Introduction to the Gospel of John

Introduction

The gospel of John is the most controversial of the gospels. It has fallen in and out of favor with scholars since it was written. It is believed by most scholars be authored by the Apostle John. There is however, no mention of the author’s name anywhere in the gospel. But, every other apostle but John is named. The author is mentioned as the "beloved disciple" or the one "one Jesus loved". The author is a witness to all of the events in the gospel and he testifies to it. Some more modern scholars have attacked it because it is quite different than the synoptic gospels. St. Augustine in his commentary on John states his belief that it authored by John and that it does have apostolic authority. Many early church leaders held that this was the written by the Apostle and therefore has apostolic authority. 

John was probably written in the first century about 805 A. D. during the reign of Domitian. Domitian demanded that he referred to as “my Lord and my God” by all of his subjects including his closest friends. During this time there was a lot of false teachers and this Gospel was written to combat those teachings. 

John wrote this Gospel to the Jews not just in Jerusalem but throughout the dispersion, Jewish Christians and unbelievers\Gentiles.  The gospel of John is a deep gospel. Jesus does not teach by parables in this Gospel but tends to a lengthy discussion of His topic.The theme of the gospel is Jesus son of God and Jesus the Messiah. It was written to establish correct faith in Jesus as God and combat false teaching and to offer high Christology, (the study of Christ). It is full of deep purpose but is easy to understand. 

The Gospel may be divided three parts introduction, chapter 1 verses 1-18 serves as a welcome and introduces us to the gospel. Chapters 1:18 - chapter 12 may be referred to as the book of signs and miracles, chapters 13 - 21 may be referred to as the book of glory.

This Gospel is quite different that the synoptic Gospels. Jesus cleans the temple early in this Gospel rather that later. There are only 7 miracles. As mentioned there are few parables but long discussions are used frequently by Jesus to teach. 


John is a Jewish gospel written to Jewish believers in the dispersion and therefore contains many references to the Old Testament and Jewish traditions. The feast of booths is an important part of this Gospel. In the very beginning there is a strong reference to Genesis and that Jesus is the creator. That He was with God the Father in the beginning. Jesus refers to Himself as "the son of Man", this has special significance to the Jews. He uses the words "I am" frequently this again has a very special significance to the Jews.  The gospel begins at the beginning in Genesis, “in the beginning was the word” this takes us back to creation and brings us rapidly forward to the time of Jesus.  

The gospel of John contains seven major miracles after chapter 13 there are none. The miracles of in John are more than what they seem. Each speaks to the special nature of Jesus and his church. As each miracle is done there is an increasing hostility to Jesus and his teachings by the religious establishment until we reach the crucifixion. Verse 20:31 gives us the reason John wrote this gospel, “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”


The Gospel forces a choice by its contrasting language. There is a sharp contrast between light and darkness, love and hate, above and below, what is truth and what is false, life and death. You a believer and live in the light or you are of your father the devil and live in darkness there is no middle ground. In short Jesus is God very God, the Son of God or He is a lying and therefore not a good man or prophet, but a deceiver of the worst kind as are the apostles. The Bible is the word of God or it is not and therefore just another ancient book. It cannot be both.  This is a black and white gospel. You are or your are not. Personally I choose, by the grace of God the light.