John

WRITER, The Apostle John,

DATE uncertain. Probably late in the first century.

MAIN PURPOSE, To inspire faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

KEY VERSE
# Joh 20:31

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES.
(1) It is considered by many to be the deepest and most spiritual book in the Bible.

(2) In it Christ gives a more complete revelation of himself, and of God, than in either of the Synoptic Gospels.
(a) Of his person and attributes. SEE the “I am”s of Christ, Bible Readings 4166
(b) Of his Divinity # Joh 1:1 10:30-38 12:45 14:7-9 16:15
(c) Of the work of the Holy Spirit. SEE 6’s, 7’s, 8’s of the Holy Spirit, 4165
(d) Of his own divine commission. For example in the fifth chapter he declares himself to be sent from God six times consecutively, in verses # Joh 5:23,24,30,36,37,38
(e) Of the Fatherhood of God. Christ speaks of God as “The Father” over one hundred times God is the spiritual Father # Joh 4:23

  • he is the life-giving Father # Joh 5:21
  • the message is the Father’s # Joh 7:16
  • the Father is greater than all # Joh 10:29
  • the works are the Father’s # Joh 14:10
  • God is the Indwelling Father # Joh 14:23
  • the Eternal Father # Joh 17:5
  • the Holy Father # Joh 17:11
  • the Righteous Father # Joh 17:25

(3) Perhaps the most notable of all the peculiarities of this gospel is the fact that over one half of the space in the book is given to events of Christ’s life, and his sayings during his last days.

(4) Discourses and conversations found only in John;– the talk with Nicodemus # Joh 3:1-21

  • with the woman of Samaria # Joh 4:1-26
  • The discourse to the Jews at the Feast of Tabernacles # Joh 7:14-39 8:3-58
  • the parable of The Good Shepherd, ch. 10 # Joh 10:1

The series of private instructions to the disciples, his comforting words and intercessory prayer, chs. 14-17 # Joh 14:1 – 17:1

His meeting with the disciples at the Sea of Galilee, ch 21, etc. # Joh 21:1

(5) John records eight miracles of Christ (beside his own resurrection) to prove his divinity. Six of these are found only in this gospel; The water made wine # Joh 2:1-11

  • healing the nobelman’s son # Joh 4:46-54
  • healing the man at the pool # Joh 5:1-9
  • the man born blind # Joh 9:1-7
  • the raising of Lazarus, ch 11 # Joh 11:1
  • the second draught of fishes # Joh 21:1-6

(6) There are two great currents of thought flowing through the book which it is profitable to follow– (a) Faith,  # Joh 3:16-18 5:24 6:29,40 7:38 8:24 10:37,38 11:25-27 12:46 , 14:12
(b) Eternal life # Joh 3:15,16,36 4:14 5:24 6:27,51 11:26 12:50 17:3 20:31

SYNOPSIS. The book may be divided into five parts;–

(1) The Prologue. The Eternal Word incarnate # Joh 1:1-18

(2) The Manifestation of Christ’s Divinity to the world accompanied by a six-fold testimony. That of John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit, the disciples, Christ’s mighty works, that of The Father, and the Scriptures. # Joh 1:19 – 12:50

(3) The Private Revelation and instruction to the disciples, chs. 13-17 # Joh 13:1 – 17:1

(4) His Humiliation and Triumph over Death, chs. 18-20 # Joh 18:1 – 20:1

(5) The Epilogue, ch 21-23 # Joh 21:1 – 23:1