The Gospel of John

Background Info.

• 180 AD: St. Irenaeus states that the fourth Gospel is written by “the beloved disciple” -- John, the son of Zebedee & brother of James

• Irenaeus: believed Gospel written in Asia Minor (Turkey)

• For centuries: this was common belief

Today’s thinking…

• Scholars believe that Irenaeus may have confused John the apostle with another John who was a church elder and disciple of the apostle.

• Others: the Gospel is complex, and perhaps was written in stages by different people.– Eg: Material appears 2x - with slight variation: 6:35-50

and 6:51-58

• John 21: for some is an appendix added on by a later editor

Common theory today….

• Catholic scholars: the experience of the apostle John, led to the foundation of the Gospel– Gathered in Ephesus (Turkey)– Had community of followers– These disciples took what the apostle had said and

later compiled it into a form of ‘John’s Gospel’– This disciple is the one who vouches for these things

and has written them down, and we know that this testimony is true”

When?

• Between 90 - 100 AD• 130 AD: a fragment of John’s Gospel, written on

papyrus, is found in Egypt– AKA: The John Rylands fragment

• Earliest known fragment of any New Testament book

• Proves that Gospel was wide spread through Mediterranean - only years after compilation

What? Why?• Author: Probably knew about the Synoptics, but

didn’t use them heavily (doesn’t follow the source criticism we have today)

• Relies heavily on the words of the disciples of John

• Diverse audience: Jewish-Christians who suffered at hands of Jews – (remember: Jewish-Christians expelled from Temple

and Synagogues)

• John’s community most likely left Palestine - came to Turkey

Stylistic Components of John

• 1.Poetic Form:– Clear: Prologue & John 17– The remainder of the text: at least semi-poetic --not

necessarily the same type of rhythmic pattern found in the O.T., but a from that has lines that are the same length & each has a ‘closing’ clause

– Some suggest, that because of this pattern, the text should be written in a poetic form…the fact is: Jesus speaks more solemnly than in the Synoptics

2. ‘Misunderstandings’

• Although Jesus is from above (and speaks the truth), he uses language “from below” - the people’s language to speak to convey his message

• Jesus - explains something, but its not understood right away…the people are left questioning, allowing his followers to question; thus allowing Jesus to explain his thought more thoroughly - Johannine theology comes out…

3. Twofold Meanings

• Double meanings can be found as to what Jesus says• (a) There are plays on various meanings of given words

Jesus uses - meanings based on either Greek / Hebrew. The dialogue partner may take up one meaning, while Jesus means something else.– ie: 4:10 - “Living water” [flowing water or life-giving water]

– 11:50-52 - “die for” [instead” or “on behalf of”]

3. Continued

• (b) John: intends the reader to see several layers of meaning in the same narrative / same metaphor

• John’s authorship 2-fold: meaning for the historical context of Jesus & then what does it mean for the Christian community that John is writing to

3. Continued

• (c) Duplicate speeches -- Jesus occasionally repeats himself

• He says something that’s already been reported - almost to the point of a verse-for-verse comparison…though at times they have different tone to it

• Possible an editor (redactor) added these, figuring they should not be lost / have importance– 3:31-36 to 3:7-18– 10:9 to 10:7-8– 16:4b-33 to Chapter 14

4. Irony

• Combination of 2-fold meaning & misunderstanding - found when opponents make statements about Jesus that are degrading, sarcastic, or incredulous

• Irony: these statements are often true / more meaningful in a sense that the speakers do not realize– 3:2– 7:35– 11:50

5. Inclusions and Transitions

• Inclusion: meaning John mentions detail (or allusions) at the end of a section that matches similar detail @ the beginning…– It’s a way of packaging sections together

• [1:28 & 10:40 or 11:4 & 11:40]

• Transition: “swing” motif to switch from one subdivision of the Gospel to another -- it concludes what has happened before and introduces something else.

6. Parentheses or footnotes

• John employs parentheses to explain the meaning of a Semitic terms / names– ie: “Messiah,” “Cephas,” or “Siloam”

• Also, its used to explain geographical features– ie: 3:24, 4:8, 9:14,22-23 et al.

• For theological perspectives (clarifying references or standpoint[s])

• Some may reflect a situation where a tradition transmitted at first in one context (Palestinian or Jewish) is now being proclaimed in another context (diaspora or Gentile).

…background continued…

• Samaritan Converts (Jn 4:4-42)

• No doubt that Asia Minor would have provided an audience of Gentile Christians

Why did John write this Gospel?

• 1. Maybe he was correcting heretical ideas that denied Jesus’ divinity– Remember John’s focus: spirituality

• 2. Maybe trying to correct the still present followers of John the Baptist (whom they believed to be the Messiah)– John: JBap is subordinate to Jesus

• 3. Strengthen Christians & their belief in Jesus as God’s Son– As a result: Gospel gained converts

• 4. John: stressing the importance of Jesusas the “revealer of God,” unique Son of the Father, & Savior of the world. Emphasis on theology– Storytelling (Mark)– Teaching (Matthew)– History (Luke

• Eternal Life: ever-present theme in John

• Jesus is God & lives forever -- He’s eternal life

• Through faith in Jesus - God offers us eternal life -- right now– Eternal life/relationship with Jesus “so that our

joy may be complete” (1 Jn 1:4).

How was John written?

• Similar to Synoptics, because he uses a secondary sources. 2 Major Sources:

• 1. Collections of miracles [“signs source”]– 7 miracle signs = same in synoptics– Unique to John: changing of water to wine at Cana– Unique to John: raising of Lazarus

• 2. A version of the passion / resurrection narratives -- would have been in circulation many years before any of the gospels were written

Comparison to Synoptics:

• John 17:5 - Jesus’ recognition that he was present/existing w/God prior to coming into the world.

• Public ministry: set in Jerusalem, rather than Galilee

• Absence of the Kingdom of God motif• Long discourses/dialogues rather than parables

(though some stories may be similar)• No diabolic possessions (& therefore exorcisms)• Very restricted # of miracles (7?) - including the

‘unique ones.’

Random fact:

• B. de Solages (French):– 15.5% of John’s death and resurrection,

parallels that of Mark– The parallels to Mark in the Matthean and

Lucan passion narratives would be four times higher

Similarities to Synoptics:• 1st: Similarity of John the Baptist & concluding with the

passion & empty tomb• Mark

– Sequence of events in John 6 and Mark 6:30-54; 8:11-33

• Luke– More in terms of wording/figures: Martha, Mary, Lazarus, &

Annas– Lack of the ‘night trial before Caiaphas– 3 “not guilty” statements in the Pilate trial– Post-resurrection appearances in Jerusalem to male disc.– Draught of fishes (Jn. 21)

• Matthew– Jn. 13:16 with Matt. 10:24– Jn. 15:18-27 with Matt. 10:18-25

The Prologue [Theme 1]• The words: different than any other Gospel account

• John shows Jesus’ identity: as the “Word” which has existed forever

• Term “Word” appeals to both Gentile-Christian and Jewish-Christian– O.T.: “the Word of God” = referred to God’s activity in

creation [when God speaks, things come alive] -- also symbol of God’s wisdom [shown through prophets]

– Grk. Philosophy: ‘Logos’ was the spiritual principle that holds the world together. Others: Logos had knowledge of salvation

Theme 2: The Incarnation

• Chap. 1 Verse 1: Identifies Jesus as God’s pre-existing Word (who is God)– Verse 14: God became human

• Doctrine of the Incarnation - mystery of God’s only son becoming truly human in Jesus. Jesus is “God-in-the-flesh”

• God: seen in Jesus’ love, power, & ‘radiance’• “Christ comes to us from above; he reveals the

Father to us and takes us to him.– Main premise of Theme 2

Theme 3: Testimony• Prologue: John the Baptist is put into place• JBap is to proclaim Jesus as forthcoming and

‘testify to his pre-existence’• JBap comes before the others who will proclaim

who Jesus is in the remainder of the Gospel– The Samaritan woman– Martha & the crowd at Lazarus’ raising– The 12– The ‘beloved disciple’– Jesus himself– The Father & the Holy Spirit– The 7 Miracles / Signs

Theme 4: Major Contrasts

• Presentation of contrasts found within the prologue:– Light of Christ vs. the darkness (which refuses

to acknowledge Jesus)– Unbelief vs. faith in Jesus (which makes us the

children of God)– Truth vs. untruth

Book of Signs Synoptics: view miracles as God’s

coming presence into the world. John: different concept. Reports 7

‘signs’ (Grk: semeia)– “marvelous events that reveal Jesus

and his Father.” We can’t fully understand the

‘signs,’ only partially grasp what they are.

Long discourse usually follows the ‘sign’ so the reader understands.

Sign One: Water to Wine

Wedding: symbol of life Jesus: brings us new life (purpose of

miracle to show this) Water: represents the old covenant &

wine represents the new (St. Paul)

Key Discourse: Jesus & Samaritan Woman

Between first and second ‘sign’ Jesus: ignoring 1st century Jewish norms…

– Woman is a Samaritan– Woman is a sinner

Jesus: speaks of ‘living water’ - new life; where the woman is. Woman wonders how Jesus could provide that, and Jesus explains…

Jesus: reveals he’s the Messiah - source of eternal life.

Sign Two: Cure of Official’s Son

Jesus’ word: enough to heal an official’s son from the town of Capernaum

The boy’s father - his faith - made the miracle possible

Intercessory Prayer: the Lord will notice and respond to our concern for others

Sign Three: Cure of the Paralytic Curing a man who’s been “lame” for 38 yrs. Association w/sin - Jesus is forgiving the

‘sinful’ Healing: Takes place on the Sabbath. Jesus: claiming to be equal to God. The point: Jesus is the source of life, must

turn to him… (Jn. 5:1-47) -- We see John use the term “the

Jews” almost to the point of anti-Semitism. Rather, it’s an expression John uses to clarify those who don’t wish to follow Jesus & give him a hard time along the way.

Signs 4 & 5: 5000 & walking on water Jesus feeds the crowd, but needs to escape -

before they “make him king” “Bread of Life” discourse - explaining Jesus as

this…– “I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will

ever hunger; no one who believes in me will ever thirst” (6:34-35)

Clear reference to the Eucharist. Father: source of Jesus’ life; Jesus: the source of

our life (bread of life) Many abandoned Jesus - Peter and the 12 stay &

trust him… Jesus walking on water: reveals, he is the Holy

One of God

Sign 6: The Blind Man He obeys Jesus - washes in the Pool

of Siloam and receives his sight– Begins to believe in Jesus as the Son of

God– Does not criticize Jesus, despite he’s

kicked out of the synagogue Message: Jesus is the light that has

come into the world– Some, like the Pharisees remain in the

dark; unwilling to take and follow Jesus– Jesus: ‘spiritual blindness is worse than

physical bindness’

Sign 7: Raising of Lazarus It’s a foretelling of Jesus’ own death and

resurrection On his way to Jerusalem: Jesus learns of his

friend’s death. He’s waiting for a sign from his Father. He tells Martha that he is “the resurrection.”– We see also: Jesus has emotions, is a human.– He cries, prays in remorse and thanks God for

answering his prayer Finally: Calls Lazarus out of the tomb “The Jews” response: Caiaphas - says that it

is better for one man to die so that the nation will survive. Irony used…Jesus’ death: has indeed saved the people

The seventh miracle: ties the others together…

Jesus is the way to life Jesus is the Resurrection Jesus is God Then, we must have faith if we

want to gain eternal life.

Book of Glory

2nd Part of John’s Gospel 2 Major Sections:

The Last Supper discourses (13:1 - 17:26) Jesus’ death & resurrection (18:1 - 20:31)

The Last Supper discoursesThe Last Supper discourses Three words summarize this section:Three words summarize this section:

Service (13)Service (13) Love (14:1 - 16:4)Love (14:1 - 16:4) Unity (17:1-26)Unity (17:1-26)

John: The John: The Last SupperLast Supper, occurs on the , occurs on the day when the lambs are slaughtered day when the lambs are slaughtered for the Passoverfor the Passover Lambs: sacrificed to recall Yahweh Lambs: sacrificed to recall Yahweh

releasing Israelites from slavery in Egyptreleasing Israelites from slavery in Egypt Jesus: the Lamb of God whose Jesus: the Lamb of God whose

sacrifice frees all people from the sacrifice frees all people from the slavery of sinslavery of sin

ContinuedContinued

Meal begins: Jesus washes the feet of the Meal begins: Jesus washes the feet of the disciples -- a slave would not even have disciples -- a slave would not even have done this…done this… Jesus is an example: we must serve others as he Jesus is an example: we must serve others as he

serves -- Jesus attends to the needs of others…serves -- Jesus attends to the needs of others… Jesus: asks for belief in him: promising that Jesus: asks for belief in him: promising that

if we ask for anything in his name, he will do if we ask for anything in his name, he will do it -- and gives us the H.S. as ‘security’it -- and gives us the H.S. as ‘security’

Above all: Jesus asks we keep the Above all: Jesus asks we keep the commandments: especially commandments: especially to loveto love

John 15John 15

Jesus: telling of his great love for usJesus: telling of his great love for us As the Father loves him, so he loves As the Father loves him, so he loves

usus

Read John 15:13-14, 16-17Read John 15:13-14, 16-17 This is the heart of the GospelThis is the heart of the Gospel We’re not slaves of God - we’re the We’re not slaves of God - we’re the

people who are asked to continue God’s people who are asked to continue God’s work & God’s Lovework & God’s Love

ContinuedContinued

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