JOHN: An Introduction & Overview
See the final slide for resources
JOHN: An Introduction & Overview
1. Who was the Author?
2. When was it written?
3. Where was it written?
4. Why was it written?
JOHN: An Introduction & Overview
5. John’s Declared Purpose
(John 20:30-31 NIV) Jesus did many other
miraculous signs in the presence of his
disciples, which are not recorded in this book.
{31} But these are written that you may
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God, and that by believing you may have life
in his name.
JOHN: An Introduction & Overview
John’s Declared Purpose (cont.)
• “that you may have life in Jesus’ name”
• “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, and that by believing you may
have life in his name.”
• “These are written that you may believe”
--------- Pattern: Testimony => response => result
JOHN: An Introduction & Overview
6. A Few Key Words
6.1 Sign (x17)
“But these (signs) are written”
Turning the water into wine (Jn 2)
Healing the royal official’s son (Jn 4)
Feeding the multitude (Jn 6)
Healing the blind man (Jn 9)
Raising the dead (Jn 11)
JOHN: An Introduction & Overview
A Few Key Words (cont)
6.2 Witness (x21)
“These are written...”
Chapter 1 – John Baptist
Chapter 20 – Thomas
Chapters 2-19 – 13 other people or groups. e.g.
1/41 Andrew
1/45 Philip
1/49 Nathanael
JOHN: An Introduction & Overview
A Few Key Words (cont)
6.3 Believe (x96)
“... that you might believe”
To believe or to NOT believe that Jesus is the
Messiah
To receive life or to remain in death
JOHN: An Introduction & Overview
• (John 11:15 NIV) and for your sake I am glad I
was not there, so that you may believe. But let
us go to him."
• (John 11:25 NIV) Jesus said to her, "I am the
resurrection and the life. He who believes in
me will live, even though he dies;
• (John 11:26 NIV) and whoever lives and
believes in me will never die. Do you believe
this?"
JOHN: An Introduction & Overview
• (John 11:27 NIV) "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I
believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
who was to come into the world.“
• (John 11:40 NIV) Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell
you that if you believed, you would see the glory
of God?"
• (John 11:42 NIV) I knew that you always hear
me, but I said this for the benefit of the people
standing here, that they may believe that you
sent me."
JOHN: An Introduction & Overview
• (John 11:45 NIV) Therefore many of the Jews
who had come to visit Mary, and had seen
what Jesus did, put their faith in him.
• (John 11:48 NIV) If we let him go on like this,
everyone will believe in him, and then the
Romans will come and take away both our
place and our nation."
JOHN: An Introduction & Overview
A Few Key Words (cont)
6.4 Life (x31)
“and that by believing you may have life in his
name”
“I am the bread of life
“I am the way the truth and the life
“I am the resurrection and the life
“I give (my sheep) eternal life
JOHN: An Introduction & Overview
7. Conclusion
Jesus was either what he claimed to be – God
the Son, or he was a madman.
We ALL make a choice as to what we will believe
JOHN: An Introduction & Overview
RESOURCES
• Very brief: “Pocket guide to the New
Testament” by Francis Foulkes ; IVP
• Brief: New Bible Commentary Revised;
“John” by Donald Guthrie; IVP
• More extensive: The Expositor’s Bible
Commentary - Vol 9; “The Gospel of John” by
Merrill C. Tenney; Zondervan
• Very extensive: NICNT “The Gospel according
to John” by Leon Morris; Eerdmans