byzantine illumination depicting john dictating disciple, prochorus (c. 1100).
tomb of st. john apostle, in st. john s basilica, ephesus, near modern-day selçuk, turkey.
there no information in bible concerning duration of john s activity in judea. according tradition, john , other apostles remained 12 years in first field of labour. persecution of christians under herod agrippa led scattering of apostles through roman empire s provinces.
a messianic community existed @ ephesus before paul s first labours there (cf. brethren ), in addition priscilla , aquila. original community under leadership of apollos (1 corinthians 1:12). disciples of john baptist , converted aquila , priscilla. according church tradition, after assumption of mary, john went ephesus. there wrote 3 epistles attributed him. john allegedly banished roman authorities greek island of patmos, where, according tradition, wrote book of revelation. according tertullian (in prescription of heretics) john banished (presumably patmos) after being plunged boiling oil in rome , suffering nothing it. said in audience of colosseum converted christianity upon witnessing miracle. event have occurred in late 1st century, during reign of emperor domitian, known persecution of christians.
when john aged, trained polycarp later became bishop of smyrna. important because polycarp able carry john s message future generations. polycarp taught irenaeus, passing on him stories john. similar goes ignatius of antioch, student of john , later appointed saint peter bishop of antioch. in against heresies, irenaeus relates how polycarp told story of
john, disciple of lord, going bathe @ ephesus, , perceiving cerinthus within, rushed out of bath-house without bathing, exclaiming, let fly, lest bath-house fall down, because cerinthus, enemy of truth, within.
it traditionally believed john youngest of apostles , survived them. said have lived old age, dying @ ephesus sometime after ad 98.
an alternative account of john s death, ascribed later christian writers second-century bishop papias of hierapolis, claims slain jews. johannine scholars doubt reliability of ascription papias, minority, including b.w. bacon, martin hengel , henry barclay swete, maintain these references papias credible. zahn argues reference john baptist. john s traditional tomb thought located @ selçuk, small town in vicinity of ephesus.
in art, john presumed author of gospel depicted eagle, symbolizes height rose in gospel. in orthodox icons, depicted looking heaven , dictating gospel (or book of revelation) e, jpm library ms 748).
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