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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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GOSPEL OF JOHN Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert INTRODUCTION [01 – (Introduction) 11/11/2009] A. TITLE 1. The
Title of John in the Greek is actually “kata Iōannęn” meaning
“according to John,” which itself was added to the text by a scribe (in loc.
Codex Sinaiticus). 2. The word “Gospel” was added later to all
of the Gospels (i.e Matthew, Mark, and Luke). B. AUTHORSHIP 1. Internal
Evidence a) In the
internal evidence of the Gospel, no author is named. This is not totally
surprising since a gospel is a narrative and not an epistle (letter). In
addition, it reveals the prominence and humility of John. b) However, the apostle John is alluded to in
the Gospel. (1) He
identifies himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (Jn 13:23; 19:26; 20:2,
21:7, 21:20, 24). (2) In Jn 21:20-24, the author specifically
identifies himself with the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” There are only three
disciples in Jesus’ inner circle, namely, Peter, James, and John (Mt 17:1; Mk
9:2), who could be this disciple. Peter is distinguished from the “disciple
whom Jesus loved” and James died to early for speculation to arise saying,
“He would not die.” Therefore, John is the only disciple left. Interestingly
enough, John was the only disciple who did not die a martyr’s death. (3) In Jn 19:26-27, this same disciple was
asked to take in Jesus’ mother Mary. Partly through the biblical account and
tradition we learn us that Mary lived with the apostle John until her death. (4) This particular disciple states that he
witnessed Christ’s glory (Jn 1:14) and Christ’s death (Jn 19:35). John would
repeat this witness in his first epistle (1Jn 1:1-3). Biblical content,
tradition, and reason point to John as the author of the Gospel According to
John. 2. External
Evidence a) There is
little controversy that the apostle John is the author of the “Gospel
According to Jesus.” This is perhaps in part because of the external
evidence. b) Irenaeus, a second century (A.D. 120-202)
Christian leader, verified that John wrote his Gospel. (1) … even as
the Gospel and all the elders testify; those who were conversant in Asia with
John, the disciple of the Lord, [affirming] that John conveyed to them that
information. And he remained among them up to the times of Trajan. (Against Heresies, 2.22.5) (2) Mark, the disciple and interpreter of
Peter, also handed down to us in writing what had been preached by Peter.
Luke also, the companion of Paul, set down in a book the Gospel preached by
him. Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord who reclined at His bosom
also published a Gospel, while he was residing at Ephesus in Asia. (Against Heresies, 3.1.1) c) Another
Church Father, by the name of Eusebius (A.D. 260-340), verified Irenaeus’
credibility and quoted Irenaeus, (1) For,
while I was yet a boy, I saw thee in Lower Asia with Polycarp ... so that I
can even describe the place where the blessed Polycarp used to sit and
discourse ... also how he would speak of his familiar intercourse with John,
and with the rest of those who had seen the Lord; and how he would call their
words to remembrance. (Irenaeus,
Letter to Florinus, ANF, I:568). d) Not only
is the authorship of John verified by external evidence, but its confirmation
is great that the Gospel of John is certainly part of the N.T. canon. The
Gospel According to John was probably written between A.D. 80-90. 3. Author a) There are
three known persons from John’s family other than John. They consist of: (1) Zebedee,
John’s father, who was a fisherman on Lake Galilee (Mt 4:21; Mk 1:19-20). (2) His mother was named Salome who could be
identified as the “mother of the sons of Zebedee” in Mt 27:56 and the
parallel passage of Mk 15:40. Salome therefore was the one who asked if her
sons (James and John) could sit on Jesus’ right and left in heaven (Mt
20:21). If Jn 19:25 (possibly Mt 27:56) is parallel to Mk 15:40, then it is
possible that Salome was Mary’s sister, making John, Jesus’ cousin. (3) James the Greater was obviously John’s
brother (Mt 17:1; Mk 1:29; 5:37; 9:2; 10:35, 41; 13:3; 14:33; Lk 5:10; 6:14; 9:54)
and the older of the two, being named first. James was the first of the
Twelve to be martyred (Ac 12:2). b) John
originally followed in his father’s footsteps and was a fisherman (Lk 5:1).
He was then called by Christ and followed Christ (Mt 4:21-22). He was named a
“son of thunder” by Christ, perhaps because of a thunderous personality (Mk
3:17). He was one of the disciples of the inner circle (Mk 5:37; 9:2), and
perhaps the closest to Jesus (Jn 13:23). c) John was recognized as one of the pillars
of the Jerusalem church (Ga 2:9) and was
the author of three epistles (1, 2, and 3 John) as well as the book of
Revelation (Re 1:1). d) The Foxes Book of Martyrs states
concerning the "beloved disciple" that … the churches of Smyrna,
Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira, were founded by him.
From Ephesus he was ordered to be sent to Rome, where it is affirmed he was
cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. He escaped by miracle, without injury.
Domitian afterwards banished him to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the
Book of Revelation. Nerva, the successor of Domitian, recalled him. He was
the only apostle who escaped a violent death. e) Tradition tells us that John’s final
years were spent in ministry at Ephesus where according to Philip Schaff’s
History of the Christian Church Vol. 1 (Traditions Respecting John) we read …Jerome
pictures him as the disciple of love, who in his extreme old age was carried
to the meeting-place on the arms of his disciples, and repeated again and
again the exhortation, Little children, love one another, adding: This is the
Lords command, and if this alone be done, it is enough. C. DISTINCTIONS AND THEMES 1. Distinctions a) The
Gospel of John is one of four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Each
Gospel was true and non-contradictory, yet each was written to a different
audience and for a different purpose. (1) Matthew
was written to the Jews and the theme was “Jesus is King.” (2) Mark was written to the Romans and the
theme was “Jesus is Servant.” (3) Luke was written to the Greeks and the
theme was “Jesus is Man.” (4) John was written to the Church and the
theme was “Jesus is God.” b) There are
some striking distinctions between John and the Synoptic Gospels. (1) There is
no mention of the birth of Christ. (2) There is no mention of the temptation of
Christ. (3) There is no mention of the Sermon on the
Mount. (4) There is no mention of the transfiguration
of Christ. (5) There is no mention of demon activity. (6) It contains the only account of the Upper
Room Discourse (Jn 13-16). (7) It contains the only account of Jesus’ High
Priestly Prayer (Jn 17). (8) It contains theological themes as opposed
to biographical themes. (9) It contains the clearest description of
salvation (Jn 3:16). (10) It contains a strong emphasis on the deity of
Christ (Jn 1:1; 8:58). 2. Themes a) One of
the major themes in the Gospel of John is the deity of Christ. From the
beginning of the gospel, Jesus is depicted as God (Jn 1:1), Eternal (Jn 1:2)
and Creator (Jn 1:3). (1) “Son of
God” - 9 times, “the Son” - 16 times - an expression that refers to the deity
of Christ (2) “Son of Man” - 13 times - an expression
that refers to the Son of God’s identity with man as the God-Man. b) John
records many of Jesus’ miracles and sayings in order to show that He is God
and Savior (“Christ” and the “Son of God” cp. Jn 20:31). (1) Miracles (a) Turns
water into wine (Jn 2:1–12) - Jesus is the source of life. (b) Heals a nobleman’s son (Jn 4:46–54) - Jesus
is master over distance. (c) Heals a lame man at the pool of Bethesda
(Jn 5:1–17) - Jesus is master over time. (d) Feeds 5,000 (Jn 6:1–14) - Jesus is the
bread of life. (e) Walks on water, stills a storm (Jn 6:15–21)
- Jesus is master over nature. (f) Heals a man blind from birth (Jn 9:1–41) -
Jesus is the light of the world. (g) Raises Lazarus from the dead (Jn 11:17–45)
- Jesus has power over death. (2) Sayings (a) Jesus
claims to be the Great “I AM” of Ex 3:14, in Jn 8:58. (b) He also combines the “I AM” (ego eimi)
with at least seven metaphors to show He is God and Savior. (i) “I AM
the Bread of life” (6:35,41,48,51). (ii) “I AM the Light of the world” (8:12). (iii) “I AM the Door of the sheep” (10:7,9). (iv) “I AM the Good Shepherd” (10:11,14). (v) “I AM the Resurrection and the Life”
(11:25). (vi) “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life”
(14:6). (vii) “I AM the True Vine” (15:1,5). c) Salvation
by faith alone in Christ alone is another major theme and is expressed in
certain key phrases: (1) “Eternal
life” - 47 times - (Jn 1:4; 3:15f, 36; 4:14, 36; 5:21, 24, 26, 29, 39f; 6:27,
33, 35, 40, 47f, 51, 53f, 63, 68; 8:12; 10:10f, 15, 17, 28; 11:25; 12:25, 50;
13:37f; 14:6; 15:13; 17:2f; 20:31). (2) “Believe” - 93 times (John 1:7, 12, 50;
2:11, 22f; 3:12, 15f, 18, 36; 4:21, 39, 41f, 48, 50, 53; 5:24, 38, 44, 46f;
6:29f, 35f, 40, 47, 64, 69; 7:31, 38f, 48; 8:24, 30f, 45f; 9:18, 35f, 38;
10:25f, 37f, 42; 11:15, 25ff, 40, 42, 45, 48; 12:36, 38f, 42, 44, 46; 13:19;
14:1, 10ff, 29; 16:9, 27, 30f; 17:8, 20f; 19:35; 20:8, 25, 29, 31). D. OUTLINES 1. Wiersbe a) OPPORTUNITY—1:15–6:71
- He presents Himself to: (1) His
disciples—1:19–2:12 (2) The Jews—2:13–3:36 (3) The Samaritans—4:1–54 (4) The Jewish leaders—5:1–47 (5) The multitudes—6:1–71 b) OPPOSITION—chapters
7–12 - conflict with the Jewish leaders over: (1) Moses—7:1–8:11 (2) Abraham—8:12–59 (3) Who Messiah is—9:1–10:42 (4) His miraculous power—11:1–12:36 (5) They would not believe on Him—12:37–50 c) OUTCOME—chapters
13–21 (1) The faith
of the disciples—13–17 (2) The unbelief of the Jews—18–19 (3) The victory of Christ—20–21 2. MacDonald I. Prologue: The Son of God’s First
Advent (1:1–18) II. The Son of God’s
First Year of Ministry (1:19–4:54) III. The Son of God’s
Second Year of Ministry (Chap. 5) IV. The Son of God’s
Third Year of Ministry: Galilee (Chap.
6) V. The Son of God’s Third Year of Ministry:
Jerusalem (7:1–10:39) VI. The Son of God’s
Third Year of Ministry: Perea
(10:40–11:57) VII. The Son of God’s
Ministry To His Own (Chaps. 12–17) VIII. The Son of God’s
Passion And Death (Chaps. 18, 19) IX. The Son of God’s
Triumph (Chap. 20) X. Epilogue: The Risen
Son With His Own (Chap. 21) B. Suggested Outline I. Son of
God’s Prologue 1:1–18 II. Son of God’s Public Ministry 1:19–12:50 A. The
Beginning 1:19–4:54 1. Introduction
to John The Baptist 1:19–34 2. Calling of the Disciples 1:35–51 3. First Sign: Water into Wine 2:1–12 4. Cleansing of The Temple 2:13–25 5. New Birth Discourse: Nicodemus 3:1–3:21 6. John The Baptist’s Testimony 3:22–36 7. True Worship Discourse: Samaritan Woman
4:1–42 8. Second Sign: Healing of The
Nobleman’s Son 4:43–54 B. The
Controversy 5:1–12:50 1. Third
Sign: Healing the Paralytic 5:1–9 2. Rejection by Jews 5:10–47 3. Fourth Sign: Feeding The Five
Thousand 6:1–15 4. Fifth Sign: Walking on Water
6:16–21 5. Bread of Life Discourse 6:22–71 6. Feast of Tabernacles 7:1–51 7. Forgiving of The Sinful Woman 8:1–11 8. Light of the World Discourse 8:13–30 9. Abraham Discourse 8:31–59 10. Sixth Sign: Healing of The Blind Man
9:1–41 11. Good Shepard Discourse 10:1–21 12. Feast of Dedication 10:22–42 13. Seventh Sign: Raising of Lazarus
11:1–57 14. Climax of Unbelief 12:1–50 III. Son of
God’s Private Ministry 13:1–17:26 A. Foot
Washing 13:1–30 B. Upper Room Discourse 13:31–16:33 C. High Priestly Prayer 17:1–26 IV. Son of
God’s Purpose of Ministry 18:1–20:31 A. Jesus’
Arrest And Trials 18:1–19:15 B. The Crucifixion 19:16–42 C. Jesus’ Resurrection And Appearances
20:1–31 V. Son of God’s
Epilogue 21:1-25 |
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