Before Jerusalem Fell - EntreWave

56 BEFORE JERUSALEM FELL
with ujv&oKdiqJw before him in the Greek text, could not have
been ignorant that ‘ALIOKCilVplC is a feminine substantive. Especially
when contractions were used, vim-s and uium would be easily
confused. It appears to me probable that the somewhat strange vi.wm
e.rt points back to an original ZJisus est. The latter words, if they seemed
difficult, would easily be corrupted into vfium e$t.”45
The third problem with the re-interpretation of Irenaeus is explaining
how Irenaeus could speak of those who saw John toward the
latter end of Domitian’s reign in light of the fact that he also tells us
John lived into Trajan’s reign. In Agaimt Heresies Irenaeus writes that
John “continued with the Elders till the times of Trajan.”4G Surely
Irenaeus would not contradict himself by suggesting in one place
that John lived until the end of Domitian’s reign, while in another
saying that he lived to Trajan’s reign.
The problem, however, is not as diflicult to overcome as might
initially appear. In the first place, Domitian died in A.D. 96 and
Trajan became emperor in A.D. 98 (after a very brief reign by
Nerva). Swete states of Irenaeus’s reference that it speaks of John’s
“having lived to the time of Trajan, i.e. to the year 98 at least.”4 7 Orz@
two years separati th rei~. It is not unreasonable to suppose that
almost a century later the two years’ difference separating the two
emperors could have been blurred by Irenaeus. It must be remembered
that dating then was very imprecise because chronicles were
not kept by Christians. As Robinson notes regarding problems of
chronology during that era: “The sources, Roman, Jewish, and Christian,
are largely uncoordinated and share no common canon of
chronology such as is supposed by any modern historian.”4 8
In the second place, Irenaeus does not say (upon the reconstruction
of his argument as per Chase and others) that John died at the
end of Domitian’s reign. He simply says he “was seen” (bpddq) at
that time, perhaps by those who spoke to him face to face (to whom
lrenaeus refers). Possibly there is a contrast of ideas between these
two references, a contrast that involves John’s advanced age: “Obviously
the statement that the Apostle ‘was seen at the close of Domi-
45. Chase, “Date”, p. 435.
46. Against Heresies 2:22:5 and 3:3:4. Both of Irenaeus’s statements are quoted in the
Greek in Eusebius, Eccle.siustical Hi.rtoty 3:23:3.
47. Swete, Revelation, p. clxxix.
48. Robinson, Redating, p. 32.