6. It appears to have been written quite late, after most of the New Testament books.
The time of writing is not well established. Nevertheless, it is probable that it was written late, after the other Scriptures of the New Testament, but before the second and third Epistles and the Apocalypse. His words in 1 John 2:18 appear to argue this: Παιδία, ἐσχάτη ὥρα ἐστί, little children, it is the last hour; and, as ye have heard that Antichrist cometh, even now have there been many Antichrists. Therefore, John wrote in the last years of the Apostolic preaching, and with heretics discreetly springing up after the truth preached, and with Antichrists corrupting the truth.
Bernardinus De Moor's Didactico-Elenctic Theology, volume 2 (concerning the role of John in Canonization): 'Finally, that the Canonical Epistles, according to the mutual fellowship and love of the Churches, had come quickly to the notice of the majority of Church and of the faithful in the East, can be gathered from 2 Peter 3, which Epistle he wrote to the converted Jews dispersed on all sides throughout Asia Minor; now, he reminds that an Epistle was also sent to them by Paul, on which occasion he also alleges other Epistles of Paul, and sets them among the rest of the γραφὰς/Scripture, as of the same dignity, verses 15, 16. By this Peter signifies that the Pauline Epistles were already …
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