Introduction to the Gospel of John Part 1

Who was the Author?

Without getting into the deep weeds of the debate, let me just say that there has been quite a bit of disagreement about exactly which “John” was the writer of this Gospel.

• John the son of Zebedee (brother of James)
• John the Elder
• Disciples of John the Apostle wrote down the things he said

Only self-reference to author is “the disciple whom Jesus loved” or “the beloved disciple.”

Many of the eye-witness accounts are first-hand, inner circle kinds of reports

While it is safe for us to say that the beloved disciple was John son of Zebedee, other Biblical authorities make a case for this being a different John.  But there is ample references to make us fairly confident that John was one of the “sons of thunder,” the sons of Zebedee though other sources indicate it could have been a “John” who was not an apostle but who also followed Jesus and later became a church leader named “John the Elder.”

Why was John Written?

• Gnosticism growing in influence: Pushing back against false theology
• Provide a more non-Jewish theological framework
• Fill in gaps in timeline and events not recorded before
• Give an identity to an exiled community of Christians

What are the Distinctives?

 

What’s Missing?

Much if not all of the Galilean ministry of Jesus is missing

What’s Added?

• Miracles:
  • Water into wine
  • Healing of man at Pool of Siloam
  • Conversion of woman at the well
  • Encounter with adulteress woman
  • Raising of Lazarus
• Discourse at Lord’s Supper (Chapters 13-16)
• Prayer in Chapter 17
• Encounter with Peter in John 21

The Key Words in John

• Life
• Witness
• Light
• Truth
• Believe
• I Am
• Father
• Spirit

The “Signs” in John

• Water into wine (John 2:1-11)
• Healing of Capernaum officer’s son (John 4:46-54)
• Healing of paralytic at Bethesda (John 8:1-15)
• Feeding 5,000 (John 6:5-14)
• Jesus walking on water (John 6:16-24)
• Healing the blind man (John 9:1-7)
• Raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-48)

The “I Am” Statements

• I AM the bread of life (John 6:35)
• I AM the light of the world (John 8:12)
• I AM the door of the sheep (John 10:7)
• I AM the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)
• I AM the good shepherd (John 10:11)
• I AM the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6)
• I AM the true vine (John 15:1)