Johannine Literature and Theology

The author of the book of John

Jews in Israel and the Diaspora/followers of Jesus

First century, probably late

Where the book of John was written

Faith and Discipleship:

“But these are written that you may believe (or ‘keep on believing,’ NIV footnote) that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

• 1. Mediator of creation
• “Through him all things were made” (1:3)

2. Mediator of revelation

“In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

3 Mediator of redemption



4. The prologue moves from eternity to creation to history to the incarnation.

the three Great Gospel Themes

Here are the notes you need to write your essay =)

• 1. The cosmic spiritual battle, launched in heaven, but fought on earth, is between light and darkness“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it” (1:5).
• “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God” (3:19-21).

This battle between God and Satan, is foundational for Jesus’ ministry. Jesus delivers captives from the kingdom of Satan and brings them into the kingdom of God. We know that this battle is real, not simply because we read it on the pages of the New Testament, but because it rages down through the generations and in our hearts and ministries today.Gregory Boyd writes, “As an increasing number of New Testament scholars now recognize, almost everything that Jesus and the early church were about is decisively colored by the central conviction that the world is caught in the crossfire of the cosmic army – between the Lord and his angelic army and Satan and his demonic army” (God at War, Inter Varsity Press, 1997, p.172).

1.1 I am the light of the world“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (8:12).

• 1.1.1 He reveals the truth“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (8:31-32).
• 1.1.2 He reveals our true bondage“I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin…So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (8:34, 36).
• 1.1.3 He reveals our true father“If God were your Father, you would love me, For I came from God…You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire” (8:42, 44).
• 1.1.4 He reveals our true enemy: not Rome, but Satan“He [the devil] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (8:44).
• 1.1.5 He reveals himself
• 1.1.5.1 “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going” (8:14).
• 1.1.5.2 “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world” (8:23).
• 1.1.5.3 “…for I came from God and now am here” (8:42).
• 1.1.6 He reveals victory over death“If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death” (8:51). 1.1.7 He reveals himself as God“I tell you the truth…before Abraham was born, I am!” (8:58)
• “I and the Father are one”(10:30). ·

• After Jesus reveals himself as the light of the world, he heals a man born blind (chapter 9). Thus, he is the “word-worker” (John Wimber). ·
• “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind” (9:39).

• The New Birth
• Physical birth/spiritual birth: “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water [physical birth rather than baptism?] and the Spirit.”
• 2 . The necessity of the New Birth
• 3.The miracle of the New Birth
• 4. The ground of the New Birth – the cross

Jesus gives living water (4:4-26)

• “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (4:10).
• “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (4:13-14).

(See Encountering the New Testament, Ch.7).

( See Encountering the New Testament, Ch. 7).

Jesus gives life to those facing death (4:46-53)

“When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death…The royal official said, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’ Jesus replied, ‘You may go. Your son will live.’” (4:47, 49-50)

Jesus gives life to those who believe in him (5:21-40)

• “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.” (5:21)
• “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.” (5:24-26)
• “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (5:39-40)

I am the bread of life (6:35)

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (6:40)

“I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life…Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” (6:53-58)

I am the gate for the sheep…that they might be saved (i.e., live)

• “I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers…I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” (10:7, 9)
• Jesus is our entry point and our access point to the Father and his salvation; he is our Mediator.

I am the good shepherd…who lays down his life for the sheep

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (10:11)

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (10:27-30)

I am the resurrection and the life

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (11:25).

After Jesus reveals this, he raises Lazarus from the dead. Again, he is the “word-worker.”

I am the way, the truth, and the life

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (14:6).

I am the true vine

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener…I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned”(15:1, 5-6).