John
📘 New Testament
🗺️ Overview
The Gospel of John presents Jesus as the eternal Son of God who reveals the Father and brings eternal life. With a distinct theological focus, John emphasizes belief, signs, and Jesus’ divine identity through carefully chosen events and teachings. Unlike the Synoptics, John includes extended dialogues and unique content like the “I Am” statements.
💡 John calls us to personal faith in Jesus as the Son of God. Through belief in His name, we receive eternal life. The Gospel invites us to abide in Christ, walk in light, and love as He loved.
🏛️ Historical & Cultural Notes
Insights into the cultural, historical, or geographical background of the book.
John’s Unique Structure
John organizes his Gospel around seven signs and seven “I Am” statements rather than chronology.
📚 Source: The Bible Project
High Christology
John emphasizes Jesus’ divine nature more overtly than the Synoptic Gospels.
📚 Source: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary
📊 Book at a Glance
- 📝 Author
- John, the beloved disciple
- 📅 Date
- c. AD 85–90
- 📖 Chapters
- 21
- 🏷️ Genre
- Gospel
- 📍 Location
- Judea and Jerusalem, with cosmic and eternal perspective
- 🧵 Main Themes
- Jesus as the Word made flesh, The divinity and humanity of Christ, Belief in Jesus brings eternal life, Signs that reveal Jesus’ glory, Love, truth, and spiritual rebirth, The Holy Spirit and abiding in Christ
📚 Outline
- Prologue: The Word and Light (Ch. 1)
- Signs and Belief (Ch. 2–12)
- Jesus’ Final Teachings and Prayer (Ch. 13–17)
- The Passion and Resurrection (Ch. 18–20)
- Post-Resurrection Appearance and Restoration (Ch. 21)
📖 Key Stories
The Word Became Flesh (John 1)
Jesus is introduced as the eternal Word who was with God and is God — becoming flesh to dwell among us.
Nicodemus and the New Birth (John 3)
Jesus teaches about spiritual rebirth, culminating in the declaration that God so loved the world.
The Woman at the Well (John 4)
Jesus offers living water and reveals His identity to a Samaritan woman, crossing social and cultural barriers.
The Raising of Lazarus (John 11)
Jesus demonstrates His power over death, pointing to His own resurrection and identity as the resurrection and the life.
The Last Supper and Farewell Discourse (John 13–17)
Jesus teaches His disciples about love, service, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The Crucifixion and Resurrection (John 19–20)
Jesus lays down His life and rises in victory, appearing to Mary Magdalene and the disciples.
👤 Key Figures
🔍 Christ Connections
How this book anticipates or reflects the person and work of Christ.
- FulfillmentJohn 1:29, John 6:35, John 10:11
Jesus fulfills the imagery and promises of the Old Testament — the temple, the lamb, the manna, the shepherd.
- ThemeJohn 1:18, John 17:3
Jesus reveals the Father and brings eternal life to all who believe.
- TypologyJohn 6, John 8, John 15
The signs in John point to deeper spiritual truths about who Jesus is — the Bread of Life, Light of the World, True Vine.
🧠 Key Verses
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” — John 1:1
“For God so loved the world…” — John 3:16
“I am the way and the truth and the life.” — John 14:6
“I am the resurrection and the life.” — John 11:25
“These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ…” — John 20:31
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