1 John 1 ~ fellowship with Him

1 John 1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 

4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.

The Scriptures and Roman History place John the Disciple in Patmos Island. We know Mary had passed on to Heaven and wasn't in Patmos. The Historian Tertullian, in A.D. 200, wrote, "In Rome, the Apostle John, having been immersed in hot oil, suffered no harm at all from it." 

Roman Emperor Domitian  - 81 to 96 A.D> banished John to Patmos. If John wasn't going to die politely being boiled in oil. Pesky. Historian Tertullian's testimony (De praescript XXXVI)

also records the people watching John survive Capital Punishment wanted to convert and become Christians. Domitian put John on an obscure Island quickly. John wasn't attempted to be killed in the Coliseum, but in a minor area - outlying the 300,000 person Mall of the Circus Maximus and Coliseum.

How to end John's Witness was studied by Historians and acted upon by the Emperor

Trajan (c. 53 - 117) Philosopher Pliny the Younger's letter to Trajan on the subject of the Christians and the response of Trajan to Pliny the Younger. On Early Christian Writings. How to torture Christians to discredit the claims of Jesus Christ.

Three of the islands in the Sporades were places where political offenders were banished. (Pliny, Natural History 4.69–70; Tacitus, Annals 4.30) Also John Foxe, 1583 'Book of Martyrs' in the early Church martyrs section. And early Church Father Jerome referenced Tertullian and the Eusebius.

Under Domitian, the Church split in half. Domitian Heresy - the Church is only for saints. Domitian tortured until Christians surrendered every fragment of the Gospels and New Testament he could find. 81-96. Because of Domitian – we have the word traitor. Part of the Church wanted to forever exile anyone who lied to get out of torture or gave up Scripture. Forgiveness is the business of the Church and Jesus Christ. Because of Domitian, we only have 15 fragments of the Gospel before 96 AD. But these portions exist and date to 30 AD. Hebrews 9 tells us when Paul wrote Hebrews, the Second Temple is in operation.

Until examining Papyrus 46 which is debated to be First Century Scriptures because of Verb usage. 300 intact Chapters of the Bible owned by the University of Michigan. This freedom was carried by the Christians running to save limb and Life.

San Giovanni Chapel Rome

Scripture and History agree.

Island of Patmos, Greece

John would have been in his first century 60s - in this century this was very old, trudging up the hill to the cave John would live in. Imagine making the journey uphill the first time on Patmos. Without anyone he knew in the world. Presumably John spoke Greek. The bones of Peter under the Vatican describe Peter as an elderly Jew, same decade 6os, with feet removed (from being cut down from the Cross). John was sent to exile as prisoner of the Emperor.

Well, he was older. Washed up, done in. No more ministry. John's task from Jesus was complete, Mary had died in her old age.  John was fortunate to be banished. Even if he was just utterly ruined. Alone. Isolated. Banished as a Criminal. 

Instead, history records John as alive and vital. Fighting Gnostics in the 2nd Century. Explaining Jesus to unruly Jews. Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon c. 180 writes of John's very long life into the 2nd Century.

John had someone who studied John's life

Polycarp probably died about 140 A.D. Polycarp had a role to authenticate orthodox teachings through his connection with the Apostle John: "A high value was attached to the witness Polycarp could give as to the genuine tradition of old apostolic doctrine." Polycarp was a disciple of the beloved disciple John on Patmos. 

Through Polycarp we know John gave his approval of the other 3 Gospels and knew of them. Peter himself wrote he had read all of Paul's writings in the Holy Spirit.

The Harris fragments tell of this connection claiming John was engaged in a battle with the Jews over Religious Law and the Divinity of Jesus, Gnostics. And this was linking John and the Martyrdom of Polycarp. The text of the Harris Fragments on Polycarp and John raises discussions on martyrdom and apostolicity, the earliest history of the important Christian communities. 

 We have not only Bishop Papias. And in the generation after Polycarp, then Irenaeus' letter below. He was the Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul. The three bishops form a historical chain. Witnessing to John's old age and vibrant struggle.

A Greek Letter of Polycarp

Revelation 1:9 states:
"I, John, both your brother and companion in tribulation... was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."

John the Beloved Disciple is ruined in his first century old age.

Instead,

John's Life is anointed by Jesus in the most extraordinary way. And even John lives the trouble Jesus says life is. And Joy. Because John has so much of God's Living Water in John, John's Life and Journey is going to say, "Give us this Day."

Would 60-year-old John trudging up the hill, utterly alone, have known how long he would live. And the people he would come to know.

My grandmother Anita, was not the Disciple John. She taught a Methodist Bible Study for 42 years to about 50 people. At age 89, Anita had a stroke and was placed in a Nursing Home. She spent 3 months phoning every relative she knew to help get her out. She actually could have walked to her home. But within the year, all the nurses could be found congregating in her room. Anita was known to set a timer to get outside to see the sunset every day. "Give us the Day."

Hebrews 10:24-30 

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

God is Good. Do we believe this? We wonder why God would create Hell. He does not. He expects us to contribute to Heaven before we are even citizens. Revelation is a Book of God having sorrow to make Heaven for the Beloved of God and not all of His Creation. Fire is the end. Hell is not generations of torment.

John's Life tells us in Troubles, to have faith and continue to find Heaven on earth and contribute to Heaven as a citizen of God's Kingdom.  We live Thy Kingdom Come on earth as it is in Heaven.

Abba, our Father,

Job 26:10 

He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters 

at the boundary 

between Light and darkness.

Our Abba, we pray in unison with Jesus - We ask 

Jesus to dwell in us and those we Love always,
and helping us find God First. 

To be found in Jesus' Light, in His Grace.

Jesus Son of God - Bless, Heal, Sustain, Comfort, Guide

President Donald Trump, and his family, 

Vice President Pence and his family,

The White House Staff,

especially those in need of healing today

 God Bless Them!

And God Bless President Trump for free Regeneron for

Us ALL.

Safety and wisdom for:

Governor Abbott

and all 50 United States Governors and our Legislatures

Praying for Elliott, Harby and their family 

Complete blessing of healing.

I believe Jesus is healing Elliott.

The Fringe of Your Robe placed upon all of Your Good Creation. 

The Balm of Gilead - Jesus - rubbed just where we hurt.

We will

 Remember our answered Prayers. 

And live this Day. Looking in expectation 

Abba, Delta is the mathematical symbol of Change,

we pray to end all storms for us. 

And for All of Your Good Creation.

For our families and children yet unborn

The Days ahead,

Moses asked God for Happiness,

we ask You, Father God, for this as well.

Jesus is the Lord Amen and Alleluia. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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