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Questions :1. Who was John ?2. How do we know he wrote this gospel ?3. When and where was it written ?4. To whom was it written ?5. What style and approach was used ?6. What role of Jesus did John focus on ?7. Why did John write this Gospel ?8. What did John want to communicate ? 9. What is the structure & direction of his gospel ?
Question 1.
Who was John ?
John Israeli Jew Fisherman – sea of Galilee (Mk 1:19-20, Lk
5:10) One of sons of Zebedee Brother = James Fished with partners – Peter & Andrew Fishing business – hired employees (Mk 1:20) Previous follower of John the Baptist (Jn 1:40) After 1 year, called by Christ to be one of the
12 Part of the 3 closest disciples (+Peter+James) > Experienced closely – transfiguration,
gethsemane, raising Jairus daughter Later > Ministered with Peter (Acts 3-4) Jerusalem church leaders (Gal.2:9) Old – exiled to Island Patmos by Roman Govn
because evangelising for Christ – wrote Revelation
Question 2.
How do we know He wrote this gospel ?
How do we know?Issue . . Not recorded in the gospel we have that John wrote itExternal Evidence . . Major church fathers in AD180: Irenaeus & Theophilus
confirmInternal Evidence . . In-depth detail = He must have been eye-witness of Christ In-depth knowledge of Jewish customs, history, geography –
must have been a Palestinian Jew John 21:20 = “disciple whom Jesus loved” – must have been
one of the three closest disciples – Peter, James, John Not Peter = next sentences shows Peter is separate Not James = died too early – for message that he would not
die >> John = close disciple, eyewitness to all & only one to live
long life
Question 3.
When and Where
was the gospel written ?
When ? John assumed his readers knew Jesus life from other
gospels Written later in life - so he avoided repeating info from
other gospels 92% unique most likely approx. AD 85-95
Where ? Irenaeous states – wrote when in Ephesus Definitely in Asia Minor, before Patmos when
evangelising
Question 4.To whom did John write to ?(who was the audience?)
Audience ? All believers Especially to Gentiles :
Since written in Asia Minor (likely Ephesus where most believers were non-Jews)
Since explains the Jewish feasts & practices a lot
Question 5.
What was the style & approach John used?
John’s Approach & Style All Gospels written to be real aloud in sections
or read in private in sections – therefore written to be in clear units
Carefully selected miracles & teachings > So not to copy previous 3 ‘synoptic’
gospels everyone heard > unique material – 92%
Question 6.
What part of Jesus’ identity and role did John focus on ?
Jesus as God Throughout gospel – demonstrates – deity of
Christ That Jesus is God
Beginning (John 1:1) – declares Jesus is God End (John 20:28) – statement of Thomas
after seeing risen Christ – He is Lord and God
Claims “I am” – from the special title of God in Exodus 3:14 when God appears before Moses
The Tri-unity of God learnt from Scripture: Jesus is God yet distinct in person from the
Father & Holy Spirit (John ch.1 & ch.14-16)
Seven “I am” statements
Question 7.
Why did John write this Gospel - when 3 were already written ?
What was his purpose?
To >> EVANGELISE – direct evangelistic propaganda !
- with purpose to create belief & faith (like Mark – but different to Luke)
Key verse of purpose = at end of gospel – John 20:30-31
Verse 30 Jesus performed
many signs/miracles which John knew but did not record in this book
Verse 31 The signs/miracles
written by John are to fulfil a definite purpose –> (a) for you to choose to believer & (b) as a result have life now and for eternity in his name
PURPOSE Signs Believe
have Life
Seven signs of Jesus
Signs Change water into wine = reveals Jesus as master of
quality / substance – changing what a vine takes months to do
Healing Official’s Son = over 30 km away –reveals Jesus is master of distance & space
Healing the Lame man = suffering disability set in body for 38 years – reveals master of time
Feeds Multitudes = multiplies food – reveals master of quantity
Walk on water = reveals mastery over natural law Healing man born blind = reveals master over suffering
& misfortune Raising Lazarus from dead = reveals master over death
– demonstrate Jesus transcendent nature as God – control over factors of life: man is unable to control
to Believe Natural response to signs = BELIEVE or REJECT
Christ
Gospel written – to draw reader to > BELIEVE
Greek = ‘Pisteuo’ – more than believe – personal commitment to person / message
to have Life Believe > is the means to greater purpose >> have
life (Greek = zoe)
John 17:3 – life eternal is to know the only true God and His Son
Life = consciousness + connection + development + eternity in Christ
Question 10.
What messages did John communicate ?
Focus of John1. Jesus is divine (John 1 & 7 signs & ‘I am’)2.God loved the world > sent his Son (John 3:16)3. Jesus provided the way & New Covenant to all4. Jesus calls all to faith and new Life5. Jesus will send His the Holy Spirit
Question 9.What is the structure of John’s Gospel ?How do we follow the direction of John ?
Structure of John’s Gospel
Public Ministry to the multitudes
Growing rejection & attacks on Jesus
Private Ministry to equip the 12 apostles
Demonstration Son of God - Crucifixion & Resurrection
Direction of John’s Gospel
References: Books to Read … Benware, Paul (1990) Survey of the New
Testament.
Berding, Kenneth and Matt Williams (2008) What the New Testament Authors Really Cared About.
Tenney, Merrill C. (1997) New Testament Survey.
Recap: Can you answer these 10 Questions :1. Who was John ?2. How do we know he wrote this gospel ?3. When and where was it written ?4. To whom was it written ?5. What style was it written in ?6. Why did John write this Gospel ?7. What role of Jesus did John focus on ?8. What did John want to communicate ? 9. What is the structure of his gospel ?
Extra: Difference between ‘Religion’ & the Gospel Message
Extra: Difference between ‘Religion’ & the Gospel Message
Extra: Difference between Gospels and Islamic view of Jesus
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