars since at least the 2nd century AD. The debate focuses mainly on the identity of the author(s), as well as the date and location of authorship of these writings. Although authorship of all of these works has traditionally been attributed to John the Apostle, only a minority of contemporary scholars believe he wrote the gospel, and most conclude that he wrote none of them.
James, brother of JesusJames the Just, or a variation of James, brother of the Lord (Iacobus from יעקב, Ya'aqov and Ἰάκωβος, Iákōbos, can also be Anglicized as "Jacob"), was "a brother of Jesus", according to the New Testament. He was an early leader of the Jerusalem Church of the Apostolic Age. Traditionally, it is believed he was martyred in AD 62 or 69 by being stoned to death by the Pharisees on order of High Priest Ananus ben Ananus.
CerinthusCerinthus (Kērinthos; fl. c. 50-100 CE) was an early Gnostic, who was prominent as a heresiarch in the view of the early Church Fathers. Contrary to the Church Fathers, he used the Gospel of Cerinthus, and denied that the Supreme God made the physical world. In Cerinthus' interpretation, the Christ descended upon Jesus at baptism and guided him in ministry and the performing of miracles, but left him at the crucifixion. Similarly to the Ebionites, he maintained that Jesus was not born of a virgin, but was a mere man, the biological son of Mary and Joseph.
PatmosPatmos (Πάτμος, ˈpatmos) is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. It is famous as the location where John of Patmos received the visions found in the Book of Revelation of the New Testament, and where the book was written. One of the northernmost islands of the Dodecanese complex, it has a population of 2,998 and an area of . The highest point is Profitis Ilias, above sea level. The municipality of Patmos, which includes the offshore islands of Arkoi (pop. 44), Marathos (pop.
TriumvirateA triumvirate (triumvirātus) or a triarchy is a political institution ruled or dominated by three individuals, known as triumvirs (triumviri). The arrangement can be formal or informal. Though the three leaders in a triumvirate are notionally equal, the actual distribution of power may vary. The term can also be used to describe a state with three different military leaders who all claim to be the sole leader. In the Bible triumvirates occurred at some notable events in both the Old Testament and New Testament.
Basilica of San VitaleThe Basilica of San Vitale is a late antique church in Ravenna, Italy. The sixth-century church is an important surviving example of early Christian Byzantine art and architecture. It is one of eight structures in Ravenna inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its foundational inscription describes the church as a basilica, though its centrally-planned design is not typical of the basilica form. Within the Roman Catholic Church it holds the honorific title of basilica for its historic and ecclesial importance.
The Last Supper (Leonardo)The Last Supper (Il Cenacolo il tʃeˈnaːkolo or L'Ultima Cena ˈlultima ˈtʃeːna) is a mural painting by the Italian High Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, dated to 1495–1498. The painting represents the scene of the Last Supper of Jesus with the Twelve Apostles, as it is told in the Gospel of John - specifically the moment after Jesus announces that one of his apostles will betray him. Its handling of space, mastery of perspective, treatment of motion and complex display of human emotion has made it one of the Western world's most recognizable paintings and among Leonardo's most celebrated works.
Johannine communityThe term Johannine community refers to an ancient Christian community which placed great emphasis on the teachings of Jesus and his apostle John. Their particular Christian practices, rituals, and theology may be referred to as Johannine Christianity. Biblical scholars and historians of Christianity who assert the notion of the existence of such a community that drew heavily from Johannine literature in their doctrine include Harold W. Attridge and Raymond E. Brown.
Historicity of JesusThe historicity of Jesus is the question of whether or not Jesus, the central figure of Christianity, historically existed (as opposed to being a purely mythical figure). Virtually all scholars of antiquity argue that Jesus existed. The contrary perspective, that Christ was mythical, is regarded as a fringe theory. Only two key events of Jesus's life are widely accepted as historical, namely his baptism and crucifixion, while other elements (e.g. his alleged miracles) are subject to debate.
