The Gospel of John
New Testament Literature
Author:
The Gospel of John is a testimony of the unnamed "disciple whom Jesus loved." This disciple is believed to be John the Evangelist.
St. John the Evangelist
- Son of Zebedee, brother of James the Greater
- One of Christ's original Twelve Apostles
- Only one to live into old age and not killed for his faith
- Jesus committed to him the privilege of caring for Mary
- First to recognize Jesus after the Resurrection
- Represented holding a chalice
- Symbol - Eagle
Contributions
- Epistles
- Book of Revelation
Length of Gospel
This Gospel contains:
- 21 chapters
- 879 verses
- 15,635 words
Major Stories
- The central theme is the divine Logos.
- John the Baptist's Testimony
- The Samaritan Woman
- The Wedding at Cana
- Multiplication of the Loaves
- Walking on the Water
- A Woman Caught in Adultery
- The Raising of Lazarus
- The Last Passover
- The Crucifixion of Jesus
Walking on the Water
The Wedding at Cana
The Raising of Lazarus
Unique
- Not included in the "Synoptic" Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke)
- No narrative parables
- Includes more information about Jesus' ministry
- Prologue affirms Jesus' preexistence and full deity
- Gives a reflective perspective, clearly later than the events he describes
- Written in long discourses