Introduction to Gospel according to John

The 43rd book of the Bible, the 4th in the New Testament

The fourth Gospel 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!

Content of the Gospel according to John:

John chapter 1
Prologue: Jesus as the “Word” made flesh (1:1–18)
I. Jesus’ Introduction to the World (1:19–51)
II. Jesus Reveals His Divine Glory to the World (Chapters 2–12)
John chapter 2
Introduction: Jesus’ Ministry in Jerusalem Amid the Unbelief and Half-Belief of the People
John chapter 3
The Conversation with Nicodemus on the Inner Foundation of the Kingdom of God (i.e., on being born again, the new path to salvation, and true faith)
John chapter 4
John chapter 5
The testimony of John
The testimony of the Father
An attack on the unbelief and ambition of the Jews; the testimony of Moses
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
The Pharisees’ first interrogation
The interrogation of the parents
The second interrogation of the healed man
The healed man’s faith in Jesus; Jesus as the light of the blind and as the blindness of the sighted
John chapter 10
John chapter 11
John chapter 12
John chapter 13
III. As He Takes His Leave, Jesus Reveals to His Disciples His Path to Glory and Their Path There (Chapters 13–17)
Jesus’ Announcement of His Glorification
The New Commandment of Love
Announcement of the Denial
John chapter 14
Introduction: Jesus’ Ministry in Jerusalem Amid the Unbelief and Half-Belief of the People
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
Parable of the vine and the branches
The commandment of love: Remain in communion of love with me and with one another!
Prophecy of the disciples’ painful fate due to the world’s hatred
John chapter 16
Promise of the Holy Spirit and His blessed work in the world and in the disciples
Promise of a speedy reunion and exhortation to pray in Jesus’ name
Promise of the fulfillment of communion with God for the disciples; Conclusion of the Farewell Discourses
John chapter 17
Jesus’ prayer for himself (for his glorification after the completion of his work)
Jesus’ intercession for the preservation of the disciples in the true knowledge of God
Intercession for all believers (or: for the entire church of all times and all places)
John chapter 18
IV. Jesus’ Suffering and Death (Chapters 18–19)
John chapter 19
John chapter 20
V. The Appearances of the Risen Lord (Chapters 20–21)
John chapter 21