The gospel of John is the fourth book of the New Testament which recounts the life of Jesus. It is not one of three Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark or Luke because it is quite different in its coverage of the life of Christ.
Who Wrote the Gospel of John?
The author of this gospel does not give his name but Irenaeus, Eusebius and other early church fathers attribute the gospel to John. The writer states that he was "the disciple whom Jesus loved" and that he is the one who "testifies to these things and wrote them down." (21:20-24)
John was a fisherman, the son of Zebedee and Salome, and a brother to James. If Salome was a sister to Jesus' mother Mary (Matthew 27:55,56; Mark 15:40; John 19:25), then John and James were also cousins of Jesus. John was one of the first disciples called by Jesus and, together with Peter and James, were Jesus' closest companions.
John lived to be quite old, writing Revelation in his advanced age, and is believed to be the only apostle who died a natural death.
When was the Gospel of John Written?
John's gospel is generally dated around 85 to 90 AD when he was an older man. It is possible that John wrote his gospel earlier in life but most scholars believe his account was written after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD but before he was exiled to Patmos.
Why Was the Gospel of John Written?
The gospel of John was written for all Christians in general or those seeking to know about Christ. John concentrates on presenting evidence from events in Jesus' life to prove that he is the Son of God.
As he explains, "these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (20:31).
Outline of the Gospel of John
The gospel of John can be broken down into the following sections:
- The prologue, 1:1-18, reveals that Jesus is a deity who took on human form.
- The message and ministry of Jesus to the nation, 1:19 - 12:50, shows Jesus calling his disciples and the miracles he performs and his teachings through Judea, Galilee, Samaria and in Jerusalem.
- The message and ministry of Jesus to his disciples, 13:1 - 17:26, where he prepares the disciples for his death, warns them of the struggles they face and prays for them.
- The death and resurrection of Jesus, 18:1 - 21:25, details Jesus' trial, death and resurrection and his final conversation with Peter where he foretells Peter's death.
How the Gospel of John is Unique
Over 90% of John's gospel is different from the Synoptic gospels and he reports many unique details which are not found in the other gospels. The following list is just a small sample:
- Jesus is the "Word" who existed in the beginning with God and through whom all things were made. He became human and "made his dwelling among us." (1:1-18).
- John the Baptist declares his purpose and testifies that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah (1:19-34).
- Jesus claims to be the Son of God (5:19-47).
- Miracles recorded include Jesus turning water into wine (2:1-11), healing an official's son in Canaan (4:46-54), healing a lame man (5:1-6) and a man born blind (9:1-7) and raising Lazarus from the dead (11:1-45).
- Jesus talks to his disciples in what is known as the "Upper Room Discourse" (14:1 - 17:26) where he warns the disciples about the world's hatred, teaches about and promises them the Holy Spirit and prays for himself, his disciples and all future believers.
Summary of Gospel of John
According to John, Jesus performed miracles so that the world will "know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father" (10:38). He records his experiences and observations so that those reading his gospel will know that Jesus is their Savior and their path to eternal life in Heaven.
Sources:
- NIV Life Application Study Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1985).
- Tenney, Merrill C., "The Gospel of John" The Expositor's Bible Commentary with The New International Version (Volume 9). ed. Frank E. Gaebelein (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981), pp. 5-11.
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