John's Gospel

The Gospel of John

The four gospels emphasize a different aspect of Jesus

Matthew: Messiah

Mark: Servant

Luke: The Perfect Man

John: Diety

John’s gospel was written later and is unique among the 3 synoptic gospels. This maybe to due to John wanting to correct teachings in the church

English Standard Version Chapter 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Logos: Its basic definition is “word “

The word of the Lord in Hebrew

To Greek philosophers it would describe an impersonal force that pervaded all reality.

It is personified in the Hebrew tradition:

Samuel

Genesis

English Standard Version Chapter 1

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

(ESV)

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

God’s word is so powerful it is personified

Compare Genesis God spoke things into existence

John’s doctrine is triniatarian. They are distinct and yet the same.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The Light vs Dark motif found in Dead Sea Scroll writings: Sons of Light and Sons of Darkness

Darkness in the Ancient world. Something difficult to overcome in the the age before electricity

Genesis one there is a distinction made between light and dark

In creation darkness seems to overtake the world. In the spiritual creation the same event is happening. Jesus compares himself to light later on in John and his followers in the sermon on the mount

English Standard Version Chapter 1

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

Testimony in the sense of Law legal testimony was it was important to the Jews