Introduction:
Theme: Six foundational questions regarding the gospel of John so you can have greater confidence that what we read in this gospel is trustworthy.
I. Who was John?
A. John the man
1. Other’s by the name “John” in the NT
a. John the baptist (1:6, 15, 19; Luke 1; all synoptics)
b. John connected to Simon Peter (1:42; 21:15-17; also translated Jonah)
c. John, of high-priestly descent (Acts 4:6)
d. John who was also called Mark (Acts 12:12)
2. His vocation was a fisherman in partner with his brother James and Peter (Matthew 4:21-22; Mark 1:19; Luke 5:10)
3. Never named in the gospel, though all three synoptics identify and name him as the brother of James and son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19, 29; Luke 5:10)
B. John the disciple/apostle
1. One of four earliest disciples called by Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22//Mark 1:16-20)
2. Included among the twelve apostles (Matthew 10:2; Mark 3:13-17; Luke 6:13-14)
3. Included among the circle of disciples closest to Jesus (Matthew 17:1; Mark 5:37)
4. Self described as the “disciple whom Jesus [He] loved” (John 13;23; 19:26; 20:2; 21)
C. John the author/evangelist
1. Overwhelming support of early church writers
2. Identifies himself in the epistle as the author, though not by name
3. Determined by process of elimination
4. The volumes he penned
a. His gospel
b. His epistles
c. His apocalypse
5. The intimate knowledge he had with Jewish people, customs, the geography and places of Israel, words, works and interactions of Jesus – evident in the writing of the gospels
II. When did John write the gospel account bearing his name? 85-90 A.D.
“John the disciple of the Lord, who leaned back on his breast, published the Gospel while he was resident at Ephesus in Asia.”
Irenaeus of Lyons (AD 130-202), Against Heresies, 3.1.1
“The Gospels containing the genealogies [i.e. Matthew and Luke], he says, were written first. The Gospel according to MARK had this occasion. As Peter had preached the Word publicly at Rome, and declared the Gospel by the Spirit, many who were present requested that Mark, who had followed him for a long time and remembered his sayings, should write them out. And having composed the Gospel he gave it to those who had requested it. When Peter learned of this, he neither directly forbade nor encouraged it. But, last of all, JOHN, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the Gospel, being urged by his friends, and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual Gospel.”
Clement of Alexandria (AD 150-215) as cited by Eusebius (260-340), Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 6.14.5-7
III. Where did John write this gospel from?
Ephesus, based on the witness of the early church fathers
IV. Why did John write this gospel? John 20:30-31
30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name
(John 20:30-31 NASB)
V. How should we understand John’s relationship to the synoptic writers?
A. John writes after the three synoptic writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke
B. John was a close associate of Peter
C. John contains 93 % of material not found in the other three gospels
D. John devotes nearly half his gospel to the night before the crucifixion and following.
VI. What are the major themes of the gospel?
A. The major themes are directly related to his purpose.
1. The theme of Who Jesus Christ is.
2. The theme of belief in Christ for eternal life.
B. John employs seven signs, which are attesting miracles.
1. Changing the water into wine – 2:11 “beginning of His signs” cf. 3:2 Nicodemus’ acknowledgment
2. Healing the nobleman’s son – 4:53-54 “a second sign”
3. Healing the lame man – 5:5-9; cf. vs. 36; 6:2
4. Feeding the 5000 – 6:9-11, 14 “the people saw the sign which He had performed”
5. Walking on the water – 6:19-21
6. Healing the man born blind – 9:1-8, 16 some respond, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?”
7. Raising Lazarus from the dead – 11:43-47; 12:18 “He had performed this sign”
C. John records eight “I am” statements
1. I am the bread of life – John 6:35 the sign of feeding the 5000 leads into this great discourse
2. I am the light of the world – John 8:12; 9:5
3. I am the Great I AM – John 8:58
4. I am the door/sheep gate – John 10:7, 9
5. I am the good shepherd – John 10:11
6. I am the resurrection and the life – John 11:25
7. I am the way, the truth and the life – John 14:6
8. I am the true vine – John 15:1
D. John traces a messianic emphasis in the life of Christ.
E. The first major theme John begins to trace as the gospel begins is the nature of the Word.
1. He was in the beginning
2. He was with God
3. He was God
4. He was the Creator
5. He was the source of life
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