Gospel of John Introduction

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We know thru historical documents that John came to Ephesus (which is located in Asia) after Paul had founded the church and that he labored in that city for many years. It’s there that he found it necessary to write his gospel. John’s gospel seems to fill in the gaps that the other 3 gospels missed and or had minimum emphasis on.


The date for the Gospel of John was probably between A.D. 85 and 95.* However some believed it to have been written around A.D. 65 and amended around A.D. 85 to 95


The gospel of John does not include Jesus' genealogy (family tree), birth, baptism, temptation, casting out of demons, parables, transfiguration, instituting of the Lord's Supper, His agony in Gethsemane, or His Ascension.


John's gospel stress Jesus, ministry in Jerusalem, the feasts of the Jewish nation, Jesus' contacts with individuals in private conversations, and His ministry to His disciples.


The major body of the Gospel is contained in what is coined as “Book of Signs” (2:1-12:50) which embraces seven miracles or “signs” which proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God.


John’s purpose for writing the Gospel is stated in 20:31, was to record Jesus' “signs” so that readers would come to believe in Him.

The key word in the Gospel of John is “believe”, which occurs 98 times. The Greek noun “faith” does not occur. Although in some translations such as the NIV, believe is replaced with the word faith in a few areas.


“Believe” is used more in the present tense. Apparently John wanted to stress an active, continuous, and vital trust in Jesus. Something that he noticed missing in the church and is still missing in most churches today.


Dictionary’s meaning of “believe”

  • To have a firm religious faith
  • to accept as true, genuine, or real

To truly accept Jesus is to accept the things that has happen and the things to come.


Faith is the byproduct of believing; believing is not the byproduct of faith.


It was believed that chapter 20 was the last chapter written, and then years later John added two amendments.

· The prologue (protlog) in chapter 1 (verses 1-16)

· Chapter 21 the epilogue (eptitlog) or concluding point.


Why was this important: Because John had seen something brewing in the church that must have been disturbing to him.


  • The controversy of Jesus Deity
  • To show the Lords plans for His disciples


Jesus deity is something that has been a controversy for centuries. Wars have started over this one topic.


    • That’s why chapter 1 starts out with a bang. In the beginning was the word….


Next week we will focus on Jesus deity


But the other issue that was plaguing the church, an issue so important that John felt compelled to extend his gospel is that of our call as disciples and our relationship with one another.


Read John 21:18-22


Peter was concerned with Jesus relationship with John, instead of his relationship with Jesus.


Jesus refocuses Peter’s attention to what was important. And that was him following Jesus.


Peter turning around and pointing to John indicates that he went out of his way to single out John.


Be careful not look for fault in ones life, as if to go out of your way to fish things out.


God knows your heart and motive.


To many times in our Christian walks we focus on everything except what we need to be focused on and that is “where am I with my relationship to Jesus?”


We have a tendency to look beyond our own sin and point the finger to others sin.


This goes way back (Read Gen 3:6-13)


Jesus knew this was a problem and addressed it numerous times.


Matthew 7:1-5 (plank in the eye) (same manner means – don’t talk about others sin, if you are sinning also) (set the record straight)

Matthew 20:1-16 (envy)

Matthew 5:38-48 (don’t retaliate)

1 Cor 7:8 (It’s better to admit fault, even if you feel not at fault)

Eph 4:17-32 (we are to be Christ like to one another)


Our focus is never to be on anyone else, but rather on our life in Christ


If you are finding life hard, maybe it’s because you are hard or harden on others.


Matt 5:22-24 (make right with others before coming to God)


All four Gospels begin by placing Jesus within a historical setting, but the Gospel of John is unique in the way it opens.


Matthew - begins with the genealogy of Jesus that connects Him to David and Abraham.


Mark - Starts with the preaching of John the Baptist.


Luke - Has a dedication of his work to Theophilus and follows that with a prediction of the birth of John the Baptist.


John - begins with a theological prologue. It is almost as if John had said, “I want you to consider Jesus in His teaching and deeds. But you will not understand the good news of Jesus in its fullest sense unless you view Him from this point of view.


Jesus is God manifest in the flesh, and His words and deeds are those of the God-Man.”


In Chapter 1 John introduces the Key terms and themes


The key terms found in John
life (v. 4) light (v. 4) darkness (v. 5)
witness (v. 7) true (v. 9) world (v. 9)
Son (v. 14) Father (v. 14) glory (v. 14)
truth (v. 14)


These words are used in John only in this theological introduction
the Word (v. 1) grace (v. 14)


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