Understanding gospel of john

Not surprisingly, the gospel of john never provides the name of its author. The book went through two to three stages, or editions, before reaching its current form, at the latest, around ad 80100. In comparison to the other gospels, it refers less to the kingdom of godheaven and more to eternal life. Lastly, there is a clear message in the gospel of john that helps us understand the truth about god.

An introduction to the gospel of john the gospel of john is believed to be the last of the four gospels in the new testament to be written. Here is chuck misslers gospel of john session 1 with the slides corrected. Emphasize that for john, all other events and teachings the discourses in his gospel lead up to or develop from these crucial signs. John with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Follow along as john delivers his eyewitness account, and declares that jesus is, the son of god. The fourth gospel describes the mystery of the identity of jesus. This theme of heaven meeting earth grows and swells throughout john, through the reference to jacobs ladder at the end of chapter one, into the wedding at cana in chapter 2 the wedding symbolizing the coming together of heaven and. We might get a feeling of repetition, and perhaps even a feeling of here we go again. John wants us to know that heaven and earth have met. The book of john is broken into eighty 80 stories in the above link. Finally, tell the students that in reading the signs, it is important to pay attention to them not just individually but as a whole.

We find the title son 29 times in johns gospel, whereof 10 times son of god. Understanding the fourth gospel by john ashton, 1993. Widely known for his thorough, candid approach to teaching gods word, john macarthur is a fifthgeneration pastor, a popular author and conference speaker, and has served as pastorteacher of grace community church in sun valley, california since 1969. It is a message of faith, love and hope which impacts every aspect of life, death and eternity. Understanding john understanding the gospel of john.

Jan 18, 2019 the gospel of john was written to prove that jesus christ is the son of god. The author provides new and coherent answers to its two most important questions. The importance of the gospel of john can scarcely be overestimated. How would you share a reformed understanding of the gospel with a nominal or modern american evangelical christian.

John s gospel in forty years, this book provides new and coherent answers to what rudolf baltmann regarded as the two great riddles of the gospel. For i have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. In a nearly childlike simple language with a vocabulary of only around 700 words john communicates to us the exalted truth that the word, the. Living, breathing and eating the gospel of john for nearly a year took me deeper into biblical understanding and theological interrogation. A biblical history the gospel of john is one of four gospels in the holy bible and is the fourth book in chronological order presented in the new testament. Johns gospel free bible commentary in easy english. The question in the synoptic gospels concerns the extent to which the divine reality broke into history in jesus coming, and the answers are given in terms of the closeness of the new age. The gospel of john is celebrated for its accessibility and often used as an entryway for new christians to the life and ministry of jesus christ. The genius of the gospel lies in the way in which john conceives of the relationship between the human and the divine. They also link jesus to the old testament revelation of god. However, the john rylands fragment, discovered in the 1920s, has been documented to be a small portion of a copy of the gospel of john dated between ad 125 and 150.

It offers fresh insight into this theologically rich gospel. In the gospel of john, jesus makes seven statements beginning with the words i am. We find the title son 29 times in john s gospel, whereof 10 times son of god. Christ in greek, the son of god, so that his readers may believe in jesus as lord and savior. John wanted his readers to believe that jesus is the messiah, gods son john 20. Understanding the gospel of john, read more about spiritual life growth, christian living, and faith. This objective helps us to understand many of the unique characteristics of johns gospel, especially the ones that sharply contrast the synoptic gospels. Since this is a copy, the gospel itself must have been written before this time. In john, jesus becomes human as the incarnation of the creator god of. He shows us that jesus, though fully god, came in the flesh to distinctly and accurately reveal god, and that christ is the source of eternal life to all who believe in him. Successive chapters in this analysis consider the successive days of the spiritual creation sequence in john s gospel. Or perhaps someone else recorded the stories that he told. What are the seven i am statements in the gospel of john. John will only use four main stories from the past, cain and abel outside the garden of eden, adam and eve inside the garden of eden, moses specific major events in his life, and then jesus himself.

Dec 16, 2015 the gospel of john is celebrated for its accessibility and often used as an entryway for new christians to the life and ministry of jesus christ. Commentary on the gospel of john chapter 1 by cooper abrams. While the gospels of matthew, mark, and luke are similar in their common view, the book of john is distinct. We know that the 4th gospel contains johns memories and ideas about jesus. Your group will read through the entire gospel of john, not just selected. I have said this before in the gospel of john, but john knew jesus better than any of the other apostles. Professor of classics and director of the religious studies program. The word is only used in johns gospel in verse 41 and by paul in 1 corinthians 1.

It varies from the other three gospels of matthew, mark and luke also known as the synoptic gospels, by focusing more on spiritual. It is very common in our society to hear people claim to be proclaiming the gospel. Sep, 2016 watch our overview video on the gospel of john, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. This guide will make limited references to other biblical books only when the gospel of john itself alludes to them. This is the first comprehensive study of st john s gospel for nearly forty years. Most people also understand on a broad level that the gospels each tell the story of jesus christ his birth, ministry, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection. It added different information, so that we can understand more about jesus. Jul 17, 2017 john will only use four main stories from the past, cain and abel outside the garden of eden, adam and eve inside the garden of eden, moses specific major events in his life, and then jesus himself. Belief in jesus as gods son and messiah is necessary for salvation, which in johns gospel is at times referred to as eternal life 3.

And all who believe to understand jesus is the son of god. The gospel of john was written to prove that jesus christ is the son of god. The holy gospel of jesus christ, according to john. The love that john had for jesus, and jesus for john, was like a great relationship of two brothers. In this gospel, from start to finish, john presents evidence that jesus is the messiah anointed one in hebrew. This statement of johns is a good description of the subject and purpose of his gospel. Understanding the gospel of jesus christ understanding the good news of salvation through jesus christ and our response to his incredible love. An introduction to understanding the gospel of john. It is written anonymously, although it identifies an unnamed disciple whom jesus loved as the source of its. A model for understanding the gospel of john paperback december 20, 2005. It varies from the other three gospels of matthew, mark and luke also known as the.

John with a critical introduction, 3rd edition, 3 vols. He had been with god since the beginning, and all things had been created through him. With the gospel of john, however, we need to think again. The gospels, the first four books of the new testament, tell the story of the life of jesus. It has a remarkably high and easily recognizable divine identity of jesus. This is the first comprehensive study of st johns gospel for nearly forty years. John 4 niv jesus talks with a samaritan woman bible. The gospel of john begins with a magnificent prologue, which states many of the major themes and motifs of the gospel, much as an overture does for a musical work.

Each of these i am proclamations furthers our understanding of jesus ministry in the world. Biblical literature biblical literature the fourth gospel. Jun 16, 2010 how to explain the gospel to children how are we to explain the gospel to children in terms they understand without toning down the hard demands of christ. The gospel of john verse by verse bible study the word was god john 1. The gospel of john an introduction 2123 words 9 pages. Perhaps john wrote the words of his gospel himself. Chuck missler the gospel of john session 1 slides corrected.

Introduction to the gospel of john study resources. The word is only used in john s gospel in verse 41 and by paul in 1 corinthians 1. John is the last gospel and, in many ways, different from the synoptic gospels. The gospel of john is a unique perspective of the life of jesus christ. The gospel of john begins with a lovely little poem about jesus. Throughout christian history, it has been read and cherished far more than any of the other preserved accounts of jesus life. Mar 08, 2010 instead, john focused on seven of jesus miracles, which he calls signs. Johns gospel in forty years, this book provides new and coherent answers to what rudolf baltmann regarded as the two great riddles of the gospel. While the synoptic gospels matthew, mark, luke, identify the apostle john by.

Keeping these general breakdowns of johns gospel in mind will help your reading and studying of the gospel of john. John 4 new international version niv jesus talks with a samaritan woman. 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. Euangelion kata ioannen is the fourth of the canonical gospels.

Take some time to explore some of the core aspects of the gospel it is the power of god for salvation to everyone who believes romans 1. The story of the storytellers the gospel of john from. Instead, john focused on seven of jesus miracles, which he calls signs. Dec 20, 2005 this spiritual creation structure is employed in interpreting john s gospel, though the interpretations are not constrained by this thought. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. As an eyewitness to the love and power displayed in the miracles of jesus, john gives us an upclose and personal look at christs identity. I will try to do the rest of the videos soon, its a little more time consuming than youd expect, the audio isnt just. Understanding the gospel of john understanding john. The signs in the gospel of john activity ave maria press. Instead, these study guides focus on understanding the message and meaning of one book. This statement of john s is a good description of the subject and purpose of his gospel.

Johns understanding of belief in the gospel of john essay. Most people with a general understanding of the bible know that the first four books of the new testament are called the gospels. He shows us that jesus, though fully god, came in the flesh to distinctly and accurately reveal god, and that christ is the. Jesus recognizes his newfound understanding of his person as indicative of nathanaels belief in him 1. Apr 06, 2012 so we have begun reading the gospel of john, after having read the three gospels preceding. This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true john 21. Feb 11, 2017 here is chuck misslers gospel of john session 1 with the slides corrected. The prologue proclaims jesus as the preexistent and incarnate word of god who has revealed the father to us.

Johns account did not disagree with the other gospels. Grammatically, the word cephas is future passive indicative which means that this nickname would be used in the future. John and his wife, patricia, have four grown children and fourteen grandchildren. Unfortunately, many do not preach a complete or even correct understanding of the person of christ and the work he has done to save his people. So we have begun reading the gospel of john, after having read the three gospels preceding.

Gospel of john a first hand account of the life of jesus. This theme of heaven meeting earth grows and swells throughout john, through the reference to jacobs ladder at the end of chapter one, into the wedding at cana in chapter 2 the wedding symbolizing the coming together of heaven and earth, followed at once by the templescene where jesus is speaking of the temple of his body and so on. Instead of devolving into repetition an initial concern of mine the series refreshed my preaching by giving me the opportunity to connect subtle threads of the gospel from week to week. Such identifications were not made in any of the other three biblical gospels either. Second, he often supplied information that helps the understanding of the. In the course of the book, helooks at the gospel from a variety of viewpoints.

The apostle john is usually credited with the authorship of the fourth gospel. Here then is the fifth identifier of discipleship, belief in jesus. Early writers such as irenaeus and tertullian say that john wrote this gospel, and all other evidence agrees see introduction to 1 john. The gospel of john embedded in the socalled spiritual gospel is an architectural hostility toward judaism. The rest of the first chapter forms the introduction to the gospel proper. Wright explores this small but powerful letter to highlight the supremacy of christ, and then further describe how. The second significant evidence for johns authorship is the unanimous testimony of early christians, among them the secondcentury christian irenaeus, who declared that john was the disciple who laid his head on jesusthe disciple whom jesus loved. The most important thing you can do for a child is to teach him or her the good news about how to be right with god, how to be forgiven of sin through the person and work of christ. The course themes in the gospel of john explores the cultural and historical background of our era to help us apply the gospel of john to todays world sign up for a course coupon in paul and his letter to the colossians, prof. Understanding the books of the bible series doesnt do that.

The gospel according to john develops a christologyan explanation of christs nature and. What makes a reformed understanding of the gospel is the desire and the passion that god the father, god the holy spirit, and god the son receive the fullest measure of the glory they should receive in saving me. Sep 04, 2015 jesus recognizes his newfound understanding of his person as indicative of nathanaels belief in him 1. Yet only onethe gospel of johnclaims to be an eyewitness account, the testimony of the unnamed disciple whom jesus loved. Book of john overview insight for living ministries. Understanding the fourth gospel by john ashton, 1993 online. Explaining the differences between john and the synoptic. Watch our overview video on the gospel of john, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.

The gospel is gods good news revealed in the bible. Johns purpose in writing this gospel is made very clear in john 20. Sproul explains the essential components of the biblical gospel of salvation. John 4 niv jesus talks with a samaritan woman bible gateway. It is specifically, or indirectly, mentioned over 30 times.