Before Jerusalem Fell

Additional External Witwsses 105
It clearly is the case that Epiphanies stands solidly in the early
date tradition. It is extremely doubtful that he simply created his
“evidence” de nwo.
Jerome
The great monastic scholar Jerome (A.D. 340-420) was proficient
in a number of languages. Pope Damascus directed him to produce
a new Latin translation of Scripture, which is now known as the
Vulgate.
In his Against Jovinianum we read that John was “a prophet, for
he saw in the island of Patmos, to which he had been banished by
the Emperor Domitian as a martyr for the Lord, an Apocalypse
containing the boundless mysteries of the future. Tertullian, moreover,
relates that he was sent to Rome, and that having been plunged
into a jar of boiling oil he came out fresher and more active than
when he went in.”s” Jerome’s A.D. 393 statement regarding John’s
banishment by Domitian may be supportive of the argument for late
date advocacy. 81 But, then again, it may not be as strongly supportive
as many think, due to its context. The context tends to confuse the
matter by giving evidence of Jerome’s confounding of two traditions.
As shown above, the reference from Tertullian would strongly suggest
a Neronic date. Thus, at least Jerome’s evidence cannot be
indicative of anything like a unanimous persuasion of the late date
in his era. Jerome serves as evidence of the early existence of two
competing traditions regarding the date of John’s banishment, and,
hence, the date of Revelation.
Syriac Witnesses
The Syriac Histo~ of John, th Son of Zebedee makes reference to
John’s banishment under Nero.82 It states: “After these things, when
80. Jerome, Agaimt Jovinianum 1:26.
81. As cited by late date advocates, e.g., Swete, Revelation, p. c.; Charles, Reveldian
1 :xcii~ Mounce, Revelation, p. 32; Moffatt, Revelation, p. 320; WaKleld, “Revelation,” in
Philip Schaff, cd., A Religiow Etuyclopedia: Or Dirtinnay of Bibltial, Hir&ricul, Doctrinal, and
Practical Thlogy (New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1883) 5:2035; Merrill C. Tenney,
“Revelation,” in Merrill C. Tenney, cd., ZbnAvan Pkkwial Bibk Dictiommy (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 1967), p. 721.
82. See William Wright, A@@Jhzl Ads of thz A#Jo$tltM, 2 vols. (Amsterdam: Philo
[1871] 1968) 2:55-57; and Hort, Apoca~pse, p. xix.