the Evangelist
Every quotation from John that a player meets in Scholar’s Dream, attached to the move that says it. Or see them as a plain list →
In Scholar’s Dream, books argue with each other, and each thing a book can do in a debate is called a move. Every quote below is spoken by one of those moves. Open “How it works in the game” under a quote to see the move, which books learn it, and which arguments it answers best.
“For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world—to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asked, “What is truth?”
John 18:37–38 (NET) — both verses preserved on Papyrus 52.
In the gamePilate’s question turned back on the questioner. Lowers accuracy.
Learned byRylands P52 (Lv 1)
Longer excerpts the Scriptorium holds on screen for a player to sit and read, word for word.
from Rylands P52Pilate told them, “Take him yourselves and pass judgment on him according to your own law!” The Jewish leaders replied, “We cannot legally put anyone to death.” (This happened to fulfill the word Jesus had spoken when he indicated what kind of death he was going to die.)
John 18:31–32 (NET) — the recto of Papyrus 52.
from Rylands P52So Pilate went back into the governor’s residence, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
John 18:33 (NET) — the recto of Papyrus 52.
from Rylands P52Then Pilate said, “So you are a king!” Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world—to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
John 18:37 (NET) — the verso of Papyrus 52.
from Rylands P52Pilate asked, “What is truth?”
John 18:38 (NET) — the verso of Papyrus 52.
Moves these books can learn whose quotation comes from somebody else. The citation on each one names who actually said it.
“To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: “He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lamp stands says these things:”
Revelation 2:1 (WEB) — the passage 𝔓115 attests. Of the twenty-six surviving pieces, this is the one that holds Ephesus’ own letter.
In the gameBefore a word of praise or blame, the letter says who is speaking and where he is standing: among them, holding them.
Learned byP115 (Lv 1)
“He gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.”
Matthew 27:14 (WEB); cf. Isaiah 53:7.
In the gameSay nothing. Convinces no one — but the next argument lands harder. Raises the user’s Contend, after the pattern of Christ’s silence before his accusers.
Learned byRylands P52 (Lv 5)
“He was truly of the family of David… truly born of a virgin… truly nailed for us in the flesh under Pontius Pilate.”
Ignatius, To the Smyrnaeans 1 (trans. Lightfoot, public domain, lightly modernized).public domain
In the gameIgnatius’s stubborn adverb: TRULY.
Learned byRylands P52 (Lv 11)
Ignatius repeats one word: truly. Truly born, truly of David’s family, truly nailed to the cross under Pontius Pilate. A phantom has no family and no date of death.
Ignatius insists that the Son was truly born and truly died. A mask cannot be born of a virgin, pray to his Father, and be nailed to a cross.
Polycarp warns the Philippians against anyone who denies that Christ came in the flesh (chapter 7). Ignatius had written the same warning to Polycarp’s church.
“You have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary.”
Revelation 2:3 (WEB) — the passage 𝔓115 attests.
In the gameEndurance is the thing being commended, so the move is worth most when there is least left. Strikes half again as hard when the book is nearly spent.
Learned byP115 (Lv 32)
“I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can’t tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false.”
Revelation 2:2 (WEB) — the passage 𝔓115 attests.
In the gameEphesus was commended for one habit above all others: it checked. Somebody arrived claiming to be an apostle, and the church asked, and the claim did not survive being asked. Often finds the telling stroke.
Learned byP115 (Lv 36)
The church at Ephesus tested claims to speak for the apostles. This book mentions wooden wine casks and a hundred-year jubilee, details from medieval Europe, and it fails the test.
The church at Ephesus tested people who claimed to be apostles. A gospel written a century later that makes Judas the hero does not pass that test.
A bishop once allowed this book, then read it — and took it back.
The church at Ephesus tested people who called themselves apostles and found them false. The Gospel of Thomas borrows an apostle’s name and cannot pass that test.
John against everyone else in the game.
