gospel of john fourth gospel. four parts prologue – jesus as logos – john 1: 1-18 book of signs:...
TRANSCRIPT
Four Parts
• Prologue– Jesus as Logos– John 1: 1-18
• Book of Signs: 7 signs/miracles • Book of Glory: Passion, Death &
Resurrection• Epilogue: post-Resurrection stuff
“Beloved Disciple”
• Apostle John, son of Zebedee was the author– Referring to self in documents selfish– Oblique references
• Corporate Writer– John & John’s own disciples after his death– Written 90-100 AD– John Rylands Greek Papyrus
• Eyewitness at the heart
Audience
• All Gospels have an audience
• John’s: self-identified Christians– Emergence of Christian identity• Jewish Christians booted after Roman Revolt of 66
– Growth of Non-Jewish Christians
Sources
• Written & Oral sources in circulation– John’s own eyewitness
• Some common sources with Mark & Luke
• 3 miracles only in John:– Water into wine– Cure a man born blind– Raising of Lazarus
Purpose
• For Christians as Christians– Encourage faith
• Combat false ideas about Jesus
• Place Jesus above John the Baptist– Mandaean religion an early threat to Christianity
Why separate?
• Synoptic Gospels “seen together” & John separated
• Mysticism: oriented towards communion with God– Mystery: something hidden, fundamentally
unknowable• God’s Plan of Salvation
Christology
• Jesus Christ is God’s plan– Mediates between God & humanity
• Fully Human & Fully Divine in the same person– Huge early debate– Council of Chalcedon, 451 AD– Nestorian – 2 separate persons– Monophysite – 1 divine nature
Different Emphasis
• More in Jerusalem– More Jewish holidays– Mentions several Passover celebrations
• Early Jewish opposition– John 5: Jesus heals on the Sabbath– Authorities wanted to arrest him & stone him at
earlier feasts: John 7-9 & 10