John

Background & Overview of John

Purpose and Emphases

John's Gospel is rather different from the other three. Whether or not he knew them (or any one of them) continues to be debated. In any event, his witness to Jesus goes its own way, highlighting matters that in the other Gospels remain implicit and underdeveloped. The literary style of this witness of Jesus is also unique among the Gospels; here focus is on the "signs" of Jesus' identity and mission and on lengthy, theologically rich discourses.

John begins with the profound announcement that Jesus is the "in the beginning" creative Word of God who had become embodied (incarnated) as a human being to be the light of life for the world. After this comes the proclamation that this Jesus is the Son of God sent from the Father to finish the Father's work in the world (see 4:34 and note). God's own glory is made visible in him ("Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father," 14:9), and what he does glorifies the Father. In him the full grace and truth of God has shown itself. Strikingly, a series of "I am" claims on Jesus' lips echoes God's naming of himself in Ex 3:14, further strengthening the link between the Father and the Son (see 6:35; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7,9,14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1,5).

Jesus' words to Nicodemus nicely summarize this Gospel's central theme: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (3:16). Although a variety of motivations for the composition of John's Gospel have been posited by interpreters (such as to supplement the other Gospels, to combat some form of heresy, to oppose the continuing followers of John the Baptist), the author himself states his main purpose clearly in 20:31: "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

Background info below from Bible Study Tools
(click HERE for more background info)

The BIBLE PROJECT has illustrated summary videos of books of the Bible. Below is a two-part summary of the Gospel according to John (approx. 8 min each)

Download John Chapters for Note-taking (ESV translation)

We've created separate PDF downloads for each chapter of John in the English Standard Version (ESV) translation. They are created in single column format with wide margins for journaling and notes as you read.

Click on the chapter icon below to download each.

Video through John's Gospel from the Jesus Film Project

Read and Listen to John in a Variety of Translations

If you are interested in reading John in other translations, Bible Gateway is a great free resource to access books of the Bible in a variety of translations. You can also listen to the chapters in a variety of translations by clicking on the speaker icon once you have the text you are studying pulled up in Bible Gateway.

Commentaries on John's Gospel Book

Enduring Word audio and video sermons by David Guzik through John.

Enduring Word verse by verse commentaries on each chapter in John.

A wide range of sermons by John Piper on passages from John.

Resources on How to Study the Bible

The Gospel Coalition article on how to study the Bible.

Article on S.O.A.P. method of Bible study.

Five part video series on Jen Wilken's Bible study method.

Outline of John

Outline of John from Bible Study Tools

Prologue: The Word Became Flesh (1:1-18)
The Beginning of Jesus' Ministry (1:19-51)
- John the Baptist's Testimony about Jesus (1:19-34)
- John's Disciples Follow Jesus (1:35-42)
- Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael (1:43-51)
Jesus' Public Ministry: Signs and Discourses (chs. 2-11)
- Changing Water into Wine (2:1-11)
- Cleansing the Temple (2:12-25)
- Jesus Teaches Nicodemus (3:1-21)
- John the Baptist's Final Testimony about Jesus (3:22-36)
- Jesus and the Samaritans (4:1-42)
- Healing of the Official's Son (4:43-54)
- Jesus' Visit to Jerusalem at an Annual Feast (ch. 5)
- Feeding the 5,000 and Jesus' Claim to Be the Bread of Life (ch. 6)
- Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles and Disputes over Who He Is (chs. 7-8)
- Healing of the Man Born Blind (ch. 9)
- Jesus is the Good Shepherd (10:1-21)
- Conflict at the Feast of Dedication over Jesus' Identity (10:22-42)
- The Raising of Lazarus (ch. 11)
The Passion Week (chs. 12-19)
- The Anointing of Jesus' Feet (12:1-11)
- Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem as King (12:12-19)
- Jesus Predicts His Death (12:20-36)
- Belief and Unbelief among the Jews (12:37-50)
- Jesus' Farewell Discourses and Prayer (chs. 13-17)
  - At the Last Supper (chs. 13-14)
    - Jesus washes the disciples' feet (13:1-17)
    - Jesus predicts his betrayal (13:18-30)
    - Jesus predicts Peter's denial (13:31-38)
    - Jesus comforts his disciples (14:1-4)
    - Jesus is the way to the Father (14:5-14)
    - Jesus promises the Holy Spirit (14:15-30)
  - On the way to Gethsemane (chs. 15-16)
    - The vine and the branches (15:1-17)
    - The world hates the disciples (15:18-25)
    - The work of the Holy Spirit (15:26;16:15)
    - The disciples' grief will turn to joy (16:16-33)
  - Jesus' prayer (ch. 17)
    - For himself -- that he be glorified (17:1-5)
    - For his disciples (17:6-19)
    - For all believers (17:20-26)
- Jesus' Betrayal and Arrest (18:1-11)
- Jesus' Trials before Jewish and Roman Officials (18:12-40)
- Jesus' Crucifixion (19:1-27)
- Jesus' Death and Burial (19:28-42)
Jesus' Resurrection (20:1-29)
Statement of the Gospel's Purpose (20:30-31)
Epilogue: Jesus' Recommissioning of the Disciples (ch. 21)

Illuminated Scripture Journal for John

If you don't want to mark up your personal Bible or download the chapters above, a great option is the Illuminated Scripture Journal includes the entire text of John with wide margins and lightly dotted grid on blank pages opposite each page of Bible text for journaling and notes. It is a great way to underline, highlight, doodle, and take notes as you read each chapter. Hand-lettered, gold-ink illustrations by renowned artist Dana Tanamachi are interspersed throughout the blank pages, inviting readers to add their own artwork or reflections to each page. Click HERE or on the journal image to order from Amazon ($5.99)