According to the Johannine
tradition referred to by Clement of Alexandria, it was believed that "Christ
imparted the truth to James the Just, to John and Peter, after His resurrection".
These three disciples were said to share the threefold task of continuing
His work - it was said that James the Just as Bishop of Jerusalem, carried
on traditional Christianity, Peter was the organiser and ruled the Church,
and John was said to have understood and preserved the spirit of the teaching.
They formed the Triad, which springs from and is closest to the One. |