Section 330
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 299 the second nor third epistle ascribed to John (the apostle), though they are very brief, is the name of John presented. But anony mously it is written, the presbyter. But the other did not consider it sufficient to name himself but once, and then to proceed in his narration, but afterwards again resumes, I, John, your brother and partner in tribulation, and the kingdom and patience of Je sus, was on the island called Patmos, on account of the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus.' And, likewise, at the end (of the book) he says ; Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book, and I am John that saw and heard these things.' " That it is a John that wrote these things we must believe him, as he says it ; but what John it is, is uncertain. For he has not said that, he was, as he often does in the gospel, the beloved dis ciple of the Lord, neither the one leaning on his bosom, nor the brother of James, nor he that himself saw and heard what the Lord did and said. For he certainly would have said one of these particulars, if he wished to make himself clearly known. But of«all this there is nothing, he only calls himself our brother and companion, and the witness of Jesus, and blessed on account of seeing and hearing these revelations. I am of opinion there were many of the same name with John the apostle, who, for their love and admiration and emulation of him, and their desire at the same time, like him, to be beloved of the Lord, adopted the same epithet, just as we find the name of Paul and of Peter to be adopted by many among the faithful. " There is also another John, surnamed Mark, mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, whom Paul and Barnabas took in com pany with them. Of whom it is again said : * But they had John as their minister.' (Acts xiii. 5.) But whether this is the one that wrote the Apocalypse, I could not say. For it is not written that he came with them to Asia. But he says ; 'When Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.' I think, therefore, that it was another one of those in Asia. For they say that there are two monuments at Ephesus, and that each hears the name of John, and from the sentiments and the expres28