1. 1-9 on paper:

2. The Purpose of the Fourth Gospel

3. John 20:31 that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah the Son of God
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
that you may believe
Jesus is the Messiah
the Son of God
life in his name

4. Jesus is the Messiah

5. Examples of the purpose of John
The word is a Greek translation of the Hebrew messiah, meaning “the anointed one.”
Jesus is the ‘Christ’
Numerous references to Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah
Emphasises salvation through belief in Jesus – this was the culmination of Judaism and a New Covenant with God
Added to this:
Jewish authorities regularly deny his messiahship
E.G.
Jesus cleansing the Temple – a promised Messianic action. (Psalm 69)
The healing at the pool – John 5:1-16
The disciples recognise him as the Messiah – 1:41, 49
Declares himself the Messiah to the Samaritan woman – 4:25-26
Messianic overtones in the feeding of the 5000
Jesus entry into Jerusalem – 12:9-11 linked to Zechariah 9:9
R Brown commented on how this reflected the prophecy of God feeding his people – Isaiah 25:6

6. b) ‘The Son of God …’ John the Baptists bears witness – 1:34
Jesus refers to intimate relationship with God – being sent by God on a unique mission
Jesus knows ‘father’s will’ – Jesus and God are one. (3:35, 5:19-20, 8:4, 14:10)
The blasphemy charge which lead to Jesus crucifixion was “…because he claimed to be the Son of God” (19:7)

7. c) “…may have life in his name.”
One of the most famous Bible passages
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Other references:
‘…lays down his life.’
‘Lamb of God…’
‘…offers himself as a sacrifice…’
R V G Tasker (1960) – “His whole incarnate life is, in fact meaningless apart from ‘the hour’ to which it is inevitably moving and is none other than the hour of his passion.”

8. Other possibilities: A ‘Spiritual Gospel’?
“Last of all John, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the Gospels, being urged by his friends and inspired by the spirit, composed a spiritual gospel.”
Author certainly went beyond historical accounts.
Presented a Spiritual Gospel whose meaning lay in allegorical interpretation.
Purpose was not to be an accurate biography
Expression of Christological ‘truths’ about Jesus
To lead people to faith
the branch of Christian theology relating to the person, nature, and role of Christ.

9. B F Westcott (2001)
Earliest gospels = facts interpreted through experience
John = facts in light of those interpretations
He argued that the authors purpose was to show Jesus as the Son of God and through him you receive eternal life.
To do this he changes the sequence of events and emphasises key theological points
E.g. the cleansing of the temple is at the start of John, emphasising that with Jesus comes a new era.
A VERY important concept in Greek culture
Era of:
Inner worship with Father and Son (6:56-7)
Worship of spirit and truth (4:24)
In Jesus humanity meets God (1:51 & 2:21)

10. Also – the author alters the timing of Jesus death:
Matthew, Mark and Luke – last supper was on Passover
John was the day before
This meant he dies ON the day the Passover lambs are sacrificed
Therefore Jesus becomes the Passover Lamb – a sacrifice of atonement for sin (Christian interpretation)
Is there a significance to this?
Plus:
Jesus death on the cross emphasises the theme of fulfilment of scripture (19:28)
Unlikely Jesus said it to fulfil scripture
Was it placed there by the author? If so can you think of a reason why?

11. Finally: Identifies exactly who Jesus was:
From the start his divinity is emphasised (unlike synoptics)
Jesus words – 5:26, 6:54, 10:25-6
Jesus actions – 5:17-18
Witnesses – John the Baptist (1:29) & Samaritan Woman
Crucifixion – 12:27-28

12. BUT – is it as simple as that:
Many other ‘fake’ teachings about Jesus.
Docetism – Jesus was a ‘phantom’, not a real person.
that Jesus was just a ‘good’ or a ‘special’ man
The context of early Christianity:
It was becoming less Jewish and more Gentile
Spreading into the educated Roman/Greek world.
Small ‘band’ amongst many other religions – Roman gods, Emperor worship.
Expressed very Greek themes to reflect this.
Modern writers such as R Brown, have argued however that the Gospel was actually influenced by Gnostic ideas and question whether Gnosticism was actually the threat Irenaeus suggested it was.
Irenaeus suggested that the purpose of the Gospel was to oppose Gnosticism
— the Gospel expressed ideas contrary to Gnostic teaching by suggesting that the word actually became flesh (1:14) and that Christ really died and was raised in bodily form (20:20).

13. Conclusion and summary:
Might it be a mix of all of the possibilities?
Purpose:
“…that you may believe …”
References to Old Testament messianic prophecies
Spiritual Gospel – giving Christological truths
Counters emerging ‘heresies’

14. Strengths and Weaknesses – significance and implications
Arguments over the authorship and purpose have strong evidence both in the text and from History.
This means that while questions remain about the authorship and purpose of John (and the other Gospels) identifying the ‘historical Jesus’ will clouded by history
With some scholars questioning the relevance of an actual Jesus in the New Testament story.
However:
Authorship is still questionable as theories are based on textual analysis rather than actual dated evidence.
Biblical criticism can draw no meaningful conclusion as there are so many different theories based on little evidence.
Unlikely that the question of authorship will ever be answered.
Purpose is easier to describe as the skills of Biblical Criticism can give strong evidence – the detail is in the text.
However:
Details of the context of the early church raise questions about the purpose of the more obvious themes in John.