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Introduction to John

 

Summary of the Gospel of John

This summary of the Gospel of John provides information about the title author(s) date of writing chronology theme theology outline a brief overview and the chapters of the Gospel of John.

Author

The author is the apostle John "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (13:23 [see note there]; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7 20 24). He was prominent in the early church but is not mentioned by name in this Gospel -- which would be natural if he wrote it but hard to explain otherwise. The author knew Jewish life well as seen from references to popular Messianic speculations (see e.g. 1:21 and note; 7:40-42) to the hostility between Jews and Samaritans (see 4:9 and note) and to Jewish customs such as the duty of circumcision on the eighth day taking precedence over the prohibition of working on the Sabbath (see note on 7:22). He knew the geography of the Holy Land locating Bethany about 15 stadia (about two miles) from Jerusalem (11:18) and mentioning Cana a village not referred to in any earlier writing known to us (2:1 [see note there]; 21:2). The Gospel of John has many touches that appear to reflect the recollections of an eyewitness -- such as the house at Bethany being filled with the fragrance of the broken perfume jar (see 12:3 and note). Early writers such as Irenaeus and Tertullian say that John wrote this Gospel and all other evidence agrees (see Introduction to 1 John: Author).

Date

In general two views of the dating of this Gospel have been advocated:

    1. The traditional view places it toward the end of the first century c. a.d. 85 or later (see Introduction to 1 John: Date).
    2. More recently some interpreters have suggested an earlier date perhaps as early as the 50s and no later than 70.
      The first view may be supported by reference to the statement of Clement of Alexandria (died between 211 and 216) that John wrote to supplement the accounts found in the other Gospels (Eusebius Ecclesiastical History 6.14.7) and thus his Gospel is later than the first three. It has also been argued that the seemingly more developed theology of the fourth Gospel indicates that it originated later.

The second view has found favor because it has been felt more recently that John wrote independently of the other Gospels (see essay and chart p. 1943). This does not contradict the statement of Clement referred to above. Also those who hold this view point out that developed theology does not necessarily argue for a late origin. The theology of Romans (written c. 57) is every bit as developed as that in John. Further the statement in 5:2 that there "is" (rather than "was") a pool "near the Sheep Gate" may suggest a time before 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed. Others however observe that John elsewhere sometimes used the present tense when speaking of the past.

Purpose and Emphases

John's Gospel is rather different from the other three. Whether or not he knew them (or any one of them) continues to be debated. In any event his witness to Jesus goes its own way highlighting matters that in the other Gospels remain implicit and underdeveloped. The literary style of this witness of Jesus is also unique among the Gospels; here focus is on the "signs" of Jesus' identity and mission and on lengthy theologically rich discourses.

John begins with the profound announcement that Jesus is the "in the beginning" creative Word of God who had become embodied (incarnated) as a human being to be the light of life for the world. After this comes the proclamation that this Jesus is the Son of God sent from the Father to finish the Father's work in the world (see 4:34 and note). God's own glory is made visible in him ("Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father " 14:9) and what he does glorifies the Father. In him the full grace and truth of God has shown itself. Strikingly a series of "I am" claims on Jesus' lips echoes God's naming of himself in Ex 3:14 further strengthening the link between the Father and the Son (see 6:35; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7 9 14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1 5).

Jesus' words to Nicodemus nicely summarize this Gospel's central theme: "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" (3:16). Although a variety of motivations for the composition of John's Gospel have been posited by interpreters (such as to supplement the other Gospels to combat some form of heresy to oppose the continuing followers of John the Baptist) the author himself states his main purpose clearly in 20:31: "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name."

For the main emphases of the book see notes on 1:4 7 9 14 19 49; 2:4 11; 3:27; 4:34; 6:35; 13:1 -- 17:26; 13:31; 17:1-2 5; 20:31.

Outline

I.           Prologue: The Word Became Flesh (1:1-18)

  1. The Beginning of Jesus' Ministry (1:19-51)

A.   John the Baptist's Testimony about Jesus (1:19-34)

                   III.        Jesus' Public Ministry: Signs and Discourses (chs. 2-11)

                  IV.        The Passion Week (chs. 12-19)

1.    At the Last Supper (chs. 13-14)

2.    On the way to Gethsemane (chs. 15-16)

3.       Jesus' prayer (ch. 17)

V.           Jesus' Resurrection (20:1-29)

  1. Statement of the Gospel's Purpose (20:30-31)
  2. Epilogue: Jesus' Recommissioning of the Disciples (ch. 21)

¢w¢w¡mNew International Version¡n

 

Introduction to John

The Gospel of John has a peculiar character as every Christian perceives. It does not present the birth of Christ in this world looked at as the Son of David. It does not trace His genealogy back to Adam in order to bring out His title of Son of man. It does not exhibit the Prophet who by His testimony accomplished the service of His Father in this respect here below. It is neither His birth nor the commencement of His gospel but His existence before the beginning of everything that had a beginning. "In the beginning was the Word." In short it is the glory of the Person of Jesus the Son of God above all dispensation-a glory developed in many ways in grace but which is always itself. It is that which He is; but making us share in all the blessings that flow from it when He is so manifested as to impart them.

¢w¢w John Darby¡mSynopsis of John¡n

 

Introduction to John

The apostle and evangelist John seems to have been the youngest of the twelve. He was especially favoured with our Lord's regard and confidence so as to be spoken of as the disciple whom Jesus loved. He was very sincerely attached to his Master. He exercised his ministry at Jerusalem with much success and outlived the destruction of that city agreeably to Christ's prediction ch. 21:22. History relates that after the death of Christ's mother John resided chiefly at Ephesus. Towards the close of Domitian's reign he was banished to the isle of Patmos where he wrote his Revelation. On the accession of Nerva he was set at liberty and returned to Ephesus where it is thought he wrote his Gospel and Epistles about A. D. 97 and died soon after. The design of this Gospel appears to be to convey to the Christian world just notions of the real nature office and character of that Divine Teacher who came to instruct and to redeem mankind. For this purpose John was directed to select for his narrative those passages of our Saviour's life which most clearly displayed his Divine power and authority; and those of his discourses in which he spake most plainly of his own nature and of the power of his death as an atonement for the sins of the world. By omitting or only briefly mentioning the events recorded by the other evangelists John gave testimony that their narratives are true and left room for the doctrinal statements already mentioned and for particulars omitted in the other Gospels many of which are exceedingly important.

¢w¢w Matthew Henry¡mConcise Commentary on John¡n

                            

John¡¦s Gospel

John¡¦s Gospel has often been compared to a pool in which a child could wade safely and an elephant could swim. It is both simple and profound. It is for the beginner in the faith and for the mature Christian. ¢w¢w Michael P. Green¡mIllustrations for Biblical Preaching¡n