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JOHN IN COMPARISON TO THE SYNOPTICS

  • John, no doubt familiar with the Synoptics (Matthew, Mark and Luke), created his Gospel (about 90% new material) as a spiritual supplement to complement the others. John’s Gospel is more theologically profound and less historical.
  • John draws mainly upon events and discourses not found in the other Gospels to prove explicitly to his readers that Jesus is God in the flesh (1:1, 18; 20:28).
  • John’s gospel is topical, not merely chronological.
  • The Synoptics focus on the Galilean ministry, whereas John focuses on the Judean ministry.
  • Only two of John’s recorded miracles are found in the Synoptics (walking on water, feeding 5,000), the other six are unique to John.
  • John records the best eyewitness description of the Upper Room meal.
  • John mentions 3-4 Passovers (not just the last one), showing that Christ’s ministry was 3-3 _ years.
  • John omits the theme of the Kingdom, narrative parables, genealogies, the Transfiguration, Jesus’ childhood and temptation and many sayings of Christ found in the Synoptics. However, John includes much material not mentioned in the Synoptics (John 1-5, Lazarus’ resurrection, the reinstatement of Peter, the work of the Spirit and many extended dialogues). There are also many notable points of comparison between the two. In many ways, both John and the Synoptics explain each other.

UNIQUE CONTRIBUTIONS OF JOHN TO BIBLICAL TEACHING

  • In reporting the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus from a different perspective, John adds to the overall portrait of this highly significant event.
  • John elaborates the Sonship of Christ in His subordination and obedience to the Father (5:19ff).
  • John describes in detail as to what it means to be a people of God (election, origin, witness, sufferings, fruit-bearing, prayer, love, unity, nature).
  • John’s extended use of key biblical words ("believe"-98x’s, "love"-57x’s, "world"-78x’s and "Father"-137x’s) adds much to these specific studies.
  • The doctrine of election interestingly permanents this primarily evangelistic book. John deals with the mystery between personal faith and God’s sovereign choice.
  • John teaches the superiority of Jesus Christ as He replaces revered figures and institutions from the old covenant (i.e. temple, Passover).
  • No other gospel better preserves the ways in which Jesus was misunderstood by His contemporaries, including His own followers.
  • John helps to explain the tension between the present blessings of these "last days" and the fulness of the hope which is yet to come ("hour" theme-4:23; 5:25).
  • John presents numerous unique teachings on the person and work of the Holy Spirit (especially chapters 14-16).
  • The deity (1:1; 8:58; 10:30; 14:7; 20:28; 7 "I am" statements) and humanity (1:14; 2:12; 7:3-5; 4:6; 19:33-34) of Christ finds some of its clearest proof texts in the Gospel of John.
  • The doctrine of the Trinity finds its clearest New Testament articulation in John.

AUTHOR

  • John’s name is Ioannes (Greek), Johanan (Hebrew). It means, "Yahweh has been gracious".
  • John’s brother was James (Ac. 12:2); Jesus nicknamed both of them the "Sons of Thunder" (Mk. 3:17). John’s father was Zebedee and his mother was Salome. Salome was present at Jesus’ crucifixion (Mk. 15:40-41).
  • John (the youngest) was among the 12 to be selected as apostles (Lk. 6:12-16).
  • After the ascension, John (along with James and Peter) became one of the "pillars" of the church in Jerusalem (Gal. 2:9).
  • John is mentioned in three accounts in Acts (3:1, 4:13, 8:14), each time associated with Peter.
  • Tradition states that John went to Ephesus (around the late 60’s) and was eventually exiled to by the Romans to the island of Patmos (Rev. 1:9).
  • In addition to the Gospel, John also authored 1-3 John and Revelation.
  • It is believed that John was the only apostle who was not martyred for his faith.
  • John demonstrates Christ’s remarkable power. He was accepted as a Son of Thunder and changed into what he would become, the apostle of love.

DATE, PLACE AND AUTHORSHIP OF JOHN

  • It can be proved by manuscript discoveries (Rylands Fragment c. 135 AD) that John was written in the first century.
  • It is believed that John was written after the last Synoptic Gospel (66-68 AD).
  • The Gospel was probably written between 65-90 AD, before 1-3 John and Revelation.
  • According to tradition, John wrote this Gospel from Ephesus. Additionally, no specific audience is mentioned in the Gospel itself.
  • Internally, the author is only identified as the disciple "whom Jesus loved" (a token of brokenness, not arrogance-13:23, 20:2, 12:7, 20). It was spoken at the Last Supper (13:23). Only the apostles were at this meal (Mk. 14:17) and probably one of the "inner three" would constitute this title (John, James and Peter). Peter (and some other apostles) is mentioned separate from the beloved disciple in these accounts (13:23-24) and James was martyred too early to be the writer (Ac. 12:1-2). Additionally, John is not mentioned by name (unlike the Synoptics), whereas other relatively obscure apostolic members are, including Judas. Therefore we can be fairly confident that the author is John, who in humility deliberately avoids using his personal name.
  • The author’s knowledge of Palestinian geography and Jewish customs make it clear he was a Palestinian Jew.
  • The author pays meticulous attention to numbers (2:6, 6:13, 19, 21:8, 11) and names (1:45, 3:1, 11:1, 18:10) that indicate he was an eyewitness to fit his own claim (1:14, 9:35, 21:24-25).
  • External evidence also strongly supports Johannine authorship. Ireneaus (about A.D. 130-200), Clement of Alexandria (about A.D. 150-215), Tertullian, Theophilus of Antioch, Origen and others ascribe the book to John.
  • John was probably one of the last surviving eyewitnesses of the Lord.

PURPOSE AND THEME

  • The purpose for the gospel (possibly the clearest in all Scripture) is found in 20:30-31 (Ch. 1-12-seven signs that one "may believe," Ch. 13-21-close fellowship that one "may have life in His name"). The goal of the fourth Gospel is to address the identity (not kind) of the Christ (the Messiah, the Son of God) for evangelistic and apologetic purposes.
  • The theme is the dual response of faith (eternal life) and unbelief (judgment) regarding the true person of Christ, beginning in 1:11-12. Key words also outline several sub-themes throughout the book: truth, light, darkness, word, world, knowledge, belief, abide, love, witness, judgment, eternal life.

SURVEY OF THE BOOK

  1. (1:1-18) Prologue


  2. (1:19-10:42) Jesus’ Disclosure in Word and Deed
    1. (1:19-51) Prelude to Jesus’ Ministry
      1. (1:19-34) John The Baptist
      2. (1:35-51) Jesus’ First Disciples
    2. (2:1-4:54) Jesus’ Early Ministry
      1. (2:1-11) First Miracle-Changing Water Into Wine
      2. (2:12-17) Clearing the Temple
      3. (2:18-22) Destroying the Temple
      4. (2:23-25) Inadequate Faith
      5. (3:1-21) Dialogue with Nicodemus
      6. (3:22-36) John the Baptist’s Final Testimony
      7. (4:1-42) Dialogue with the Samaritan Woman
      8. (4:43-54) Healing of the Official’s Son
    3. (5:1-8:11) Signs, Works and Words in the Context of Rising Opposition
      1. (5:1-15) The Healing of the Paralytic
      2. (5:16-30) Christ’s Sonship to the Father
      3. (5:31-47) Witness Concerning Jesus
      4. (6:1-15) Feeding of the 5,000
      5. (6:16-21) Walking on the Water
      6. (6:22-58) Bread of Life Discourse
      7. (6:59-71) True Discipleship
      8. (7:1-13) Skepticism Amongst Family Members
      9. (7:14-44) Dialogue at the Feast of Tabernacles
      10. (7:45-52) First Organized Opposition from Jewish Authorities
      11. (7:53-8:11) The Woman Caught in Adultery
    4. (8:12-10:42) Signs, Works and Words in the Context of Radical Confrontation
      1. (8:12-59) Continued Dialogue at the Feast of Tabernacles
      2. (9:1-41) The Healing of the Blind Man
      3. (10:1-12) Jesus is the Good Shepherd
      4. (10:22-39) Opposition at the Feast of Dedication
      5. (10:40-42) Belief in Jesus
      6. (11:1-44) Death and Resurrection of Lazarus
      7. (11:45-57) Decision to Kill Jesus
      8. (12:1-11) Mary Anoints Jesus
      9. (12:12-19) Triumphant Entry to Jerusalem
      10. (12:20-36) Jesus Speaks of His Death

  3. (13:1-20:31) Jesus’ Disclosure of His Cross and Exaltation
    1. (13:1-30) The Last Supper
      1. (13:1-17) Washing the Disciples’ feet
      2. (13:18-30) Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
    2. (13:31-16:33) Upper Room Discourse
      1. (13:31-14:15) Jesus Comforts His Disciples
      2. (14:16-31) The Role of the Holy Spirit
      3. (15:1-11) The Vine and the Branches
      4. (15:12-17) Priority of Love
      5. (15:18-16:4) The World’s Hatred of Christ and His Disciples
      6. (16:5-15) The Promise of the Holy Spirit
      7. (16:23-33) Instruction on Prayer
    3. (17:1-26) High Priestly Prayer of Jesus
    4. (18:1-19:42) Trial and Passion of Jesus
      1. (18:1-11) The Arrest of Jesus
      2. (18:12-27) The Trial of Jesus Before the High Priest
      3. (18:28-19:16) The Trial of Jesus before Pilate
      4. (19:17-37) The Crucifixion of Jesus
      5. (19:38-42) The Burial of Jesus
    5. (20:1-31) The Resurrection of Jesus

  4. (21:1-25) Epilogue

Primary Source: An Introduction to the New Testament, Carson, Moo, Morris


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