The Gospel of John:
Myths and Facts
The New Testament
Document #: TX002270
• The Gospel of John has nothing in common
with the synoptic Gospels.
• MYTH. The Gospel of John, though unique in
many ways, shares basic content with the
synoptic Gospels, namely, the focus on the life,
ministry, death, and Resurrection of Jesus and
the meaning of these saving events for
believers today.
• In the Gospel of John, Jesus is a divine being,
not a human being.
• MYTH. All four Gospels, including John,
present Jesus as both fully divine and fully
human.
• The Gospel of John emphasizes
Jesus’ divinity.
• FACT. Much as Mark—the first Gospel—
emphasizes Jesus’ humanity, John—the last
Gospel—emphasizes his divinity.
• The Gospel of John promotes hatred of and
discrimination against Jewish people.
• MYTH. Unfortunately, throughout history poor
exegesis and lack of understanding regarding
the historical setting of John’s Gospel has led
people to misinterpret John’s portrayal of the
Jews, believing the Gospel is anti-Semitic.
Careful, academically responsible exegesis
can help to avoid this pitfall.
• John’s account of the birth of Jesus is the
basis for many popular Christmas traditions.
• MYTH. John does not contain an account of
the birth of Jesus.
• The Gospel of John begins with a poem.
• FACT. Rather than beginning, as Matthew and
Luke do, with an infancy narrative, John
begins with a poem that presents Jesus as the
preexistent Word.
• In the Gospel of John, Jesus does not
perform miracles.
• MYTH. Jesus does perform miracles in John’s
Gospel, but only seven of them. They are also
called signs rather than miracles.
• The Gospel of John uses more metaphors and
symbolism than do the synoptic Gospels.
• FACT. John is filled with vivid images and
thought-provoking symbols.
• The Gospel of John was written during a time
of great turmoil and transition in the early
Christian community.
• FACT. Because the Gospel of John was written
late in the first century AD, the early Christians
were beginning the tumultuous process of
separating themselves from their Jewish roots.
• The Gospel of John is incomprehensible to
most Catholics.
• MYTH. Although the Gospel of John can be
confusing and difficult, close reading and
careful study can make sense of even the
most obscure texts.
• Key texts from John’s Gospel are used in the
liturgies of Lent, Holy Thursday,
and Good Friday.
• FACT. The stories of the woman at the well, the man born
blind, and the raising of Lazarus are proclaimed during
the Sunday liturgies of Lent, especially when adults
preparing for Baptism are present. John’s account of the
Last Supper, which is the only one to recount the story of
Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, is always proclaimed at
the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening.
The Good Friday liturgy, commemorating the Passion and
death of the Lord, always includes a proclamation of
John’s Passion narrative.
• The Gospel of John was the last canonical
Gospel written.
• FACT. John was written between AD 90
and 100.
• John’s Gospel follows the same basic structure
as the synoptic Gospels.
• MYTH. John has a unique three-part structure:
a prologue, a Book of Signs, and a Book of
Glory, as well as an epilogue that scholars
believe was written later.
• Many famous and well-loved passages in
John’s Gospel—like “I am the vine, you are the
branches” (John 15:5), “I am the bread of life”
(John 6:3), and “I am the way and the truth
and the life” (John 14:6)—do not appear in the
synoptic Gospels.
• FACT. These are examples of the kind of
metaphoric or symbolic language John
frequently employs. We will learn more about
the particular significance of the
“I AM” statements.