John Gospel: “Good tidings” “Good report” “Good news”

John Written by…John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” Not mentioned by name in his gospel, but hard to argue John didn’t write this book Book proves author was well acquainted with Jewish customs, geography of area, etc. “Eyewitness details” that only someone who went through the events would write about Jewish fisherman, so book is written in simple Greek One of the “sons of thunder” (with brother James) and in Jesus’ “inner circle” (along with brother and Peter) Written later than other gospels, probably as a “supplement”; written independently. Most say between 85 and 90 A.D. Not written in chronological order!!!

Purpose To lead people to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God Perhaps to write a version of the gospel account that would appeal to Greek thinkers Perhaps to supplement other gospel books Perhaps to combat heresy Most likely also to evangelize (see 20:31)

Law Themes Darkness; slavery to sin; condemnation; demand for signs; death; fleshly desire; unbelief; Judas’s example; spiritual blindness; unclean; command to love; the world’s hatred

Gospel Themes Light; grace; truth; Baptism; Lamb of God; born of the Spirit; life; resurrection; Jesus’ flesh and blood; the Shepherd’s care; clean; forgiveness; God’s love; sanctification

Organization Major parts, if you let the book’s prologue be your guide: Prologue The word spoken to Israel (1:19 – 4:54) The word rejected by Israel (5:1 – 12:50) The word received by the apostles (13:1 – 17:26) The word speaks grace and truth (18:1 – 20:31) Epilogue

What’s unique about John? John is “building a case” for Jesus He doesn’t have “miracles,” instead they are called “signs” He has several events that are not in the other 3 gospels, and doesn’t include events that ARE in the other 3 John presents his material in the form of extended dialogues or discourses rather than the ‘proverbial’ sayings found often in the synoptics: John 3 (with Nicodemus); John 4 (with the Samaritan woman); John 6 (the Bread of Life Discourse); John 13—17 (the Farewell Discourse with the disciples). As L. Goppelt observed: The Gospel of John passed on the words of Jesus predominantly in another genre than the synoptics; it did not do so in sayings, parables, and controversial dialogues, but in connected or dialogical discourses.

Seven Miracles: Signs of Deity John reports just 7 miracles of Jesus. Many scholars say that each is intended to reveal some aspect of Jesus’ deity. Turns water into wine (John 2): He has creation power. Heals a boy by long-distance (John 4): He’s not limited by geography. Heals lame man on the Sabbath day of rest (John 5): He’s not limited by time.

con’t. Feeds 5,000 (John 6): He’s the bread of life, physical as well as spiritual. Walks on water (John 6): He’s the master of his creation. Heals the blind (John 9): He’s the light of the world, physical as well as spiritual. Raises Lazarus from the dead (John 11): He’s more powerful than death.

After having spent time imprisoned in Rome during the reign of Roman Emperor Domitian, John was sentenced to be boiled in oil at the Colosseum. However he endured no harm or suffering from the scalding oil. It is said that all in the entire Colosseum audience were converted to Christianity upon witnessing this miracle. John was then sent by the Roman authorities to the Greek island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation (Rev 1:9) and where it is said he was later freed. When John was aged, he trained Polycarp who later became Bishop of Smyrna. Polycarp in turn taught Irenaeus and passed on to him stories about John. The only one of the Apostles who was not martyred, John testified that God has kept him alive for Himself and his service. Surrounded by his closest friends in Ephesus, he closed his eyes and died at age 94 in 100 AD. It thus sayeth in Wikipedia…