ACC ~ John 21 v23

AN UNFOUNDED RUMOR

TERTULLIAN: John underwent death, although concerning him there had prevailed an unfounded expectation that he would remain alive until the coming of the Lord. ON THE SOUL 50. [1]

[1] ANF 3:228

A TRADITION OF JOHN’S BURIAL

AUGUSTINE: But still, as I began to say, if some deny the death of Moses, whom Scripture itself, in the very passage where we read that his sepulcher could nowhere be found, [1] explicitly declares to have died. How much more may occasion be taken from these words where the Lord says, “Thus do I wish him to stay till I come,” to believe that John is sleeping but still alive beneath the ground? In fact, we have a tradition about him (which is found in certain apocryphal scriptures) that he was present, in good health, when he ordered a sepulcher to be made for himself. And that, when it was dug and prepared with all possible care, he laid himself down there as in a bed and became immediately dead. And yet, as those think who so understand these words of the Lord, [he was] not really dead but only lying like one in such a condition. And while he was considered “dead” he was actually buried [according to this tradition] when asleep and that he will so remain until the coming of Christ, making known meanwhile the fact of his life by the bubbling up of the dust, which is believed to be forced by the breath of the sleeper to ascend from the depths to the surface of the grave. I think it quite superfluous to contend with such an opinion. For those may see for themselves who know the locality whether the ground there does or has done to it what is said regarding it, because, in truth, we too have heard of it from those who are not altogether unreliable witnesses. [2] TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 124.2. [3]

[1] Deut 34:6.

[2] Augustine reports an almost supernatural phenomenon that was supposedly taking place at the ground where John was buried, as having an almost living and breathing appearance of the soil.

[3] NPNF 1 7:448**.

NOTHING TO FEAR IN DEATH

AMBROSE: There is, then, nothing for us to fear in death, nothing for us to mourn, whether life, which was received from nature be rendered up to it again, or whether it is sacrificed to some duty that claims it, and this will be either an act of religion or the exercise of some virtue. And no one ever wished to remain as at present. This has been supposed to have been promised to John, but it is not the truth. We hold fast to the words and deduce the meaning from them. He himself in his own writing denies that there was a promise that he should not die, that no one from that instance might yield to an empty hope. But if to wish for this would be an extravagant hope, how much more extravagant would it be to grieve without rule for what has happened according to rule! ON HIS BROTHER SATYRUS 2.49. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 10:181**.

PETER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO JOHN

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: Peter turned to the secret decision of providence and saw from a distance the disciple John, son of thunder, who followed slowly, admiring the great and sublime promise made by our Lord to Peter. … Since John lived long, that is, seventy-three years after the ascension of the Lord to the time of Trajan, and died after all the other apostles in peace and serenity by natural death, the Lord alludes to this by saying, If I want him to live long enough so that he may remain until my return, you do not need to investigate this. Only pay attention to what is yours, that is, take care of your work and follow me. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 7.21.20-23. [1]

[1] CSCO 4 3:363.