Introduction to the Book of John

Authorship
The scripture text tells us that the author of this book unanimously attributed to "John the Beloved", "the beloved disciple" (21:20, 24). A process of elimination may reveal his identity. Surely he was one of the inner three disciples (Peter, James, and John) who were with Jesus at the Transfiguration, the healing of Jairus' daughter, and in the Graden of Gethsemane. He is distinguished from Peter in 21:20 (cf. 13:23, 24) and since James was slain about A.D. 40 (Acts 12:2), long before this gospel was composed, this leaves only John as the 'beloved disciple'.

Date Written

Most Bible Scholars agree that this gospel is the last of the four to be written, perhaps completed while John was at Ephesus about A.D. 85. 

Purpose of the Writing

This is clearly stated in chapter 20:30, 31, and there are three key words:

1. The word signs is used 17 times in John and is often translated as "miracle". Throughout all the other gospels it appears only 28 times. These are teaching signs.

2. The word believe appears 98 times in John -- and only 29 times in all other gospels combined. Belief often results from "signs".

3. The word life is used 34 times in John (and only 13 times elsewhere in the gospels). The term is closely related to faith.

Outline of John

I. Manifestation 1:1-4:54

A. Prologue     1:1-18

1. The Word Eternal     1:1-13

2. The Word incarnate     1:14-18

B. Manifestation to the Disciples     1:19-51

1. The witness of John     1:19-37

2. The first disciples     1:38-51

C. Manifestation to Israel     2:1-4:54

1. The first miracle     2:1-11

2. Jesus manifested in Judea     2:12-3::36

a. In the temple     2:12-25

b. To a ruler of the Jews     3:1-21

c. To the disciples of John     3:22-36

3. Jesus manifested in Samaria     4:1-42

4. Jesus manifested in Galilee     4:43-54

II. Confrontation 5:1-10:42

 A. Conflict at the Pool of Bethesda 5:1-47

1. The Miracle     5:1-18

2. The Teaching     5:19-47

a. The Testimony     5:19-29

b. The Witnesses     5:30-40

c. The Rejection     5:41-47

B. Conflict to Galilee 6:1-71

1. The Miracles     6:1-21

a. Feeding the Five Thousand     6:1-13

b. Walking on the water     6:14-21

2. The discourse: The Bread of Life     6:22-40

3. The Reaction     6:41-71

C. Conflict at the Feast of Tabernacles 7:1-8:59

1. Jesus tested by His brothers     7:1-9

2. Jesus tested by the crowds     7:10-36

3. Jesus teaches on the last day     7:37-53

4. Jesus and the woman taken in slavery     8:1-11

5. Jesus' discourse: the Light of the World   8:12-30

6. Jesus dishonored by the Jews     8:31-59

D. Conflict at the Feast of Dedication 9:1-10:42

1. The healing of the man born blind     9:1-41

a. The miracle     9:1-7

b. The controversy     9:8-34

c. The discourse on the Good Shepherd    9:35-41

III. Alienation 11:1-12:50

A. The last sign 11:1-57

1. The death of Lazarus     11:1-16

2. The miracle     11:17-44

3. The reaction     11:45-57

B. The last visit with Hs friends 12:1-11

C. The last manifestation to Israel 12:12-19

D. The last public discourse:

His hour has come 12:20-36

E. The last rejection 1237-43

F. The last invitation 12:44-50

IV. Preparation 13:1-17:26

A. The lesson of Humility    13:1-20

B. Jesus Foretells His betrayal   13:21-30

C. The discourse in the Upper Room   13:31-14:31

1. The announcement      13:31-35

2. The questions      13:36-14:24

a. of Peter      13:36-14:4

b. of Thomas     14:5-7

c. of Philip     14:8-21

d. of Judas     14:22-24

3. The promise   14:25-31

D. The discourses on the way to the garden    15:1-16:33

1. Abiding in Christ     15:1-27

2. Promise of the Comforter     16:1-33

E. The Lord's Intercessory Prayer         17:1-26

1. Prayer for Himself   17:1-5

2. Prayer for the disciples 17:6-19

3. Prayer for the church   17:20-26

V. Consummation 18:1-19:12

A. Jesus is arrested in Gethsemane      18:1-11

B. Jesus is tried by the authorities              18:12-19:16

1. The Jewish trial             18:12-27

2. The Roman trial          18:28-19:16

C. Jesus is Crucified on Golgotha                19:17-37

D. Jesus is buried in a tomb                           19:38-42

VI. Resurrection                                                 20:1-31

A. The empty tomb             20:1-10

B. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene       20:11-18

C. Jesus appears in the Upper Room        20:19-31

VII. Epilogue  21:1-25

A. Jesus' manifestation of Himself again    21:1-8

B. Jesus' invitation to the disciples         21:9-14

C. Jesus' examination of Peter            21:15-23

D. Postscript                                                     21:24, 25

Table of Contents

• SS-Q4-L1: Signs That Point the Way

September 28-October 4

• SS-Q4-L2: Signs of Divinity

October 5-11

• SS-Q4-L3: The Backstory: The Prologue

October 12-18

• SS-Q4-L4: Witnesses of Christ as the Messiah

October 19-25

• SS-Q4-L5: The Testimony of the Samaritans

October 26-November 1

• SS-Q4-L6: More Testimonies About Jesus

November 2-8

• SS-Q4-L7: Blessed are those Who Believe

November 9-15

• SS-Q4-L8: Fulfilling Old Testament Prophecies

November 16-22

• SS-Q4-L9: The Source of Life

November 23-29

• SS-Q4-L10: The Way, the Truth, and the Life

November 30-December 6

• SS-Q4-L11: The Father, the Son, and the Spirit

December 7-13

• SS-Q4-L12: The Hour of Glory: The Cross and Resurrection

December 14-20

• SS-Q4-L13: Epilogue: Knowing Jesus and His Word

December 21-27