Copyright © 2014 Sean Joslin Mcdowell All Rights Reserved. The
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Copyright © 2014 Sean Joslin McDowell All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation, or instruction. A HISTORICAL EVALUATION OF THE EVIDENCE FOR THE DEATH OF THE APOSTLES AS MARTYRS FOR THEIR FAITH __________________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary __________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________________ by Sean Joslin McDowell December 2014 APPROVAL SHEET A HISTORICAL EVALUATION OF THE EVIDENCE FOR THE DEATH OF THE APOSTLES AS MARTYRS FOR THEIR FAITH Sean Joslin McDowell Read and Approved by: __________________________________________ James Parker III (Chair) __________________________________________ Michael A. G. Haykin __________________________________________ Theodore J. Cabal Date ______________________________ To Stephanie This was truly a team effort. I could not ask for a more loving and supportive wife. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES . ix PREFACE . x Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION . 1 Methodology . 4 Defining Martyrdom . 6 Challenges for the Historical Investigation . 11 Research Outline . 20 2. THE CENTRALITY OF THE RESURRECTION . 23 Early Christian Creeds . 24 First Corinthians 15:3-7 . 26 The Resurrection in Acts and the Letters of Paul . 29 Resurrection in the Apostolic Fathers . 31 Conclusion . 32 3. THE TWELVE APOSTLES . 34 Who Were the Twelve? . 35 The Historicity of the Twelve . 39 The Apostolic Witness . 41 All the Apostles . 43 Did The Apostles Engage in Missionary Work? . 44 The Testimony of the Twelve . 54 iv Chapter Page 4. PERSECUTION IN THE EARLY CHURCH . 56 The Cost of Discipleship . 57 Persecution in the Writings of Paul . 62 Persecution in the Rest of the New Testament . 64 Martyrdom in the Old Testament. 69 Persecution Began with the Jews . 74 Persecution under Gentile Rulers . 76 Conclusion . 83 5. A DEFENSE OF HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE . 84 The Historian’s Task . 85 Approaching History . 87 Postmodernism . 88 Conclusion . 102 6. THE MARTYRDOM OF PETER . 103 The Historical Question . 104 Peter in Rome . 110 Evidence for the Martyrdom of Peter . 114 Conclusion . 154 7. THE MARTYRDOM OF PAUL . 155 The Historical Question . 159 Paul in Rome . 160 Evidence for the Martyrdom of Paul . 168 Conclusion . 192 8. THE MARTYRDOM OF JAMES, THE BROTHER OF JESUS . 194 The Martyrdom of James . 201 Conclusion . 222 v Chapter Page 9. THE MARTYRDOM OF JOHN, SON OF ZEBEDEE. 223 Authorship of the Gospel of John . 226 Evidence for the Martyrdom of John . 246 10. THE MARTYRDOM OF THOMAS . 259 The Historical Challenge . 263 The Acts of Thomas . 273 Thomas the Martyr . 285 11. THE MARTYRDOM OF ANDREW . 287 Missionary Endeavors of Andrew . 290 Evidence for the Martyrdom of Andrew . 295 12. MARTYRDOM OF JAMES, SON OF ZEBEDEE . 304 Evidence for the Martyrdom of James, Son of Zebedee . 307 Why Was James Killed? . 309 Does Acts Record History? . 312 13. MARTYRDOM OF PHILIP . 315 The Scriptural Philip . 315 Traditions about Philip . 320 Missionary Travels of Philip . 321 Which Philip? . 322 Evidence from the Early Church . 326 Evidence for the Martyrdom of Philip . 334 Conclusion . 339 14. MARTYRDOM OF BARTHOLOMEW . 340 The Missionary Travels of Bartholomew . 341 Evidence for the Martyrdom of Bartholomew . 346 The Historical Question . 352 vi Chapter Page Conclusion . 355 15. MARTYRDOM OF MATTHEW . 356 Missions of Matthew . 361 Evidence for the Martyrdom of Matthew . 363 16. THE MARTYRDOM OF JAMES, SON OF ALPHAEUS . 369 The Mission and Martyrdom of James . 370 Conclusion . 374 17. THE MARTYRDOM OF THADDEUS . 376 Extra-Biblical Accounts of Thaddeus . 379 Travels and Fate of Thaddeus . 380 Conclusion . 385 18. MARTYRDOM OF SIMON THE ZEALOT . ..