The purpose of the fourth gospel 641 a present subjunctive, that is not support for his own preferred position. It concludes that johns primary purpose is the evangelism of unbelievers, as john seeks to lead readers to fulfill the single, instantaneous condition of belief in jesus christs person, work, and promise in order. To give us reason after reason after reason to believe. Questions as to the date, origin, purpose and authorship of the fourth gospel, pel, which critical scholars of the past generation thought were settled, have arisen again in acute form. An approach to the four gospels 5 the structural outline of matthew, exhibiting key words and correspondences 8 the distinctive character of both mark and luke 10 the distinctive purposes of the gospels according to matthew and luke demonstrated 14 the dispensational place of johns gospel 18. Gospel of john class introduction to gospel of john. They are too crucial a part of johns christological presentation and, indeed, of the purpose of his entire gospel for ambiguity regarding the number and identity of the johannine signs to be allowed to prevail. This document is a dissertation on the evangelistic purpose and message of johns gospel in relation to free grace theology. This purpose is to convince the reader that faith in jesus as the christ, son of god, can and indeed should be. With the disciples paralyzed by fear and without the presence of tho. John 1 1 that word begotten of god before all worlds. Questions as to the date, origin, purpose and authorship of the fourth gospel, pel, which critical scholars of. The authorship is unanimously attributed to the apostle john irenaeus, st. O f the four gospels, johns gospel presents jesus as god most forcefully.
Furthermore, given john s dynamic view of faith 20. Gospel is assessed as a work of art or as an autonomous text but not in terms ofthat texts place in the history of christianity. But these are written that you may come to believe that jesus is the messiah, the son of god, and that through this. The destination and purpose of st johns gospel new. There are many different ways to outline johns gospel, but here is a broad outline that gives the flow of the text. It is easy, when we read the gospel, to believe that john, though doubtless aware of the necessity of strengthening christians and converting the heathen, wrote primarily to satisfy himself. The holy gospel of jesus christ, according to john. Gospel of john and truly jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.
This is the one great feature which constitutes the difference between this gospel and the other three. Clement, eusebius who is referred to as the disciple whom jesus loved. Church in the gospel according to john peace be with you. Matthew, mark, and luke were already in circulation. Of the four gospels, johns gospel presents jesus as god most forcefully. This gospel was probably composed when john was an old man living in ephesus, around 90. Characteristic features and purpose john s presentation of jesus in his gospel has been a problem to many modern students of the new testament. The apostle johns purpose for writing 1 john think theology. The purpose of the gospel of john is not stated in the opening paragraph as in lukes gospel, but rather at the end.
This is one of the most elementary questions of new testament study, and one might think that by now the answers could be given with some degree of certainty and consent. Perhaps it should also be pointed out that most of riesenfelds examples in support of the position that john commonly prefers the present subjunctive after tvoc come from 1 john. Clement of alexandria believed that john wrote his gospel to supplement the other three. There are many different ways to outline johns gospel, but here.
Johns is the only one of the four not considered among the synoptic gospels i. Evidences for belief gene taylor 1 preface the book of john is different from the other gospels in a number of ways. The present subjunctive, on the other hand, would indicate that johns purpose is instructive. Jesus was not a reluctant participant in the plan of the father, rather he willingly laid down his life as a sacrifice for sin. Johns gospel was written to a greek audience, not unlike our own culture at present in many ways, to show them that jesus was the eternal son of god. While it appears johns primary purpose was to encourage believers, there was probably also an evangelistic concern. The identity of the recipients of the fourth gospel in the. A new translation from the greek by david robert palmer. The background and purpose of johns gospel free download as pdf file.
This purpose is to convince the reader that faith in. John declares his purpose in writing this gospel 20. Each of his contributions to the new testament had their specific function and purpose, and one should consult each piece of literature to find the internal reason for john. Johns writings, see some 84 words recorded in the notes. The purpose of johns gospel really does seem to be a way of pointing both jewish and gentile christians to jesus. Now jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.
Mar 21, 2014 if this gospel had a specific purpose statement it would be that you may believe that jesus is the christ, the son of god, and that by believing you may have life in his name 20. The present subjunctive, on the other hand, would indicate that john s purpose is instructiveto deepen faith among believers. It varies from the other three gospels of matthew, mark and luke also known as the synoptic gospels, by focusing more on spiritual. The purpose of johns gospel brian schwertley and many other signs truly did jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. Some scholars see johns gospel to be the product of a long period of development, so one might focus in on the christology that emerged in the course of that development. The gospel of john is the latestwritten of the four biographies of jesus that have been preserved in the new testament. Introduction of the four gospels, johns gospel presents jesus as god most forcefully. A book of selections telling some reasons why he is the son of god. It varies from the other three gospels of matthew, mark and luke also known as the. Characteristic features and purpose johns presentation of jesus in his gospel has been a problem to many modern students of the new testament. The gospel of john is a unique perspective of the life of jesus christ. Purpose and audience john specifically states his purpose in 20. Many would argue that the aorist subjunctive would imply that johns purpose is evangelisticto win the lost to saving faith in christ.
Johns purpose in writing this book is clearly stated in john 20. There is no mention of him by name in the gospel which would be a glaring omission as a strong leader of the early church if he did not write it. Participant handout guides if you are working with a class or small group, feel free to duplicate the following handouts at no additional. In studying johns gospel, one can see the culmination of gods eternal purpose in his only begotten son. Nov 28, 2012 the purpose of johns gospel really does seem to be a way of pointing both jewish and gentile christians to jesus. Participant handout guides if you are working with a class or small group, feel. Written by a christian named john, the contents of the book indicate quite clearly that the author was not the john who was one of the twelve disciples of jesus, for it contains no direct personal references of the type that one would expect from an intimate. The resurrection and postresurrection narratives chapter 10. In our perspective the gospel is a literary unity, and john 20. The gospel of john is not really a biography of jesus. The apostle john wrote a historical narrative the gospel according to john, an apocalyptic vision the revelation of jesus christ, and three epistles 1 through 3 john.
Each of the four gospels offers selections of the sayings and deeds of. The nature and purpose of johns gospel sermonaudio. Introduction to the gospel of john study resources. Viii the destination and purpose of st johns gospel1 john a. A study about the structure of and purpose for johns gospel arlen l. The date and purpose of the gospel by john george allen turner, ph. Johns gospel confirmed that jesus was yhvh of the jews.
The very existence of the gospels of matthew, mark, luke and john is because god himself wants you to have a basis for believing the truth. Johns gospel confirmed that jesus was yhvh of the jews john 8. Obviously, the other synoptic gospels do this as well, but the fact that there are so many differences between the synoptic gospels and johns, it seems that johns gospel is pointing to jesus in a different way. A brief summary of facts about the author knowing johns life helps us understand his record, and especially shows us how thoroughly qualified he was to speak as an eyewitness about jesus life. I he gospel of john differs widely from the other, synoptic gospels in a. The authors purpose is clearly expressed in what must have been the original ending of the gospel at the end of jn 20. It not only provides wonderful insights into the life and ministry of jesus with the stated purpose of generating belief in jesus.
The final result is the gospel of luke as we know it today. Jesus as the christ, son of god, can and indeed should be based on the signs as recorded in the gospel. There is an increasing tendency by critics to abandon earlier. Studying this gospel allows the student to see the stepbystep process by which that purpose is accomplished. If this is true, then john would be writing to people who were not eyewitnesses to jesus. The purpose of the gospel of john is not stated in the opening paragraph as in luke s gospel, but rather at the end. The first lies in johns usage of the phrase these things have been. A biblical history the gospel of john is one of four gospels in the holy bible and is the fourth book in chronological order presented in the new testament. Jul 11, 2017 some scholars see johns gospel to be the product of a long period of development, so one might focus in on the christology that emerged in the course of that development. It argues that the passage expresses a purpose which is reflected in both the structure and the content of the gospel as a whole. The origin and purpose of st johns gospel new testament. Moreover, john here insists that the purpose of gods sending jesus was.
Some regard it as the greatest problem in current new testament studies. Gospel is assessed as a work of art or as an autonomous text but not in terms ofthat text s place in the history of christianity. This purpose is to convince the reader that faith in jesus as the christ, son of god, can and indeed should be based on the signs as recorded in the gospel. The gospel of john is a selective, symbolic, eyewitness account of the person and ministry of jesus, written so that you may believe in him as the christ, the son of god, and thus have life in his name. This gospel was probably composed when john was an old man living in ephesus, around 90 a. Available formats pdf please select a format to send. Johns point is that most of the jesus story had to be left out of his gospel. The mission of the church in the gospel according to john. The destination and purpose of st johns gospel biblical studies. Tenney one of the peculiarities of the fourth gospel is the fact that its author chose to hang its key by the back door.
The origin and purpose of st johns gospel volume 11 issue 4 j. A reading of the conclusion to johns gospel 20,3031. The divine purpose in the gospel by john is to present the lord jesus as god. Chitwood signs in johns gospel signs relating to israel and the kingdom. Onethird of the verses given to the last 24 hours of jesus life. Gospel according to john, fourth of the four new testament narratives recounting the life and death of jesus christ. Certainly the gospel has proved quite valuable for both purposes. While it appears john s primary purpose was to encourage believers, there was probably also an evangelistic concern. The destination and purpose of st johns gospel1 john a. Therefore the purpose of johns gospel is to confirm and secure christians in the faith.
But these are written, that ye might believe that jesus is the christ the son of god. If this gospel had a specific purpose statement it would be that you may believe that jesus is the christ, the son of god, and that by believing you may have life in his name 20. Each of the four gospels offers selections of the sayings and deeds of jesus that fit that particular writers purpose. An effort is made to determine to whom john wrote this gospel and how he adapted his. Active response required of men to the doctrine of the deity of jesus. The background and purpose of johns gospel gospel of john. What does it tell us about the limits of all the g o s p e l s.