Aristion and Elder John as living eyewitnesses still active during Papias's collecting period (~80-90 AD)

Papias uses present tense ("were saying") for Aristion and Elder John, indicating they were still alive and communicating when Papias collected traditions. Bauckham dates this collecting period to approximately 80-90 AD. Aristion was a first-century elder at Smyrna (~130 miles from Hierapolis). Elder John was Bishop of Ephesus. Both were disciples of Jesus who heard him directly.