What two disciples of Christ were not martyred?

Answer 1

A:Apart from Judas Iscariot and James, we have no scriptural information about the eventual fates of any of the apostles. Even the story of Judas is problematic, since there are two diametrically opposed narratives as to how and why Judas died, with Matthew 27:3-5 saying that Judas repented of what he had done and committed suicide, while in Acts 1:19, Judas was no doubt pleased to be suddenly rich but fell down and died, his bowels gushing out. We now know that the reason for this contradiction is that neither evangelist knew what the other wrote.

Various traditions about the gruesome martyrdom of each of the other apostles began to appear from the second century onwards, but there are so many such traditions that it is sometimes difficult to choose just one to believe for each apostle. On the other hand, there is no good reason to believe any of these traditions.

Because it was eventually decided that the 'John' who signed the Book of Revelation must have been the disciple John, he had to be spared martyrdom and to find his way to the island of Patmos to write the book. So tradition says that when John was boiled in oil, he was entirely unharmed. Instead, he was taken to Patmos, where he wrote Revelation in exile.

Thus we find that Judas either committed suicide or died by misadventure, but was not martyred, and John live to a grand old age, writing Revelation.

Additional Answer:

The Scripture plainly speaks of Judas committing suicide. It strongly implies Peter and Paul both being martyred. It also implies John would be the only one to die of old age. As there is no other Scripture on the other Apostles, one can assume they met same fate of Jesus as He told them the world would hate them because they followed Him - and they hated and killed Him.

John 21:18-23New King James Version (NKJV)

18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."

The Beloved Disciple and His Book20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?"21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"

22 Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."

23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?"