John: More Resources |
Here is some additional information that will add to understanding of John’s Gospel. Don’t forget to check the Frequently Asked Questions section for answers to often asked questions.
Click on the topic below and you’ll be taken to the information:
The Gospel of John – Just the Facts. Not enough to do a book report, but this will give you some basic facts and a quick orientation.
The Contents of John – A Quick Overview and Rundown. Most people have a difficult time trying to find the organization scheme of the Gospel of John. Here’s something that might help.
Why study the Gospel of John? It’s a fair question. See how Bible scholar Merrill C. Tenney answers it.
How do the four Gospels compare to each other? As our book discusses, the Gospel of John is distinctively different from the other three Gospels. Here is a side-by-side comparison.
Chronology for the Trials, Crucifixion & Resurrection of Christ. Sometimes it is difficult to find which Gospel contains a particular feature of these important events. Here is a chronological listing (with the references to where it can be found in the Bible).
The Gospel of John – Just the Facts
Only got time for a brief “cram plan” on the Gospel of John? Well, here it is:
Author |
John the apostle; he was a “son of Zebedee; the brother of James; together with his brother, they were called “the sons of Thunder” |
To Whom Written: |
To new Christians and to individuals who were considering the claims of Christ; not written to any specific ethnic group or nationality |
Date Written: |
Probably in the range of A.D. 85-90 |
Purpose: |
To establish that Jesus is the Son of God and the sole means of eternal salvation through belief in Him |
Social Circumstance: |
Jerusalem had been destroyed in A.D. 70 |
Prominent Persons: |
Jesus (of course); John the Baptist; the disciples; Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Christ’s mother, Pilate and Mary Magdalene |
Prominent Places: |
The countryside of Judea; Samaria, Galilee, and the cities of Bethany and Jerusalem |
Key Verses: |
John 20:30-31 Jesus’ disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life. |
What makes this Gospel Different: |
Only eight miracles are reported in this Gospel, but six of them are not mentioned in the other Gospels; 90% of the Gospel is unique to John and not found in the other Gospels. This Gospel does not contain much of the more traditional biographical information, but it includes an intimate “insider’s” perspective, such as the famous “Upper Room Discourse” of John 14-17. |
The Contents of John – A Quick Overview and Rundown
If you have a difficult time trying to get a handle on the Gospel’s organization, don’t be discouraged. Scholars can’t seem to agree on how to outline the Gospel of John. It was not chronologically organized by the author (except that the account of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ appears at the end). Some scholars try to show that the Gospel was organized according to themes; others try to find significance in the order of the reported miracles.
The Gospel of John seems to have a unifying theme that resists any traditional organization scheme. So, perhaps the best we can do in presenting an overview of the contents is to list them (by chapters) rather than trying to categorize them. Maybe this can serve as a quick reference guide for you if you are trying to find a particular subject:
Chapters and Verse |
Content |
1:1 – 18 |
The Word Becomes Flesh |
1:19 – 2:25 |
Testimony about Jesus |
3:1 – 36 |
Jesus and Nicodemus |
4:1 – 54 |
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman |
5:1 – 47 |
Jesus’ Teaching on Life |
6:1 – 70 |
Jesus’ Teaching on the Bread of Life |
7:1 – 52 |
Jesus Faces Opposition |
8:1 – 59 |
Jesus Claims to be God |
9:1 41 |
Jesus Heals the Man Born Blind |
10:1 – 42 |
Jesus as the Good Shepherd |
11:1 – 57 |
Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead |
12:1 – 50 |
Jesus Predicts His Death |
13:1 – 38 |
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet |
14:1 – 16:33 |
The Upper Room Discourse |
17:1 – 26 |
Jesus’ Final Prayer |
18:1 – 19:42 |
The Crucifixion |
20:1 – 21:25 |
The Resurrection |
Bible scholar Merrill C. Tenney gave this reason: “Although [John] deals with the same broad sequence of events to be found in the pages of the [other Gospels], it is quite different in structure and in style. It contains no parables and only seven miracles, five of which are not recorded elsewhere. The discourses of Jesus in it are concerned chiefly with his person rather than with the ethical teaching of the kingdom. Personal interviews are multiplied, and Jesus’ relationship to individuals is stressed more than His general contact with the public. The Gospel is strongly theological, and it deals particularly with the nature of His person and with the meaning of faith in Him.”
How Do the Four Gospels Compare to Each Other
This chart is intended to give you a quick overview of the four gospels with a side-by-side comparison:
Gospel: |
Matthew |
Mark |
Luke |
John |
Author: |
Matthew |
John Mark |
Luke |
John |
Author’s Occupation |
Tax Collector |
Traveling Companion |
Physician |
Fisherman |
Author’s Nationality |
Jew |
Jew |
Gentile |
Jew |
Author’s Perspective |
As a Disciple |
As a Missionary |
As a Missionary |
As a Disciple |
Written to: |
Jews |
Romans |
Greeks |
The world |
Presents Christ as: |
King |
Servant |
Son of Man |
Son of God |
Chronology for the Trials, Crucifixion & Resurrection of Christ
We thought you might appreciate getting a little broader perspective on these events, so we have included references to the other Gospel accounts:
Jesus on Trial – Religious Trials |
|
Before Annas |
John 18:12-14 |
Before Caiaphas |
Matthew 26:57-68 |
Before the Sanhedrin |
Matthew 27:1-2 |
Jesus on Trial – Civil Trials |
|
Before Pilate |
John 18:28-38 |
Before Herod |
Luke 23:6-12 |
Before Pilate |
John 18:39-19:6 |
Crucifixion Events |
|
Jesus offered drugged drink to lessen pain |
Matthew 27:34 |
Jesus crucified |
Matthew 27:35 |
Jesus cries, “Father, forgive them” |
Luke 23:34 |
Soldiers gamble for Jesus’ clothing |
Matthew 27:35 |
Jesus mocked by observers |
Matthew 27:39 Mark 15:29 |
Jesus ridiculed by the two thieves |
Matthew 27:44 |
One of the thieves believes |
Luke 23:39-43 |
Jesus tells the thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise” |
Luke 23:43 |
Jesus speaks to Mary, “Behold thy son” |
John 19:26-27 |
Darkness falls on the scene |
Matthew 27:45 Mark 15:33 Luke 23:44 |
Jesus cries, “My god, my God” |
Matthew 27:46-47 Mark 15:34-36 |
Jesus cries, “I thirst” |
John 19:28 |
Jesus cries, “It is finished” |
John 19:30 |
Jesus cries, “Father, into thy hands” |
Luke 23:46 |
Jesus releases His spirit |
Matthew 27:50 Mark 15:37 |
Resurrection Events |
|
Three women start for the tomb |
Luke 23:55-24:1 |
The women find the stone rolled away |
Luke 24:2-9 |
Mary Magdalene leaves to tell the disciples |
John 20:1-2 |
Mary, mother of James, sees the angels |
Matthew 28:1-2 |
Peter and John arrive at the empty tomb |
John 20:3-10 |
Mary Magdalene sees angels & Jesus |
John 20:11-18 |
Mary, mother of James, returns with others |
Luke 24:1-4 |
These women see the angels |
Luke 24:5 Mark 16:5 |
The angel states that Jesus has risen |
Matthew 28:6-8 |
They are met on departing by Jesus |
Matthew 28:9-10 |
Other Post-Resurrection Appearance of Jesus |
|
To Peter |
Luke 24:34 1 Corinthians 15:5 |
To disciples on the road to Emmaus |
Luke 24:13-31 |
To the apostles (Thomas absent) |
Luke 24:36-45 John 20:19-24 |
To the apostles (Thomas present) |
John 20:24-29 |
To seven by the Lake of Tiberius |
John 21:1-23 |
To about 500 in Galilee |
1 Corinthians 15:6 |
To James in Jerusalem and Bethany |
1 Corinthians 15:7 |
To many at the ascension |
Acts 1:3-12 |
To Paul near Damascus |
Acts 9:3-6 1 Corinthians 15:8 |
To Stephen when he was killed |
Acts 7:55 |
To Paul in the temple |
Acts 22:17-19 Acts 23:11 |
To John on Patmos |
Revelation 1:10-19 |