John
Introduction
(dark type is new information for this lesson; light type was information covered in the previous
class.)
Background
John is a first century document
The action took place between 30 – 36 AD because Pilate was removed from his position by Tiberius Caesar in 36 AD.
The Jewish revolt took place between 66-70 AD
This book was written to second and third generation Christians who still had an apostolic witness living among them in the man of John.
Author
Christianity is a historical
religion.
The apostles are the link between
the historical events and our understanding today.
The book of John is the
eyewitness account of the life of Jesus by one of his disciples, John.
The author:
a)
Was a Jew
b)
Had first hand
knowledge of the cities, places, and the lay of the land in
c)
Was very familiar
with
d)
Understood Judaism
and its practices, beliefs and schools of thought.
Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons, Gaul
in 177 AD says that John the apostles “issued” (“exedoke” meaning “gave out or
“published”) this gospel in Ephesus. He said:
“John, the discipleof the Lord, who also had
leaned upon his breast, had himself
published a gospel during his residence in
The Muratorian Fragment from 170
lists the books accepted by the church at this time. Along with listing the names of the books it
also tells the origin of each book. This
Muratorian Fragment tells that John was the author of this book.
Date
Irenaeus says that John lived
until the reign of Trajan. Trajan began
to reign in 98 AD and continued until 117.
Even early Christians believed
and wrote that John’s gospel was the fourth gospel.
So church history is unanimous
that Matthew, Mark and Luke where already in existence when John wrote his gospel.
This helps us to understand why
John is different than the first three gospels and does not repeat many of the same stories and
teachings. John gives us a different
look than what was already
available.
93% of John’s material does not
occur in the other three Gospels (called “Synoptics” because they are all similar)
Clement of
Critics have placed the writing
of John around 160 AD.
But we have references by writers
before that date apparently referring to John’s gospel:
1)
Justin Martyr (145
AD) writes:
a.
“Christ said, ‘Except
you be regenerated you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.’ ”
b.
“It is plain that it
is impossible for those who were born once for all to enter into their mothers
womb” (John 3:3-5)
2)
Tatian a disciple of
Justin Martyr wrote a harmony of the four gospels, known as the Diatessaron,
before 170 AD. If the Gospel of John had
recently been forged it would not have qualified to be included.
3)
Ignatiaus who was
martyred around 117 under Trajen apparently quotes from the gospel of John
twice:
a.
John 3:8 when he says
the Spirit knows “whence it cometh, and whither it goeth”
b.
John 7:38 where he
says he no longer has a desire for material things but only “the living water.”
4)
Egerton Papyrus 2 – Three papyrus codex leaves
where acquired in 1925 that come from the 110-140 AD. The author of these papyri where familiar
with the book Gospel of John where they make references to John 5: 39, 45;
9:29; 7:30; 10:39
Egerton Pyparias from 110-140
AC
5) John Ryland manuscript is a codex fragment of a copy of the gospel of John from 110-130 AD that contains John 18:31-33 on one side and 18:37, 38 on the other.
John Ryland’s Manuscript from
110-130 AD
Place of Writing
Destination
For Greek readers both believers
and unbelievers because :
1)
Prologue is in Greek
thought
2)
John:
a.
Explains Jewish
customs
b.
Translates Jewish
names
c.
Locates Palestinian
sites
3) 12:20-22 tells us that the
Greeks came asking “to see Jesus.”
Occasion
This book is not directly any of these:
a) written for a specific occasiioin
b) contain a personal preface as does Luke
c) not simply a collection of information like Mark
d) dedicated to any person
e) a complete narrative
f) an essay
g) not a strong recording of history to reflect a time or place
This book does seem to be a defensive writing to strengthen the true theological foundations of the church.
The occasion may be to combat the rise of Cerinthus teaching (early Gnosticism)
Cerinthus taught that Jesus was merely human. He was possessed by the spirit of Christ at his baptism. This spirit of Christ left Jesus at the cross.
Church history records John and Cerinthus meeting and having
verbal exchanges during John’s time in
Purpose
1)
Present Jesus as
divine. Although the first three gospel
do the same this was one of John’s key reasons.
John begins with the Word becoming flesh in 1:1 until Thomas exclaims
“My Lord and My God” in 20:28.
2)
John’s purpose
statement is found in John 20:30-31
3) John’s purpose was clearly evangelistic and that seems to be mainly among the Greeks.
4)
The verb “Believe”
(“pisteuo”) is used 98 times in the book.
But, the noun “faith” (“pistis”) is never used.
5)
John may have been writing (as he clearly does
in 1 John) to combat some false teachings and heresies that had come into
Christianity.
Outline
I. Prologue (1:1-18
II. Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry (1:19-51)
III. Jesus’ Public Ministry (chapters 2-11)
1) The seven signs
2) The seven discourses
IV. The Last Week (chapters 12-19)
V. The Resurrection (20:1-29)
VI. Purpose Statement (20:30-31)
VII. Epilogue (chapter 21)
I. The Prologue: Proposal for Belief (1:1-18)
II. The Presentation for Belief (1:19-4:54)
III. The Reactions of Belief and Unbelief (5:1 – 6:71)
IV. The Crystallization of Belief and Unbelief (7:1 – 11:53)
V. The Crisis of Belief and Unbelief (11:54 – 12:50)
VI. The Assurance for Belief (13:1 – 17:26)
VII. The Rejection by Unbelief (18:1 – 19:42)
VIII. The Vindication of Belief (20:1-31)
IX. Epilogue: The Dedication of Belief (21:1-25)
Problems
1)
Textual evidence
shows 7:53-8:1 are not part of the original
2)
Some believe chapter
20:31 was the original ending of the book and that chapter 21 was added later
by John or someone else.
a.
No manuscripts have
ever been found without chapter 21.
Information
1) Key
words are:
a.
Witness
b.
Love
c.
Abide
d.
Counselor
e.
Light
f.
Life
g.
Darkness
h.
Word
i.
Glorify
j.
True
k.
Real
3)
These things are
omitted in John’s gospel:
a.
Genealogy
b.
Birth
c.
Baptism
d.
The Temptations
e.
Exorcising Demons
f.
Parables
g.
Transfiguration
h.
Institution of the
Lord’s supper
i.
Agony in
j.
The Ascension
4) The Seven Signs – John focused on seven signs to prove Jesus was God
- Turning
Water into Wine at
- The Healing of the Nobleman's Son
- The Healing of the Palsied Man
- The Feeding of the Five Thousand
- The
Storm on the
- The healing of the Blind Man
- The Raising of Lazarus from Death
5)
Each of the seven signs are followed by a
discourse by Jesus explaining the sign.
|
Signs
In JOHN |
||
|
Sign |
Book of John (Referance) |
Central Truth |
|
1 Changing Water to Wine |
2:1-11 |
Point to Jesus as the Source of all the blessings of God's
FUTURE (see ISA. 25:6-8 JER. 31: 11-12 and Amos 9:13-14 |
|
2 Healing the Offical's Son |
4:43-54 |
Points to Jesus as the Giver of Life |
|
3 Healing The Invalid at |
5:1-15 |
Points to Jesus as the father's Coworker |
|
4 Feeding the Five Thousand |
6:1-15 25-69 |
Points to Jesus as the Life-Giving Bread |
|
5 Walking on Water |
6:16-21 |
Points to Jesus as the Divine I AM |
|
6 Healing the Man Born Blind |
9:1-41 |
Points to Jesus as the Giver of Spiritual Sight |
|
7 Raising of Lazarus |
11:1-44 |
Points to Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life |
6)
There are Seven “I
am” statements by Jesus
a.
6:35 – “I am the
bread of life”
b.
8:12 – “I am the
light of the world”
c.
10:7 – “I am the gate
for the sheep” (10:9)
d.
10:11 –“I am the good
shepherd” (10:14)
e.
11:25 – “I am the
resurrection and the life”
f.
14:6 – “I am the way
and the truth and the life”
g.
15:1 – “I am the true
vine” (15:5)
7) There are four Passovers in the book of John
a. John 2:23
b. John 5:1
c. John 6:4
d. John 11:5
8) Places
in
a. Five colonnades at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:2)
b. Colonnade of Solomon at the outer edge of the temple enclosure where Jesus taught (John 10:23)
c. The Praetorium (palace by temple where Pilate dwelt) (John 18:28
d. The Stone Pavement where Jesus stood before the Pilate and the Praetorium (John 19:13)
e.
f. Joseph’s garden and tomb where Jesus was buried (19:41)
9) John’s
details about Judea,
10) Historical events that John writes about:
a. John the Baptist (1:19-37; 3:2-36; 4:1)
b. Herod’s rebuilding of the temple (2:20)
c. High priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas (18:13-14)
d. Pontius Pilate (18:28 – 19:16, 38)
11) John does not write about:
a. Roman
occupation of
b. Current Political situations directly
c. The Church by calling it “the church”
d. The organization of the local church
12) Personal Interviews with Jesus recorded by John
a. Nicodemus
in
b. Wth
woman of
c. The
Nobleman of
d. The
Paralytic in
e. The Blind man (9:1-38)
f.
Mary and Martha in
13) Six conflicts with the Jews are mentioned
a. 2:18-20
b. 5:16-47
c. 6:41-59
d. 7:15-44
e. 8:31-58
f. 10:22-39
14) Theological Themes
a. Jesus in the incarnation of the eternal God
b. The Atonement – Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb of God
c. Eternal Life
d. The person and function of the Holy Spirit
e. Belief – Belief is equated with:
i. Receiving (1:12)
ii. Following (1:40)
iii. Drinking (4:13)
iv. Responding 4:51)
v. Eating (6:57)
vi. Accepting (6:60)
vii. Worship (9:38)
viii. Obeying (11:39-41)
ix. Commitment (12:10-11)