Introduction to Gospel according to John
The 43rd book of the Bible, the 4th in the New Testament
The fourth Gospel, the Gospel according to John, was also written by one of Jesus’ disciples, namely the Apostle John.
On this point, not only the Church Fathers but even the early opponents of Christianity are in agreement.
John came from a well-to-do Jewish fishing family on the Sea of Galilee and, along with his brother James and the Apostle Peter, belonged to Jesus’ inner circle (Matthew 17:1; Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51, among others).
All three, together with Andrew, Peter’s brother, were also the first disciples called by Jesus.
We also know that John remained with Jesus until the crucifixion and was the first to believe in his resurrection.
John was the last of the evangelists to write his account of Jesus’ life, sometime between the years 85 and 90 AD.
He was likely already familiar with the other three Gospels and supplemented them as one of the last eyewitnesses who had accompanied Jesus during his ministry.
His focus is on Jesus’ eternal sonship of God, his existence before the beginning of time, and the target audience of his Gospel is all of Christendom, regardless of an individual’s background or cultural circle.
Something special happens in chapter 4, which recounts a conversation between Jesus and the woman from Sychar, a town in Samaria.
Thus, the mission among the Gentiles began as early as the year 30 A.D., not through the disciples or apostles, but through the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!
Outline of the Gospel of John:
Chapters 1:1–51 – Introduction
Chapters 2:1–12:50 – Jesus’ Public Ministry
Chapters 13:1–17:26 – Jesus’ Personal Ministry
Chapters 18:1–20:31 – The Suffering, Death, and Resurrection of the Son of God
Chapters 21:1–25 – Epilogue
Content of the Gospel according to John:
- The Gospel according to John
- John chapter 1
- John chapter 2
- John chapter 3
- John chapter 4
- John chapter 5
- John chapter 6
- Jesus is the true bread from heaven and gives it to those who come to him in faith as food for the future resurrection
- The bread of life is obtained through faith, and faith through God’s influence („drawing to the Son“)
- Jesus‘ „hard“ words about eating and drinking his flesh and blood, the consumption of which leads to the resurrection
- John chapter 7
- Jesus‘ teaching comes from God
- Jesus himself comes from God
- Jesus announces his return to God
- Jesus, at the height of the festival, as the giver of the water of life, that is, the Spirit
- The people’s conflicting judgments about Jesus
- The failure of the leaders‘ plan to arrest him; division among the members of the Sanhedrin; Nicodemus’s warning
- John chapter 8
- Jesus‘ self-testimony as the Light of the World and the Son of God
- Jesus testifies to the deep chasm that separates him from the Jews based on his origin
- Jesus‘ testimony of his sonship with God and of the Jews‘ bondage to sin despite their descent from Abraham
- The unbelieving Jews are neither Abraham’s children nor God’s children, but children of the devil
- Jesus‘ testimony regarding the majesty (or eternity) of his person and his superiority over Abraham
- John chapter 9
- John chapter 10
- John chapter 11
- John chapter 12
- John chapter 13
- John chapter 14
- Jesus‘ promise of his return and of the disciples‘ reception into the place prepared by God; Jesus as the way to God, his unity with God
- Promise of answered prayer and the most effective working of the Holy Spirit, of the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit, of the reunion, and of eternal union
- Promise of the most intimate communion of spirit and love with God and Jesus
- Assurance of instruction by the Holy Spirit; greeting of peace and call to trust in faith
- John chapter 15
- John chapter 16
- John chapter 17
- John chapter 18
- John chapter 19
- John chapter 20
- John chapter 21