Such identifications were not made in any of the other three biblical gospels either. This objective helps us to understand many of the unique characteristics of johns gospel, especially the ones that sharply contrast the synoptic gospels. Successive chapters in this analysis consider the successive days of the spiritual creation sequence in john s gospel. The book went through two to three stages, or editions, before reaching its current form, at the latest, around ad 80100.
Feb 11, 2017 here is chuck misslers gospel of john session 1 with the slides corrected. This is the first comprehensive study of st john s gospel for nearly forty years. The rest of the first chapter forms the introduction to the gospel proper. Johns account did not disagree with the other gospels. In the gospel of john, jesus makes seven statements beginning with the words i am. Emphasize that for john, all other events and teachings the discourses in his gospel lead up to or develop from these crucial signs.
Apr 06, 2012 so we have begun reading the gospel of john, after having read the three gospels preceding. 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. It varies from the other three gospels of matthew, mark and luke also known as the. Here is chuck misslers gospel of john session 1 with the slides corrected. For i have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. The importance of the gospel of john can scarcely be overestimated. 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. Follow along as john delivers his eyewitness account, and declares that jesus is, the son of god. Early writers such as irenaeus and tertullian say that john wrote this gospel, and all other evidence agrees see introduction to 1 john. An introduction to understanding the gospel of john. The gospel according to john develops a christologyan explanation of christs nature and.
I will try to do the rest of the videos soon, its a little more time consuming than youd expect, the audio isnt just. Your group will read through the entire gospel of john, not just selected. Or perhaps someone else recorded the stories that he told. Keeping these general breakdowns of johns gospel in mind will help your reading and studying of the gospel of john. We might get a feeling of repetition, and perhaps even a feeling of here we go again. 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.
Instead, these study guides focus on understanding the message and meaning of one book. This guide will make limited references to other biblical books only when the gospel of john itself alludes to them. Understanding the books of the bible series doesnt do that. It varies from the other three gospels of matthew, mark and luke also known as the synoptic gospels, by focusing more on spiritual. Commentary on the gospel of john chapter 1 by cooper abrams. In comparison to the other gospels, it refers less to the kingdom of godheaven and more to eternal life. 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. Lastly, there is a clear message in the gospel of john that helps us understand the truth about god. Johns understanding of belief in the gospel of john.
Finally, tell the students that in reading the signs, it is important to pay attention to them not just individually but as a whole. In this gospel, from start to finish, john presents evidence that jesus is the messiah anointed one in hebrew. John wants us to know that heaven and earth have met. 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. He had been with god since the beginning, and all things had been created through him. 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. Johns gospel free bible commentary in easy english. John with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
Mar 08, 2010 instead, john focused on seven of jesus miracles, which he calls signs. John wanted his readers to believe that jesus is the messiah, gods son john 20. The genius of the gospel lies in the way in which john conceives of the relationship between the human and the divine. Jan 18, 2019 the gospel of john was written to prove that jesus christ is the son of god. It is very common in our society to hear people claim to be proclaiming the gospel.
So we have begun reading the gospel of john, after having read the three gospels preceding. Christ in greek, the son of god, so that his readers may believe in jesus as lord and savior. This statement of john s is a good description of the subject and purpose of his gospel. Not surprisingly, the gospel of john never provides the name of its author. 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. Wright explores this small but powerful letter to highlight the supremacy of christ, and then further describe how. Understanding the gospel of john, read more about spiritual life growth, christian living, and faith. It is a message of faith, love and hope which impacts every aspect of life, death and eternity. 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. The apostle john is usually credited with the authorship of the fourth gospel. The gospel is gods good news revealed in the bible.
See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. 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. In john, jesus becomes human as the incarnation of the creator god of. Understanding the fourth gospel by john ashton, 1993. Since this is a copy, the gospel itself must have been written before this time. We find the title son 29 times in john s gospel, whereof 10 times son of god. I have said this before in the gospel of john, but john knew jesus better than any of the other apostles. 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. John and his wife, patricia, have four grown children and fourteen grandchildren. 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.
Chuck missler the gospel of john session 1 slides corrected. 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. Yet only onethe gospel of johnclaims to be an eyewitness account, the testimony of the unnamed disciple whom jesus loved. 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. The gospel of john was written to prove that jesus christ is the son of god. In the course of the book, helooks at the gospel from a variety of viewpoints. This statement of johns is a good description of the subject and purpose of his gospel. We know that the 4th gospel contains johns memories and ideas about jesus. Instead, john focused on seven of jesus miracles, which he calls signs. The story of the storytellers the gospel of john from. Gospel of john a first hand account of the life of jesus. 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. How would you share a reformed understanding of the gospel with a nominal or modern american evangelical christian.
The gospel of john begins with a lovely little poem about jesus. Professor of classics and director of the religious studies program. 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. We find the title son 29 times in johns gospel, whereof 10 times son of god. Biblical literature biblical literature the fourth 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. The fourth gospel describes the mystery of the identity of jesus. The love that john had for jesus, and jesus for john, was like a great relationship of two brothers. Sep 04, 2015 jesus recognizes his newfound understanding of his person as indicative of nathanaels belief in him 1. Understanding the gospel of john understanding john. Johns understanding of belief in the gospel of john essay.
John 4 niv jesus talks with a samaritan woman bible. Living, breathing and eating the gospel of john for nearly a year took me deeper into biblical understanding and theological interrogation. 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 author provides new and coherent answers to its two most important questions. John 4 new international version niv jesus talks with a samaritan woman. The holy gospel of jesus christ, according to john. Perhaps john wrote the words of his gospel himself. The gospel of john verse by verse bible study the word was god john 1. Sproul explains the essential components of the biblical gospel of salvation. Grammatically, the word cephas is future passive indicative which means that this nickname would be used in the future.
Euangelion kata ioannen is the fourth of the canonical gospels. Understanding john understanding the gospel of john. It is written anonymously, although it identifies an unnamed disciple whom jesus loved as the source of its. What are the seven i am statements in the gospel of john. The word is only used in johns gospel in verse 41 and by paul in 1 corinthians 1. While the gospels of matthew, mark, and luke are similar in their common view, the book of john is distinct. This is the first comprehensive study of st johns gospel for nearly forty years. The gospel of john is a unique perspective of the life of jesus christ. It is specifically, or indirectly, mentioned over 30 times. The prologue proclaims jesus as the preexistent and incarnate word of god who has revealed the father to us. 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. Most people with a general understanding of the bible know that the first four books of the new testament are called the gospels. They also link jesus to the old testament revelation of god. 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.
The gospel of john an introduction 2123 words 9 pages. The gospels, the first four books of the new testament, tell the story of the life of jesus. Explaining the differences between john and the synoptic. It offers fresh insight into this theologically rich gospel. The word is only used in john s gospel in verse 41 and by paul in 1 corinthians 1. 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. 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. Jesus recognizes his newfound understanding of his person as indicative of nathanaels belief in him 1. 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. 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. Introduction to the gospel of john study resources. Here then is the fifth identifier of discipleship, belief in jesus. A model for understanding the gospel of john paperback december 20, 2005. 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.
Understanding the gospel of jesus christ understanding the good news of salvation through jesus christ and our response to his incredible love. The book of john is broken into eighty 80 stories in the above link. Second, he often supplied information that helps the understanding of the. 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. 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.
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. Dec 20, 2005 this spiritual creation structure is employed in interpreting john s gospel, though the interpretations are not constrained by this thought. While the synoptic gospels matthew, mark, luke, identify the apostle john by. And all who believe to understand jesus is the son of god.
The signs in the gospel of john activity ave maria press. It added different information, so that we can understand more about jesus. He shows us that jesus, though fully god, came in the flesh to distinctly and accurately reveal god, and that christ is the. John with a critical introduction, 3rd edition, 3 vols. Johns purpose in writing this gospel is made very clear in john 20. With the gospel of john, however, we need to think again. Throughout christian history, it has been read and cherished far more than any of the other preserved accounts of jesus life.
It has a remarkably high and easily recognizable divine identity of jesus. The gospel of john embedded in the socalled spiritual gospel is an architectural hostility toward judaism. John 4 niv jesus talks with a samaritan woman bible gateway. Watch our overview video on the gospel of john, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Understanding the fourth gospel by john ashton, 1993 online.