It is possible that those men were deceived. If so, for them the Gospel was the truth and they could not deny it and remain true to themselves. The key word is knowingly. If they did not know it was not true, then they may have died for a lie. Difficult to tell because tradition and truth are so intertwined. Did Peter die on a cross, upside down? Did Thomas really go to India? John was on Patmos (sp?) but was his Revelation a real vision from God or was it Peter's Apocalypse?
No, it's not possible they were deceived. Your standpoint is of one that reads the bible, reads history perhaps, but has no real knowledge of our living God in your own life. Many bible scholars do not believe in God, the bible or Jesus. You can only glean so much by reading or studying. Many of your assumptions will also be simply that... assumptions, no matter how literally you interpret. However, most truly saved christians, and there are many, will tell you that they never fully understood a lot of the bible until they were saved, until the Lord himself revealed himself to them, as our living God. Most will also tell you they could have never imagined the awesome wonderful truth about salvation, about Jesus, until the day they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Consider Acts in the NT for some evidence of how God was working in the lives of the apostles, just as a start.
By most accounts, Peter was crucified upside down, at his own request. It was a symbolic gesture, perhaps about the world, perhaps about what had become of the church at Rome in that short time, perhaps because he felt he had some business in hell to tend to.
By other accounts, it is said that many attempts were made to kill John but none succeeded. One account relates that he was even boiled in oil and survived unscathed. No one knows where he died or even if he died.
What is the Q document and when was it written...and by who?
The Q doc is gnosticism, it was obviously written by gnostics... a mixture of sensual pagan beliefs - egyptian/babylonian witchcraft with christian teachings, one of he very things Jesus condemned the sadducees for doing with the teachings of the OT. There is quite a bit of this around today too, masonry is another example of pretty much the same thing.
Honestly, for me this is where it gets confusing. Paul says that acceptance of the Son is all we need (Romans) yet Jesus stated that works of a type are necessary (Parable of Sheep and Goats). Which is it? Why did Jesus say the law will stand for all time yet Paul says that we are no longer under the law?
What is the parable of sheep and goats you refer to? Matthew 25? It's about faith, just like Paul also says. The good faith of a faithful person works to multiply faith, whereas a bit of faith given, not trusted and hidden away is worthless. The law does stand for all time, but no one can expect to achieve salvation through it. God gave the law to Moses in a time before a savior was given. the bible tells us repatedly of what the Hebrews experienced when they kept the law, when they did not. The law was our teacher, as Paul stated, so that we would know which way God wanted us to go, how to behave etc, what he expects of us. Faith in Jesus Christ will redeem a soul as the law could not. Faith in Jesus will multiply our own faith because of the way he reveals himself to us and leads us, which is why, all you really do need is Jesus. Knowing the written word God and the law has never hurt anyone either. It's a lot easier to read it and know it than it is to work out your salvation by repetitious trial and error. However, the Lord judges our hearts (because the law truly is impossible to keep perfectly), and saves us not by perfection in the law, but by our faith in him, our love of him, and our willingness to obey him even though we might fail. Jesus came, lived this life as a man, experienced life as a man, walked this earth and died for our sins, paid the price for us... and one by one, through faith he redeems us. Prior to that, the belief of most Jews was that no matter how good a life a person led, scheol was the final destination. Jesus is the son of God, hell had it's chance and could not keep him. Thus by him, we are also saved.
