The Gospel of John: Overview | Whiteboard Bible Study

Summary

The Gospel of John, the fourth book of the New Testament, presents a unique perspective on Jesus' life and teachings. Unlike the synoptic gospels, John's narrative includes distinctive content and is the last to be written. It's divided into the Book of Signs, showcasing Jesus' miracles, and the Book of Glory, highlighting his love for disciples and divine glorification. The Gospel aims to inspire belief in Jesus, even amidst skepticism, and concludes with an epilogue emphasizing the ongoing mission to care for Jesus' followers.

Takeaways

• 📖 The Gospel of John is the fourth book of the New Testament and the last of the gospels in the Bible.
• 👤 Although traditionally attributed to John the son of Zebedee, the author is anonymous and refers to himself as 'the disciple Jesus loved'.
• 📜 The Gospel of John is distinct from the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), containing unique content not found elsewhere in the New Testament.
• 🔑 The purpose of the Gospel, as stated in the text, is to present 'signs' or miracles to encourage belief in Jesus.
• 📚 The book is divided into two main sections: the Book of Signs (chapters 2-12) and the Book of Glory (chapters 13-20), with a prologue and epilogue.
• 🌟 The prologue (John 1) establishes Jesus as divine, referring to him as 'the Word', and introduces the theme of Jesus calling his disciples.
• 💧 The Book of Signs includes seven miracles, such as turning water into wine and raising Lazarus from the dead, to demonstrate Jesus' divine power.
• 📢 Jesus delivers significant teachings throughout the Gospel, including his role as the Good Shepherd and the importance of love among his followers.
• 🕊️ The Book of Glory focuses on Jesus' love for his disciples, his teachings on mutual love, and the promise of the Holy Spirit.
• 🙏 The Gospel concludes with the resurrection of Jesus, the doubt of Thomas, and the call to belief, emphasizing the ongoing struggle to believe in Jesus' divinity.

Q & A

What is the Gospel of John's position in the New Testament?

The Gospel of John is the fourth book of the New Testament and the last gospel in the Bible.

Who is traditionally believed to have written the Gospel of John?

The author is traditionally believed to be John, the son of Zebedee, one of Jesus's twelve disciples, although the book itself does not explicitly state this.

Why was the Gospel of John written according to the script?

The Gospel of John was written so that readers would believe in Jesus, as stated near the end of the book where the author mentions telling the story of Jesus' miracles for this purpose.

How does the content of the Gospel of John differ from the other three Gospels?

The Gospel of John contains unique content not found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and it was likely the last gospel written.

What are the two main sections of the Gospel of John?

The Gospel of John is divided into the 'Book of Signs' (chapters 2 through 12) and the 'Book of Glory' (chapters 13 through 20), with a prologue (chapter 1) and an epilogue (chapter 21).

What is the significance of the prologue in the Gospel of John?

The prologue establishes Jesus as divine, referring to him as the Word of God, and sets the stage for the miracles and teachings that follow.

How many miracles are recorded in the 'Book of Signs' and what is their purpose?

There are seven miracles recorded in the 'Book of Signs', and their purpose is to demonstrate Jesus' divine nature and to encourage belief in him.

What is the main focus of the 'Book of Glory'?

The 'Book of Glory' focuses on Jesus' love for his disciples, his teachings, and the glorification of God's name through his actions, culminating in his crucifixion and resurrection.

Why does the Gospel of John include the story of Doubting Thomas?

The story of Doubting Thomas is included to show that belief in Jesus can be challenging, and it emphasizes the author's purpose of writing the gospel to help readers decide whether to believe in Jesus.

What is the final message of the Gospel of John as described in the epilogue?

The epilogue concludes with Jesus instructing his disciples to continue his work, particularly Peter, to feed and care for his followers, highlighting the ongoing mission of the disciples and the believers.