JOY of Living

Gospel of John

Date of Writing:

Traditional view – 85 AD to 175 AD John’s highly developed theology A response to late Gnosticism Its difference from the Synoptic Gospels

The Gospel of John

Issues with the Traditional view – 85 AD to

175 AD Early fragment of John 18 dated to 125

AD. Found in Egypt - 1920 Dead Sea Scrolls – 1947 – War Scroll Difference from the Synoptic Gospels

John’s Gospel is a Literary Masterpiece

The Gospel of John

A literary masterpiece is a piece of work that can withstand the test of time. It finds relevance despite the changing mindsets, practices, governance structures and peoples thought patterns. In addition, its theme remains to be thought provoking beyond daily changes and dynamism of the world.

Literary Masterpiece

Early Date – no later than 70 AD.

Destruction of the temple and Jerusalem

Rejection of the Messiah by the Jews

The Gospel of John

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:9-13

Early Date – no later than 70 AD.

Destruction of the temple and Jerusalem

Rejection of the Messiah by the Jews

The temple is replaced by Christ

The Gospel of John

So the Jews said to him, What sign do you show us for doing these things? Jesus answered them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. The Jews then said, It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days? But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

John 2:18-22

Early Date – no later than 70 AD.

Destruction of the temple and Jerusalem Rejection of the Messiah by the Jews The temple is replaced by Christ The pool of Bethesda reference

The Gospel of John

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, Do you want to be healed?

John 5:2-6

Early Date – no later than 70 AD.

Destruction of the temple and Jerusalem Rejection of the Messiah by the Jews

The temple is replaced by Christ The pool of Bethesda reference

Most likely composed in two or three stages John 21 – the appendix - written by someone

else, explaining beliefs about John’s life/death

The Gospel of John

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them…. When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what about him? Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?” You must follow me! Because of this the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple was not to die.

John 21

But Jesus did not say that he would not to die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I come, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who testifies to these things, and who wrote them down, we know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

John 21

Author – Apostle John, son of Zebedee

“the disciple whom Jesus loved” First cousin to Jesus – Salome was Mary’s

sister Fishing partner with his brother James, and

possibly Peter and Andrew. A disciple of John the Baptist with Andrew Part of the inner circle, close to Jesus

The Gospel of John

Matthew, Mark and Luke are written

from a 1st person point of view John is written with a 3rd person point of

view Written as a participant and eyewitness,

but as if seeing from a distance. A post resurrection point of view.

Differences between Synoptics and the Gospel of John

After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scriptures and the words that Jesus had spoken.

John 2:22At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. John 2:16

Differences between Synoptics and the Gospel of John

90% of John is unique to his Gospel

Very little repetition from other Gospels

John provide interlocking truths, clarifying what is recorded in the other Gospels.

Gospel of John

“These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

John 20:31

John’s main point

1.Turning water into wine in Cana John 2:1-112. Healing an official’s son in Capernaum

John 4:46-543. Healing an invalid at the Pool of Bethesda

John 5:1-184. Feeding the 5,000 near the Sea of Galilee

John 6:5-145. Walking on the water of the Sea of Galilee

John 6:16-216. Healing a blind man in Jerusalem John 9:1-77. Raising dead Lazarus in Bethany John 11:1-45

7 Signs

1. John the Baptist John 1:34“This is the Chosen One of God”

2. Nathaniel John 1:49

“You are the Son of God”3. Peter John 6:69

“You are the Holy One of God”4. Martha John 11:27

“You are the Christ, the Son of God”5. Thomas John 20:28

“My Lord and my God”6. John John 20:31

“Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God”7. Jesus John 10:36

“I am the Son of God”

7 Witnesses

1. “I am the bread of life” John 6:352. “I am the light of the world” John 8:123. “I am the door for the sheep” John 10:7, 94. “I am the good shepherd” John 10:11, 145. “I am the resurrection and the life” John11:256. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life”

John 14:67. “I am the true vine” John 15:1, 5

7 “I AM” Statements