The Gospel of John. Dr. Bob Page Missions and Care Pastor

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2 The Gospel of John Dr. Bob Page Missions and Care Pastor

3 Welcome About me: Born in Baton Rouge, LA Married to Ruth 45 years Retired USAF RPC Staff 1 year Anne King s Dad 2 daughters: Anne and Allison 5 grandchildren: Noelle, Grace, Jonathan, Lynden, and Catherine

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5 WHAT IS THE 4th GOSPEL? Biography? History? A new genre: Gospel - Good News An author s witness to his faith in Jesus as the Christ More than sharing information, the author wants the reader to encounter Jesus

6 Who wrote the 4th Gospel?INTERNAL EVIDENCE Seems to be a member of the inner circle of disciples Someone familiar with Jewish customs & culture An eyewitness from the beginning of Jesus ministry The disciple Jesus loved (used 6 times, John 21:20-25) Written by a Palestinian Jew who was an apostle of Jesus and an eyewitness of the events he describes. (B F Westcott ) John the apostle is not named in the 4th Gospel

7 Who wrote the 4th Gospel?External Evidence Theophilus of Antioch ( ): 1st to name the Gospel as John s & call it inspired Scripture (first to write of Trinity) Clement of Alexandria ( ): Last of all John composed a spiritual gospel. Irenaeus ( ): John, the disciple of the Lord, who leaned against his breast, published a gospel while he was residing at Ephesus in Asia. Justin Martyr ( ): wrote about Logos theology Tatian (150): First person to quote the 4th gospel verbatim. Wrote a harmony weaving 4 gospels into one narrative: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Eusebius ( ): John began his gospel with an account of the deity of Jesus Jerome ( ): John the apostle when asked by the bishops of Asia, wrote a gospel against Cerinthus

8 Gnosticism Matter is evil. Spirit is good. World was not created by the true God, but a distant emanation from God. Christ was not a real human in the flesh. He only seemed real. Denied the virgin birth Spirit is trapped in prison of flesh. Knowledge (gnosis) is necessary to escape the prison. (only a few have this knowledge) Cerinthus was a Gnostic. See 1 John 4:2

9 John, the Apostle Disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:35-39) Was with Jesus from the beginning (John 2:11) Next to Jesus at the last supper (John 13:21-25) Jesus entrusted his mother to him (John 19:25-27) Summary: The 4th Gospel was written after the Synoptics by John, the Apostle of Jesus, in Ephesus at the urging of the bishops (pastors) of Asia to combat false teaching and call readers to faith in Jesus.

10 The Rylands Fragment Purchased in Egypt in 1920 Parts of John 18:31-33, Dated by 2.5 Oldest piece of NT today On display in Rylands Library in Manchester, England

11 The Rylands Fragment Front and Back the Jews, "For us it is not permitted to kill anyone," so that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke signifying what kind of death he was going to die. Entered therefore again into the Praetorium Pilate and summoned Jesus and said to him, "Thou art king of the Jews? (Front: John 18:31-33) a King I am. For this I have been born and (for this) I have come into the world so that I would testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears of me my voice." Said to him Pilate, "What is truth?" and this having said, again he went out unto the Jews and said to them, "I find not one fault in him. (Back: John 18:37-38)

12 Outline Prologue (1:1-18) Book of Signs (1:19-12:50) Book of Glory (13:1-20:31) Epilogue (21)

13 Seven Miracle Signs Changing water to wine 2:1-11 Healing of the official s son in Capernaum 4:46-54 Healing the paralytic at Bethesda 5:1-15 Feeding of the :5-14 Walking on the water 6:16-24 Healing of the man born blind 9:1-7 Raising of Lazarus from the dead 11:1-45

14 Seven I AM Statements I AM the bread of life 6:35 I AM the light of the world 8:12 Before Abraham was, I AM 8:58 I AM the good shepherd 10:11 I AM the resurrection and the life 11:25 I AM the way, the truth and life 14:6 I AM the true vine you are the branches 15:1

15 Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος. The Word was already present at the beginning of all things. Always been the most intimate relationship (face to face) between God and the Word. The Word is God!

16 LOGOS John restates the Gospel in terms non-jews could understand John found a link in the concept of Logos Familiar concept for the Greek world The Word of God precious to the Jews Isa 55:10-11 Ps 107:19-20 Gen 1

17 John 1:3 Two Great Truths Christ was not created. All things (one by one without exception) were made by him.

18 Parallel between John 1 and Genesis 1 In the beginning Seven days of creation in Genesis and the next day and the next day in John In Genesis God speaks and physical light and life come into existence. In John the Word is the source of spiritual light and life.

19 In him was life and that life was the light of men. v.4 LIFE and LIGHT are central themes in John s Gospel Life = Zoe (54X in John s Gospel and 1 John) Always spiritual life Life has always throughout eternity resided in the Word. We experience this life by believing in Jesus. LIGHT exposes our sins 3:19-20 Light guides us 12:35-36 Darkness and Light in John s Gospel 1:5 Could not understand it Could not overcome it Could not extinguish it

20 Ernie Heaton WWII veteran and last living survivor of the USAF Dorchester I believe God has let me live to tell the story of the sacrifice of the four chaplains.

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22 John Reading Guide 21 days You Version Bible App