The Problem with the Fourth Gospel

The Modern Readers Guide to the Gospels

John and the Synoptics

Dualism Contained in the Gospel of St John

The Gospel of John as a Document of Faith in a Pluralistic Culture

Sources of the Gospel of John

The Johannine Community and its Jewish Neighbors

The Community of the Beloved Disciple

Gospel Signs

The Gospel of John and the Dead Sea Scrolls

A Study in the Prologue in the Gospel of St John

Commentary on the Gospel of St John by St Aquinas Book 1

Commentary on the Gospel of St John by St Aquinas Book 2

Reference links:

http://www.gospels.net/

http://www.bible-researcher.com/parallels.html#sect3

http://www.bl.uk/whatson/exhibitions/lindisfarne/home.html

http://www.mindspring.com/~scarlson/synopt/index.html#home

Greek Alphabet link

http://www.ibiblio.org/koine/greek/lessons/alphabet.html

-St Augustin-Homilies on the Gospel of John -Homilies on the First Epistle of John

St Chrysostom-Homilies on the Gospel of St John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/origen-john1.html

http://www.bibletexts.com/verses/v-joh.htm#6

3. Apply Gospel of John teaching to current life situations, as evidenced by taking part in a group presentation of a selected chapter of the Gospel of John.                                       

1. The Bible: http://etext.virginia.edu/rsv.browse.html

2. One large commentary on the Fourth Gospel (provided online)

3. The Fourth Gospel Textbook (provided Online)

List of Commentaries

Calvin | Clarke | Darby | Geneva | Gill | Henry | Jamieson | Johnson | McGarvey | Robertson | Wesley
 

1. Four Quizzes, one on the Greek Alphabet, one on the basic outline of John, one on the Gospel Characteristics, and  one on the contents of the  Fourth Gospel

2. Three Shorter Written Exercises: word study, character analysis,  and book review (one each).

3. One Longer Research Paper (10-15 pp.)

The Gospel according to John (the basic outline accepted by most scholars)

Prologue:  1:1-18  (Logos Hymn: The Word in the Beginning with God; The Word becomes Flesh )

“The Book of Signs”:  1:19 -- 12:50 (Wedding at Cana, Dialogue with Nicodemus, Samaritan Woman at the Well, Healing at the Pool of Bethesda, Bread of Life Discourse, Man Born Blind, Raising of Lazarus, etc.)

“The Book of Glory”:  13:1 -- 20:31 (Washing the Disciples’ Feet, Farewell Discourses, Jesus’ Prayer, Passion Narrative, Crucifixion Scene, Resurrection Appearances, esp. to Mary Magdalene and Thomas)

Epilogue:  21:1-25  (Another Resurrection Appearance at the Sea of Tiberias/Galilee - added later)

Chapter-by-Chapter List of the Contents of John
 

1 - Prologue;  The Witness of John (the Baptist);  The First Disciples of Jesus
2 - The Wedding Feast at Cana;  Jesus’ First Passover in Jerusalem: The Cleansing of the Temple
3 - Jesus’ Conversation with Nicodemus;  John (Baptist)’s testimony
4 - The Samaritan Woman at the Well;  Healing of a Royal Official’s Son
5 - The Sabbath Healing of a Sick Man at the Bethzatha Pool in Jerusalem;  Ensuing Controversy
6 - The Second Passover in Galilee:  Feeding of 5000;  Walking on Water;  Bread of Life Discourse
7 - The Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem;  Jesus Teaches in the Temple;  Diverse Reactions to Jesus
8 - [Adulterous Woman 7:53--8:11];  Jesus as "Light of the World";  Truth;  Origin & Identity of Jesus
9 - The Sabbath Healing of a Man Born Blind near the Pool of Siloam; Ensuing Controversy
10 - The Good Shepherd Discourse; Feast of Dedication; Jesus Retreats across the Jordan
11 - The Raising of Lazarus at Bethany; Final Plot against Jesus; Jesus Retreats to Ephraim
12 - The Third Passover in Judea; Anointing at Bethany; Final Entry into Jerusalem; "the Hour"
13 - The Last Supper: Washing of Disciples’ Feet; Foretelling of Judas’ Betrayal & Peter’s Denial
14 - The Farewell Discourse (Part I),  incl. Fear Not, Paraclete, Peace
15 - The Farewell Discourse (Part II),  incl. Vine & Branches, Love & Hate, Paraclete
16 - The Farewell Discourse (Part II - cont.),  incl. Persecutions, Paraclete, Joy, Prayer, etc.
17 - The Great Prayer of Jesus
18 - The Passion Narrative: incl. Arrest in Garden, Meeting in Annas’ House, Peter’s Denial, Jesus’ Trial before Pilate
19 - The Passion Narrative (cont.): Trial continues, Crucifixion, Death, Burial
20 - The Empty Tomb;  the Risen Lord appears to Mary Magdalene, to the Disciples, to Thomas;  First Conclusion (20:30-31)
21 - Epilogue:  Breakfast Appearance by Sea of Tiberias; Peter’s Love & the Beloved Disciple; Second Conclusion (21:24-25)

Division of John from "The Jerusalem Bible"
("Introduction to Saint John", p. 142; emphasizes the Jewish Feasts)

O. Prologue: ‘In the beginning…’ (1:1-18)
I. First week of the messianic ministry: Jesus revealed as the Messiah. The week ends with the first ‘sign’ at Cana (1:19--2:11)
II. First Passover with its accompanying events, ending with the second ‘sign’ at Cana (2:12--4:54)
III. Sabbath ‘of the paralytic’: Jesus cures the man at the Bethzatha pool (5:1-47)
IV. The Passover ‘of the bread of life’: miracle of the loaves and the subsequent discourse (6:1-71)
V. The feast of Tabernacles with the cure of the man born blind (7:1--10:21)
VI. The feast of Dedication and the resurrection of Lazarus (10:22--11:54)
VII. Week of the Passion and the crucifixion Passover (11:55--19:42)
VIII. The resurrection and week of apparitions (20:1-29)
IX. Appendix: concerning the Church and the expectation of Christ’ return (21:1-25)

Outline of the "HarperCollins Bible Dictionary"
(by D. Moody Smith; emphasizes Jesus’ actions)

I. Introduction (1:1-51)

A. Prologue (1:1-18)
B. Encounter with John Baptist and call of disciples (1:19-51)

II. Jesus’ manifestation of God’s glory to the world (2:1--12:50)

A. Wine miracle (2:1-11)
B. Cleansing of the Temple (2:12-22)
C. Discussion with Nicodemus on birth from above (2:23--3:21)
D. The second appearance of the Baptist (3:22-36)
E. Conversation with Samaritan woman (4:1-42)
F. Healing of official’s son (4:43-54)
G. Healing at Pool of Bethzatha and related discourse (5:1-47)
H. Feeding of 5000 and related incidents and discussions (6:1-71)
I. Jesus at Feast of Tabernacles (7:1-52)
    [Woman taken in adultery 7:53--8:11 - a later addition]
J. Jesus the Light of the World (8:12-59)
K. Restoration of sight to blind man (9:1-41)
L. Jesus the Good Shepherd (10:1-42)
M. Raising of Lazarus from the Dead (11:1-44)
N. Condemnation of Jesus (11:45-57)
O. Triumphal entry and related events (12:1-50)

III. Jesus’ manifestation of God’s glory to his disciples (13:1--20:31)

A. The Last Supper: Jesus washes disciples’ feet (13:1-38)
B. First farewell discourse to disciples (14:1-31)
C. Second farewell discourse to disciples (15:1--16:33)
D. Jesus’ final prayer (17:1-26)
E. The Passion narrative: Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion and burial (18:1--19:42)
F. Discovery of empty tomb and resurrection appearances in Jerusalem (20:1-31)

IV. Appendix: Jesus’ appearance by Sea of Galilee to Peter and others (21:1-25)
 

Plan of John from "The Gospels and Epistles of John: A Concise Commentary"
 

1:1-18       THE PROLOGUE
                    An introduction to and summary of the career of the incarnate Word
1:19--12:50    PART ONE: THE BOOK OF SIGNS
                     The Word reveals himself to the world and to his own, but they will not accept him.
13:1--20:31    PART TWO: THE BOOK OF GLORY
                     To those who accept him, the Word shows his glory by returning to the Father in death,
                        resurrection, and ascension. Fully glorified, he communicates the Spirit of life.
21:1-25        EPILOGUE
                    A series of resurrection appearances in Galilee of theological import.

PART ONE may be subdivided into four sections:
    1. seven days of gradual revelation of Jesus (1:19--2:11)
    2. themes in 2:1--4:54
        a) the replacement of Old Testament institutions:
            CANA - replacement of Jewish purifications (2:1-11)
            JERUSALEM - replacement of the Temple (2:13-25)
            NICODEMUS - replacement of the birth into the Chosen People (3:1-36)
            SAMARITAN WOMAN - replacement of worship in Jerusalem (4:1-42)
            Second Cana Miracle closing the section (4:43-54)
        b) reaction to Jesus by individuals representing a class:
            OFFICIAL JUDAISM (at Jerusalem)
                Temple authorities (2:13-25)
                Nicodemus the Pharisee (3:1-36)
            SAMARITAN (4:1-42)
            ROYAL OFFICIAL (Galileans; 4:43-54)
    3. themes in 5:1--10:42
        a) the replacement of Old Testament feasts:
            THE SABBATH - Jesus, the new Moses, replaces the Sabbath ordinance (5:1-47)
            PASSOVER - the Bread of Life (revelatory wisdom and the eucharist) replaces the manna (6:1-71)
            TABERNACLES - the Source of living water, the Light of the world, replaces the water and light ceremonies (7:1--10:21)
            DEDICATION - Jesus is consecrated in place of the Temple altar (10:22-42)
        b) the theme of life (begun in 2:1--4:54) is developed in 5:1--7:52; the theme of light is developed in 8:1--10:42
                (particularly in the healing of man born blind)
    4. the Lazarus theme (11:1--12:36)
        The raising to life of Lazarus leads directly to the condemnation of Jesus. Lazarus is present at the anointing of Jesus
        for burial (12:1-8), and enthusiasm over the miracle performed in his favor occasions the Palm Sunday scene (12:9-36).
        The raising of Lazarus is the culmination of the life-light themes.

PART TWO may be subdivided into three sections
    1. the Last Supper (13:1--17:26)
        a) the washing of the feet and the betrayal (13:1-30)
        b) Jesus’ Last Discourse:
             Introduction (13:31-38)
          Part One (14:1-31; duplicated in 16:4-33)
          Part Two (15:1--16:3)
             Part Three (17:1-26)
    2. Jesus’ passion and death (18:1--19:42)
        a) the garden scene (18:1-12)
        b) inquiry before Annas; Peter’s denial (18:12-27)
        c) trial before Pilate (18:28--19:16)
        d) crucifixion, death, and burial (19:17-42)
    3. the resurrection, ascension, and conferring of the Holy Spirit (20:1-31)

Outline of the Structure of the Gospel From "Sacra Pagina: The Gospel of John"
 

I. THE PROLOGUE (1:1-18)
II. THE BOOK OF SIGNS (1:19--12:50)
        A. The First Days of Jesus (1:19-51)
        B.  From Cana to Cana (2:1--4:54)
            i. The First Miracle at Cana (2:1-12)
                       ii.    Jesus and "the Jews" (2:12-22)
                       iii.   The narrator’s comment (2:23-25)
                       iv.   Jesus and Nicodemus (3:1-21)
                       v.    Jesus and John the Baptist (3:22-26)
                       vi.   Jesus and the Samaritan woman (4:1-15)
                       vii.  Jesus and the Samaritan woman (4:16-30)
                       viii. Jesus comments (4:31-38)
                       ix.    Jesus and the Samaritan villagers (4:39-42)
            x. The Second Miracles at Cana (4:43-54)
        C. The Feasts of "the Jews" (5:1--10:42)
            i.    Jesus and the Sabbath (5:1-47)
            ii.   Jesus and the Passover (6:1-71)
            iii.  Jesus and Tabernacles, I (7:1--8:59)
            iv.  Jesus and Tabernacles, II (9:1--10:21)
            v.   Jesus and Dedication (10:22-42)
        D. Jesus turns toward "the hour" (11:1--12:50)
            i.    A resurrection that will lead to death (11:1-54)
            ii.   The hour has come (11:55--12:36)
            iii.  Conclusion to the ministry of Jesus (12:37-50)
III. THE BOOK OF GLORY (13:1--20:31)
        A.  The Last Discourse (13:1--17:26)
            i.   Making God known: the footwashing and the morsel (13:1-38)
                      ii. Departure (14:1-31)
                            iii. To abide, to love, and to be hated (15:1--16:3)
                     iv. Departure (16:4-33)
            v.  Making God known: Jesus’ final prayer (17:1-26)
        B.  The Passion (18:1--19:42)
              i. Jesus and his enemies in a garden (18:1-11)
                      ii. Jesus’ appearance before "the Jews" (18:12-27)
                              iii. Jesus before Pilate (18:28--19:16a)
                     iv. The crucifixion of Jesus (19:16b-37)
             v. Jesus buried in a garden by his new-found friends (19:38-42)
        C.  The Resurrection (20:1-29)
              i. Scenes at the tomb (20:1-18)
                       (a) Visits to the empty tomb (20:1-10)
                       (b) Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene (20:11-18)
IV. THE CONCLUSION TO THE GOSPEL (20:30-31)
V. EPILOGUE: Further Resurrection Appearances (21:1-25)
              i.   Jesus appears to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (21:1-14)
              ii.  Jesus, Peter, and the Beloved  Disciple (21:15-24)
              iii. A second conclusion to the Gospel (21:25)

 

"Amen, Amen" Sayings in the Fourth Gospel

In the Hebrew Bible, the word "Amen" connotes agreement, certainty, faithfulness.  It was simply transliterated amhn in Greek and thus also "amen" in most modern languages.  It is used at the end of some psalms, curses, blessings, prayers, and prophecies to allow the hearers/readers to say, "So be it!" or "Yes, I agree!" (Deut 27:15-26; 1Kings 1:36; 1Chron 16:36; Neh 5:13; Ps 106:48; Jer 28:6).  Sometimes it is repeated twice for emphasis (Num 5:22; Neh 8:6; Ps 41:13; 72:19; 89:52).

Similarly in the NT, “Amen” is used 28 times at the end of doxologies, blessings, and other prayers (Rom 1:25; 9:5; 11:36; 15:33; 16:27;  1Cor 14:16;  2Cor 1:20;  Gal 1:5; 6:18;  Eph 3:21;  Phil 4:20;  1Thess 3:13;  1Tim 1:17; 6:16;  2Tim 4:18;  Heb 13:21;  1Peter 4:11; 5:11;  2Peter 3:18;  Jude 1:25;  Rev 1:6, 7; 3:14; 5:14; 7:12 [twice]; 19:4; 22:20).  It is also used 101 times in the four Gospels, but with some major differences:

• The only person who says "Amen" in the Gospels is Jesus himself (with the exception of the "shorter ending" of Mark--usually added just after 16:8);
  • in Matt 25:12, 40, 45, the characters in the parables who use this expression clearly represent Jesus.
• Jesus uses the phrase, "Amen, I say to you...," at the beginning of his own statements, rather than in response to what someone else said;
  • thus, it is not an expression of agreement, but a literary device for emphasizing what he says subsequently.
• In the Synoptic Gospels, this expression is used a total of fifty times by Jesus and the parabolic characters (13 in Mk; 31 in Mt; only 6 in Lk);
  • it is translated "Verily I say unto you... (KJV); "Truly, I say to you..." (RSV); "Truly, I tell you" (NRSV); etc.
• In the Fourth Gospel, the expression is used 25 times, again only by Jesus, but always with a doubled "Amen, Amen" for extra emphasis;
  • this is like saying "Hear Ye, Hear Ye" - as used by royal messengers or town criers in medieval England.
• It is sometimes translated literally: "Verily, verily, I say unto you…" (KJV); "Truly, truly, I say to you" (RSV); "Amen, Amen, I say to you..." (NAB);
  • but other English Bibles render it more colloquially: "Very truly, I tell you" (NRSV); "I tell you the truth" (NIV), etc.
• These twenty-five "Amen, Amen" sayings contain some of the most important things said and claims made by Jesus in the Fourth Gospel:

Sayings of the Johannine Jesus that begin, "Amen, Amen, I Say to You..." (RSV translation below):

To Nathanael in Galilee:

• 1:51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

To Nicodemus in Jerusalem:

• 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
• 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
• 3:11 "Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony."

To the Jews in Jerusalem after a Sabbath Healing:

• 5:19 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise.
• 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."
• 5:25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live."

To the Crowds in Galilee after the Multiplication of the Loaves:

• 6:26 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves."
• 6:32 Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven."
• 6:47 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life."
• 6:53 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; 54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

To the Jews in Jerusalem at the Feast of Tebernacles:

• 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin."
• 8:51 "Truly, truly, I say to you, if any one keeps my word, he will never see death."
• 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."

To the Pharisees in Jerusalem after the Healing of the Man Born Blind:

• 10:1 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; 2 but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep."
• 10:7 So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep."

To the Disciples after the Entry into Jerusalem:

• 12:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."

To the Disciples after the Washing of the Feet:

• 13:16 "Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him."
• 13:20 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any one whom I send receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me."
• 13:21 When Jesus had thus spoken, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me."

To Simon Peter at the Last Supper:

• 13:38 "Truly, truly, I say to you, the cock will not crow, till you have denied me three times."

To all the Disciples at the Last Supper:

• 14:12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father."
• 16:20 "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy."
• 16:23 "Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name."

To Simon Peter after the Resurrection:

• 21:18 "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go."

1) Material found only in the Fourth Gospel (John), not in the Synoptic Gospels (Matt, Mark, Luke)

2) Material familiar from the Synoptics but not found in John

• No Infancy Narrative (but see John 1:14 - "the Word became flesh")
• No Childhood Episodes (but see 1:12; 13:33; 21:5 - believers called "children")
• No Baptism of Jesus (but see 1:19-34 - John testifies about Jesus)
• No Temptation in the Desert (but see 8:44; 13:2, 27 - the role of Satan & the Devil)
• No Calls to Repentance (but see 1:29; 5:14; 9:41; 15:22; 20:23 - on sin and forgiveness)
• No Sermon on the Mount or Beatitudes (but see 13:17; 20:29 - Jesus calls believers blessed)
• No Lord's Prayer (but see 17:1-26 - the Great Prayer of Jesus)
• No List of "Twelve Apostles" (but see 13:16 - messengers; 1:35-51; 6:67-71; 20:24; 21:2 - disciples; "the Twelve")
• No Mission of the Disciples during Jesus' Lifetime (but see 13:20; 14:12; 20:21 - risen Jesus sends them out)
• No Parables (but see 10:6; 15:1-8; 16:25, 29 - a few "figures of speech")
• No "Kingdom of God" Teaching (except 3:3-5; cf. 1:49; 6:15; 12:13-15; 18:33-39 - Jesus' role as "King of Israel")
• No Ethical Teachings (except 13:34-35; 15:12, 17; cf. 14:21-24 - "Love One Another" and "Love Jesus/God")
• No Exorcisms (but see 7:20; 8:48-52; 10:19-21 - Jesus accused of having a "demon")
• No Transfiguration Story (but see 1:45; 3:14; 5:45-47; 9:28-29 - Jesus associated with Moses)
• No Passion Predictions (but see 5:18; 11:50-53 & 18:14; 12:24-25, 32-33; 18:31-32 - talk of Jesus' death)
• No Institution of Eucharist at the Last Supper (but see 6:22-59; 13:1-20 - Bread of Life discourse; Washing of Feet)
• No Predictions of Jesus' Return (except 14:3; 21:22-23 - Jesus will "come again" or "come")
• No Ascension Narrative (but see 3:13; 6:62; 20:17 - Jesus talks about descending and ascending)
   

3) Material Significantly different in John and the Synoptics
 

• Why does the Fourth Gospel omit so many stories found in the Synoptic Gospels?
• Does the Fourth Evangelist presume that the reader knows the material contained in the Synoptics?
• What is the significance of all the new material found only in the Fourth Gospel?
• What is the significance of the changes or additions made in the stories found both in John and the Synoptics?