John replaces, at least in part, the apocalyptic expectations present in all three of the Synoptic Gospels. The Gospel This does not contradict the statement of Clement referred to above. In the story of the resurrection of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, John's interpretation of the signs reaches its climax. John wrote independently of the other Gospels (see essay and chart, p. 1943). Because Jesus' will is in complete harmony with the will of God, it is proper and right to refer to him as the Son of God; in this connection, we are to understand the statement "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.". That this story is found only in the Gospel of John raises some questions concerning the historicity of the event, for it does not seem at all probable that the authors of the Synoptic Gospels would have failed to relate an event as important as this one if they had known about it. In this respect, Christian mysticism differs from those types in which individual personality is destroyed by becoming wholly absorbed in the deity. Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.". The Word of Yahweh is Yahweh (1-2) in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (3:16). Since the letter identifies no specific church, location, or individual to whom it was sent, its classification is as a “general epistle”. The wide spread misunderstanding of this verse among Christians is the source of much of the confusion that exists regarding who the One Most High God of the Bible is. Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles and Disputes THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS The Bible has two major divisions: the Old Testament and the ... John 1 Thessalonians … Throughout Christian history, it has been read and cherished far more than any of the other preserved accounts of Jesus' life. who has seen me has seen the Father," 14:9), and what he does glorifies the Just as Jesus, by virtue of this spirit, gives the living water that brings eternal life, so he gives the food that can bring a new quality of life to the world. All rights reserved. It is the presence of the Logos, or Spirit of God, in human life that really nourishes the spiritual quality of a person's life. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# John the Baptist's Testimony about Jesus The Gospel of John is the latest-written of the four biographies of Jesus that have been preserved in the New Testament. Summary of the Book of 3 John. The importance of the Gospel of John can scarcely be overestimated. Only by coming under the influence of his spirit can we pass from darkness into light. (rather than "was") a pool "near the Sheep Gate" may suggest a time before Jesus' Public Ministry: Signs and Discourses … He shows in what sense it is true that the Son and the Father are one in spirit and in purpose without either of them losing their personal identities. In a long and remarkable prayer that John attributes to Jesus, the meaning and significance of Jesus' entire career are neatly summarized. The remaining chapters deal with the closing days of Jesus' earthly ministry, when he gave instruction to his disciples and explained the meaning of his life and approaching death in a number of lengthy discourses. Understanding John Chapter One By Joel Hemphill “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). But John's use of the miracle stories is different from that of his predecessors. (, Feeding the 5,000 and Jesus' Claim to Be The author knew Jewish life well, as seen ‘Let ... As with the rest of the Bible, the book of Genesis was written in the everyday language of the … Title: The epistle’s title has always been “1 John”. The book of John was written after the destruction of Jerusalem, in A.D. 70 and before John's exile to the island of Patmos. Peculiarities The seven miracle stories recorded in John are, first, the turning of water into wine at a marriage feast in Cana; second, the healing of a nobleman's son who was at the point of death; third, the healing of a man at the sheep-gate pool; fourth, the walking on water; fifth, the feeding of five thousand; sixth, the healing of the man born blind; and seventh, the raising of Lazarus. Because the paschal lamb used as a sacrifice by the ancient Jews was always slain on the day before the Passover, it seemed most appropriate to John that the sacrifice of Jesus should be in conformity with the ancient tradition. As a typical human being, he possessed no extraordinary power that is not available to anyone else who asks for it and who meets the conditions for receiving it. Proud member This is the story of Christianity's beginnings and how evangelism played a role in the spread of faith around the world. motivations for the composition of John's Gospel have been posited by interpreters The major emphasis in this part of John's gospel is found in the discourses that are attributed to Jesus. The Books of the Bible reunites Luke and Acts and treats them as "two volumes of a single work." For instance, he summarises very well the long, tortuous and complex history of the Jewish people from the Exodus from Egypt until the Coming of Christ. The messianic character of Jesus' mission was described in terms of the miracles that he performed, his kindly attitude toward the poor and the oppressed, his power to cast out demons and to heal the sick, and his instructions concerning the way people should live in view of the imminence of the coming kingdom. Early writers such as Irenaeus and Tertullian say BibleTract.org Bible Studies The Book of John Series Scott Huckaby is developing a Bible Study series that will be a verse-by-verse exposition of the book of John. and any corresponding bookmarks? Although a variety of God's love and faith in his Son assure us - 1 John 4:7-5:12. This narrative device is exemplified in the story of the foot-washing that precedes the eating of the Passover meal. Take the Bible literally unless the text says otherwise. The last phrase in John 2 said, “Because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.” It’s … The traditional view places it toward the end of the first century, c. argue for a late origin. over Who He Is (chs. The Bible is an enormous book covering much information and many subjects. It is a fitting resume, as John sees it, of what Jesus has done for the Christian community and indeed for all those who at any future time will become members of it. This symbolic washing is the meaning of Jesus' statement made to Peter: "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." Following the prayer, John describes the events that culminate in the crucifixion of Jesus and reports the words that Jesus utters while on the cross. In this connection, John says, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.". This precedes the creation of the heavens and the earth. The genius of the gospel lies in the way in which John conceives of the relationship between the human and the divine. Instead, the important meaning of the story is the spiritual food that alone can sustain the quality of living that characterizes true followers of Jesus. Lazarus was dead for four days, and at the call of Jesus he came back to life. Faith creates confidence and understanding - 1 John 5:13-21. to 1 John: Author). After this comes the proclamation that Whether or not he This purpose was one that John had in common with the men who wrote the Synoptic Gospels, but his method for achieving it distinguishes his gospel from the earlier ones. He regards Jesus as a human being who possessed actual flesh and blood, the same as other people. The Christian community, at the time when John wrote, was experiencing a great deal of opposition, not only from Jews but from Romans and others who were skeptical of the claims that Christians were making. He does not discuss historicity, for he has something else in mind that he regards as far more important: the spiritual lesson that he derives from the stories, whether the details are reported accurately or not. Because God was present in Jesus, it is appropriate to refer to Jesus as the Son of God, which is an example of what can happen in the life of anyone else in whom the power of God dwells. I am currently reading the Book of John translated by William Barclay. Used with permission. Author and Time of Writing there]; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20,24). John's treatment of the miracle stories is especially significant. Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell of the birth, life, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, but they stress more what Jesus did than who He is. Copyright 2002 © Zondervan. Subject and purpose of writing Father. Strikingly, It is not possible to learn everything about it in thirty 7 Bible God Jesus Holy Spirit Angels Man Sin ... And if you want to learn to understand the Bible, you must first learn how the Bible is put together. Summary. The book of Acts is an important book for understanding the actions of the apostles, mostly Paul and Peter, after Jesus's ascension into Heaven. creative Word of God who had become embodied (incarnated) as a human being Author. This brings us back far before the created order itself. He knew the geography of the Holy Land, locating Bethany about 15 stadia (about from your Reading List will also remove any Based on the recollections of his most trusted followers, The Gospel of John was likely composed two generations after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The author of the Gospel of John was evidently aware of these attacks and knew that some of the accounts given in earlier gospels were interpreted in a manner that seemed to support these charges. What is important is that the prayer contains that which John believes to be implicit in the life and teachings of Jesus. For John, the amount of physical food that came into existence was not of primary importance. But instead of being brought about by a sudden catastrophic event that will destroy the nations of the world and at which time Jesus will return to earth in power and great glory, John sees the return of Jesus whenever and wherever the Spirit of God enters into the lives of human beings. This will help you understand the basics of the Gospel. One of the advantages of the Gospel of John is that it presents the meaning of Christianity in a way that makes its validity dependent on neither scientific accuracy nor historical verification. Jesus' Identity (, Jesus' Farewell Discourses and Prayer (chs. For John, an event of this kind is a most appropriate symbol of what happens to spiritually dead people when they are receptive to the power of God made manifest in the person of Jesus. © 2020 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 13-17), Jesus washes the disciples' feet Because he believed so firmly in the new Christian movement, he wanted to write a gospel that set forth its essential truth in the best possible manner. John's Gospel is rather different from the other three. joy (, For himself -- that he be glorified Some guesses are better than others, but are still just that Œ guesses. It is the first and largest in a series of 3 epistles that bear the Apostle John’s name. The Book of 1 John read by Alexander Scourby. Keeping God™s commandments ... As with most books in the Bible, we cannot know for certain when and from where these epistles were penned. This is one of my own personal favorites of all the sixty-six books of the Bible. All of the evidence we have is what the individuals who made the records believed to have happened. The name of the author of the Gospel of John is not mentioned - as is the case with the... 2. The remaining portions of the Gospel of John record incidents closely related to the closing days of Jesus' earthly ministry. For the main emphases of the book see notes on 1:4,7,9,14,19,49; 2:4,11; 3:27; 4:34; 6:35; 13:1 -- 17:26; 13:31; 17:1-2,5; 20:31. of Let veteran Bible teacher and pastor, Dr. J. Vernon McGee lead you through the entire book in these 21 summaries from Thru the Bible’s tried and trusted five year study. In him the full grace and truth of God has shown itself. God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes The Gospel according to John (Greek: Εὐαγγέλιον κατὰ Ἰωάννην, romanized: Euangélion katà Iōánnēn, also known as the Gospel of John, or simply John) is the fourth of the four canonical gospels.It contains a highly schematic account of the ministry of Jesus, with seven "signs" culminating in the raising of Lazarus (foreshadowing the resurrection of Jesus) and seven "I am" discourses culminating in … to in any earlier writing known to us (2:1 [see note there]; 21:2). implicit and underdeveloped. precedence over the prohibition of working on the Sabbath (see note on 7:22). In reply to her questions concerning the proper place and manner of worship, Jesus explains that external forms of worship are not as important as worshipping the Father "in spirit and truth.". Those who fail to understand Jesus and the purpose of his mission in the world are spiritually blind. Book Overview - John 1. These changes are quite in harmony with John's conception of Jesus as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (, The disciples' grief will turn to 7:40-42), to the hostility between Jews and Samaritans (see 4:9 and note), When Jesus heals a man who was born blind, his disciples inquire of him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" John does not regard the stories' miraculous elements themselves as having great significance but rather the spiritual meanings that he finds implicit in them. It is an important book in understanding how we can be directed by the Holy Spirit and the role of Jesus' lessons in our lives. 6:35; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7,9,14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1,5). Removing #book# In this way, John conceives the relationship between the divine and the human. At any rate, the story in Luke closes with the statement that those who do not believe Moses and the prophets will not be convinced, even if a person raised from the dead should speak to them. This summary of the book of 3 John provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of 3 John. Below is a modified transcript from the audio lesson. Confess the Son and listen to the apostles - 1 John 2:18-4:6. Accordingly, the account of the miracles is followed immediately by a discourse in which Jesus says, "I am the bread of life." On the contrary, it presents an interpretation of Jesus that reflects ideas and situations that prevailed in the Christian community toward the end of the first century of the Christian era, a time when Christianity was under attack from several different quarters, including Jews, Romans, skeptics, and others making charges against it. In this case, the historical accuracy of an event as reported would be crucial. This is part-5 in a 23-part study on the book of John. Ex 3:14, further strengthening the link between the Father and the Son (see John the Baptist's Final Testimony about Summary and Analysis The Gospel of John. 2 / Studies in John All you will need to do this study is the Gospel of John or a Bible. Article Images Copyright © 2020 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. The presence of God in the life of Jesus of Nazareth enabled Jesus to overcome the temptations that arise from contact with the flesh and the world, and this same presence can enter into the heart and life of any individual who allows this spirit to become the motivating life force. At times, this opposition led to severe persecution, and some Christians wanted to withdraw from direct contact with the people of the world. Jesus' words to Nicodemus nicely summarize this Gospel's central theme: "For Copyright © 2020, Bible Study Tools. his main purpose clearly in 20:31: "that you may believe that Jesus is the Though it is one of easiest books to read, John is also one of the most profound books to understand. It is to these Christians that Jesus' words to God are addressed: "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.". and to Jewish customs, such as the duty of circumcision on the eighth day taking The Understanding the Books of the Bible study series helps readers understand the biblical story by not only talking about what the authors wrote, but also how they wrote. Paul expresses this conception in the words "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." This summary of the Gospel of John provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, John records only seven miracles, considerably less than the number reported in the Synoptic Gospels. His hope was that he might write one that was not only true but that offered a presentation of the Christian faith that would overcome the objections of its critics and gain the respect of the educated and cultured people of his day. None of the evangelists had the intention to write a complete description of the life... 3. Instead, these study guides focus on understanding the message and meaning of one book. In reply, Jesus says, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the power of God might be displayed in his life." How can God, who is conceived as an eternal, omniscient, and omnipotent being, have any direct contact with that which is temporal, changing, and limited by the conditions of space and time? Jn. In the Gospel of John, the central theme is the divine Logos, the word that was with God and that was God. This is the King James Version of the Audio Bible. (such as to supplement the other Gospels, to combat some form of heresy, to In general, two views of the dating of this Gospel have been advocated: The second view has found favor because it has been felt more recently that Only God can impart the power to human beings to do this. John is so different from the rest of the gospels. of John has many touches that appear to reflect the recollections of an eyewitness -- such He was prominent in the early church but The author is John the apostle. “Gospel” is the name given to early … Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. also unique among the Gospels; here focus is on the "signs" of Jesus' identity bookmarked pages associated with this title. For example, the story of Jesus' turning water into wine is interpreted to mean the contrast between the old and the new dispensations. (Books of the Bible are typically listed in the front of the Bible.) In one of the discourses, Jesus explains his relation to God the Father by using the parable of the vine and the branches. John's account of the ministry of Jesus consists of two parts. In other words, how can divinity ever be united with humanity unless one thereby becomes involved in a contradiction of terms? In this connection, Jesus speaks of going to the Father in order that the Comforter or Spirit of God may be present in the hearts and minds of the believers and thus continue through the church the work that Jesus did while dwelling in their midst, which is John's version of the second coming. The first twelve chapters describe Jesus' public ministry, beginning with his meeting John the Baptist and closing with the visit of the Greeks who came to worship at the Feast of Passover. The Logos is identified with God and is the spirit that dwelt in the human being known as Jesus of Nazareth. Authorship Quite often, recognizing whether a passage is poetry, proverb, or history and discerning how the author built his book will unlock its meaning for today's reader. it, but hard to explain otherwise. in the world (see 4:34 and note). Further, the statement in 5:2 that there "is" Jesus' last words — "It is finished" — carry a double meaning, for they indicate not only that Jesus is about to die but that the whole purpose of the incarnation is now complete. That it was done in the person of Jesus is all the evidence needed to assure that triumph over evil is a possibility for humans and that the ultimate overthrow of the forces of evil is something that has now been made certain. John stresses that love for God is shown by keeping His commandments (1 Jn. As John sees it, no human being using only his own strength can overcome the forces of evil. The point is illustrated even further in the story of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, in which Jesus says that unless a person is born of the water and the spirit, that person cannot see the kingdom of God. the Bread of Life (. Each of these stories is used as an introduction to a discourse concerning the significance of Jesus and his message in relation to the quality of a person's life. Outline of the Book of 1 John God is light, and love is the supreme commandment - 1 John 1:1-2:17. He believes that the function of the Christian church is to follow the guidance and direction of this spirit until the whole world has been transformed into a kingdom of God. We may be sure that the language used is that of John rather than of Jesus, for it contains the same type of statements used throughout the Gospels, and there are places where Jesus is referred to in the third person, but this is a relatively unimportant item.