Gospel Of John
Luke Parker
Dr. Holley
BIBLE
15 April. 2014
The Gospel of John
The study of the Gospel of John presents the history and story of Jesus Christ that pulls the reader and the community of Christianity into a faith built relationship through three powerful themes: true belief, the Paraclete, and love. One is required to express a hermeneutic to understand the importance of this Gospel. After understanding that history and literature are two ways to study this Gospel; one is required to believe or not to believe, that is to trust and have faith that Jesus is the son of God or not. If the path of belief is then chosen by that individual; then one can begin to apply the truths to both their lives as well as the community of faith that surrounds …show more content…
them. The Gospel of John teaches that true belief allows an individual’s life to be guided by the promised Paraclete and filled with love.
To understand how the Gospel of John relates to modern life and the contemporary church it is necessary to articulate a hermeneutic. A system to study this Gospel allows the reader to connect the Johannine Community to which was it written close to two thousand years ago. Observing this particular Gospel requires a reader to view it from two different perspectives: A literature and history. The first way of studying the Gospel of John is through the lens of a narrative. The Gospel of John is interesting in that the story of Jesus’ identity, conflict, and mission are all told in the first eighteen verses. These verses are essential in the understanding and relating John’s Gospel to our modern day life, and how it is applicable to the contemporary church of today. Jesus speaks in long discourses as opposed the Synoptic Gospels where Jesus is known to speak in parables and short pithy sayings. These long discourses like that of the Samaritan woman, the man born blind, or Jesus’ discussion with Lazarus’ sisters All show Jesus’ character and his ability to work the impossible. These stories seem to transcend time and elevate the reader to a close relationship with Jesus through his love and mercy.
In order to articulate a better understanding of the Gospel of John in a holistic sense it is best to view this Gospel in terms of a history.
Standing away from the stories and seeing who the Gospel was speaking is extremely helpful. The individual and the contemporary church are the audience, and this is intriguing on two levels. First, the Gospel gives a wealth of knowledge about our modern day relationship to the Paraclete as Culpepper writes in The Gospel and Letters of John, “There are echoes or allusions to John in several second-century Church fathers, and Montanists based their doctrine on John’s words about the Paraclete.” (87) With that in mind it is easy to study the Gospel of John in a similar way that the early church did. The early church based their understanding on the promised Holy Spirit on the writings of this Gospel and the modern day believer should do the same as well. Secondly, to study the Gospel of John in a historical sense is extremely important when observing who it was written to. Throughout this Gospel Jewish festivals, Jerusalem, and Judea are mentioned allowing the reader to investigate to compare and contrast the situations of Jesus’ time versus that of modern day. Historical studies unveil great insight into the scripture and can allow the reader to relate to the troubles of the past; for example we see the troubles of outwardly accepting Jesus even when people want to believe, “…Leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees …show more content…
they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue.”(12:42) this hermeneutic of historical study can help guide a believer to understand the Gospel of John and guide them to a better walk with Christ.
The study of John from a historical and literary point of view allows the reader grasp a full understanding that Jesus was on a man on a mission and that he commissioned his followers to walk in his footsteps to be one with him. The entire Gospel is structured upon belief and unbelief, and upon this idea lies the challenge for the modern day world today. Koester explains this in The Word of Life, “The Gospel contrasts belief and unbelief in order to press for clarity of commitment to Jesus. Readers are not to linger in the gray areas, keeping the claims of God at a secure distance. Recognizing that life is complex, one might want to retreat into the comfort of ambiguity, where no commitment is required.”(172) True authentic belief is not the mere declaration of “I believe in Jesus,” but is the active force that generates a life of full commitment displayed through a daily walk in love with Christ Jesus. This faithful walk with Christ was never promised to be easy on this Earth as from a worldly perspective Jesus said, “…In this world you will have trouble,” (John 16:33) “… I have chosen you out of the world that is why the world hates you,” (John 15:19) “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:24) These passages of the Gospel of John would make life unbearable if they were not immediately followed by Jesus explaining that He has overcome the world and belief in him will result in everlasting life.
The belief (like that found in John 3:16) that results in everlasting life is predicated by faith. Koester explains that, “Faith, on a basic level, is trust. It is a positive form of relationship.” (162) The Gospel of John is an actual call to faith, “Readers often find that John’s Gospel makes sharp contrasts between belief and unbelief. The Gospel calls people to faith, promising that those who drink the living water will not thirst, those who eat the living bread will not hunger, and those who receive the light will not walk in darkness (4:14; 6:35; 8:12).” (Koester 172) This faith may seem difficult to some but it is necessary to all who call themselves Disciples of Christ. Faith is not an inactive thought that remains motionless; it is the groundwork that guides one in the right direction, and develops a relationship with Jesus. This initial faith is the motivating power that compelled the royal official to travel across Galilee to see Jesus, and to bring him to his dying son (John 4:47); it is driving force that lead the man born blind in John 9 to go wash in the pool of Siloam before ever seeing any results (9:7), and perhaps the most noteworthy example of faith is the sister of a dead man trusting that Jesus could raise her brother to life, even though he had been dead for four days. These examples of faith challenge the modern day reader into asking the question, “Does my faith look like that of the characters in the Gospel of John?” The stagnant lukewarm life that many people of “faith” live today sadly do not embody these examples of faith, however as one matures in Christianity this walk of true belief can bolster one into an amazing life with Christ.
The truths found in the Gospel of John are profoundly important, and as one studies this Gospel intently it becomes apparent that the issues addressed inside are to individuals as well as the community of Christian faith as a whole. To understand how to apply the truth to one’s life; one must understand what the truth is. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This verse tells an individual that, “The three terms may be related in various ways. The way may be the process, the truth the means or goal, and life the result… The claims of Christianity are exclusive, nevertheless: “No one comes to the Father except through me” (Culpepper 210) Appling Culpepper’s ideas on this verse may seem difficult; however when one makes the conscience decision to follow Christ the process to obtain the goal, results in a relationship with Jesus which is life, and the ultimate truth for that individual is: a life without Jesus, is a life without the creator God, which is no life at all.
Interestingly the similarities between the application of the truths in John’s Gospel between an individual and the community of Christian faith as a whole are in some aspects one in the same, but on a broader scale one can see an example of the community in certain characters in the Gospel. For instance, the man who was born blind in the John chapter nine reflects the community of faith, “John 9 is also the window through which many interpreters have peered into the history of the Johannine community, because it describes the blind man’s expulsion from the synagogue.” (Culpepper 174) The Christian community was kicked out of the synagogue, but welcomed into the house God, and as a result the application of faith on the community resulted in a relationship with Jesus.
The three main themes that stand out and seem to be prevalent in the Gospel of John are: Faith and belief, life with the Paraclete, and love. Each one of these three themes seems to coexist and they are completely interwoven. True authentic faith and belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is the very life blood of every individual who clings to the Christian faith, and is the basis of our faith. Perhaps one of the most popular verses in the entire Gospel or perhaps the entire Holy Bible for that matter is John 3:16. This verse defines the theme of faith by saying, “whoever believes… [will] have eternal life.” Although Jesus is no longer on earth in the terms of the flesh; He did tell his believers that if anyone loves him and keeps his commands (that is to is have faith in him), he has promised to send the Paraclete, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth.” (John 14:15-17)
The idea of the Paraclete is another theme that is seen throughout the Gospel of John. The Paraclete is the “Spirit of truth” that, “will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) “The two words “teach” and “remind” describe the way the Spirit gives believers new insight into the story of Jesus.” (Koester 152) This theme is carried throughout the Gospel up to where Jesus breathes on his disciples and they received the Holy Spirit. The theme of the Holy Spirit helps unify the body of believers. Once one accepts Jesus as the Lord and Savior of their life, the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to them.
This unique bond between a believer in Jesus and the promised Holy Spirit is the dynamic life changing force that allows one to live out Jesus’ new commandment of love that was found in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. This theme of love is not a burdensome load that weighs a believer down, but a joyous lifestyle that is obtained once a believer walks in this truth, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:11-12)
The story of Jesus Christ presented in the Gospel of John is a historical narrative based on faith established in love through the power of the Holy Spirit that is necessary for both an individual believer as well as the community of faith as a whole.
Studying this Gospel as a history and understanding it as a literature will shed light on the fact that one is required to have faith and believe that Jesus was the one and only son of God. This faith allows both the reader and the community of faith that surrounds the reader to participate in a relationship with Jesus, and teaches three vitally important in the themes that are recurrent in this Gospel: faith, the Holy Spirit,
love.
Works Cited
Culpepper, Alan R. Gospel and Letters of John. Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 1998. Print.
Koester, Craig R. The Word of Life. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008. Print.
The New International Version. Zondervan. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. 2011. Print
Dr. Holley
BIBLE
15 April. 2014
The Gospel of John
The study of the Gospel of John presents the history and story of Jesus Christ that pulls the reader and the community of Christianity into a faith built relationship through three powerful themes: true belief, the Paraclete, and love. One is required to express a hermeneutic to understand the importance of this Gospel. After understanding that history and literature are two ways to study this Gospel; one is required to believe or not to believe, that is to trust and have faith that Jesus is the son of God or not. If the path of belief is then chosen by that individual; then one can begin to apply the truths to both their lives as well as the community of faith that surrounds …show more content…
them. The Gospel of John teaches that true belief allows an individual’s life to be guided by the promised Paraclete and filled with love.
To understand how the Gospel of John relates to modern life and the contemporary church it is necessary to articulate a hermeneutic. A system to study this Gospel allows the reader to connect the Johannine Community to which was it written close to two thousand years ago. Observing this particular Gospel requires a reader to view it from two different perspectives: A literature and history. The first way of studying the Gospel of John is through the lens of a narrative. The Gospel of John is interesting in that the story of Jesus’ identity, conflict, and mission are all told in the first eighteen verses. These verses are essential in the understanding and relating John’s Gospel to our modern day life, and how it is applicable to the contemporary church of today. Jesus speaks in long discourses as opposed the Synoptic Gospels where Jesus is known to speak in parables and short pithy sayings. These long discourses like that of the Samaritan woman, the man born blind, or Jesus’ discussion with Lazarus’ sisters All show Jesus’ character and his ability to work the impossible. These stories seem to transcend time and elevate the reader to a close relationship with Jesus through his love and mercy.
In order to articulate a better understanding of the Gospel of John in a holistic sense it is best to view this Gospel in terms of a history.
Standing away from the stories and seeing who the Gospel was speaking is extremely helpful. The individual and the contemporary church are the audience, and this is intriguing on two levels. First, the Gospel gives a wealth of knowledge about our modern day relationship to the Paraclete as Culpepper writes in The Gospel and Letters of John, “There are echoes or allusions to John in several second-century Church fathers, and Montanists based their doctrine on John’s words about the Paraclete.” (87) With that in mind it is easy to study the Gospel of John in a similar way that the early church did. The early church based their understanding on the promised Holy Spirit on the writings of this Gospel and the modern day believer should do the same as well. Secondly, to study the Gospel of John in a historical sense is extremely important when observing who it was written to. Throughout this Gospel Jewish festivals, Jerusalem, and Judea are mentioned allowing the reader to investigate to compare and contrast the situations of Jesus’ time versus that of modern day. Historical studies unveil great insight into the scripture and can allow the reader to relate to the troubles of the past; for example we see the troubles of outwardly accepting Jesus even when people want to believe, “…Leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees …show more content…
they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue.”(12:42) this hermeneutic of historical study can help guide a believer to understand the Gospel of John and guide them to a better walk with Christ.
The study of John from a historical and literary point of view allows the reader grasp a full understanding that Jesus was on a man on a mission and that he commissioned his followers to walk in his footsteps to be one with him. The entire Gospel is structured upon belief and unbelief, and upon this idea lies the challenge for the modern day world today. Koester explains this in The Word of Life, “The Gospel contrasts belief and unbelief in order to press for clarity of commitment to Jesus. Readers are not to linger in the gray areas, keeping the claims of God at a secure distance. Recognizing that life is complex, one might want to retreat into the comfort of ambiguity, where no commitment is required.”(172) True authentic belief is not the mere declaration of “I believe in Jesus,” but is the active force that generates a life of full commitment displayed through a daily walk in love with Christ Jesus. This faithful walk with Christ was never promised to be easy on this Earth as from a worldly perspective Jesus said, “…In this world you will have trouble,” (John 16:33) “… I have chosen you out of the world that is why the world hates you,” (John 15:19) “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:24) These passages of the Gospel of John would make life unbearable if they were not immediately followed by Jesus explaining that He has overcome the world and belief in him will result in everlasting life.
The belief (like that found in John 3:16) that results in everlasting life is predicated by faith. Koester explains that, “Faith, on a basic level, is trust. It is a positive form of relationship.” (162) The Gospel of John is an actual call to faith, “Readers often find that John’s Gospel makes sharp contrasts between belief and unbelief. The Gospel calls people to faith, promising that those who drink the living water will not thirst, those who eat the living bread will not hunger, and those who receive the light will not walk in darkness (4:14; 6:35; 8:12).” (Koester 172) This faith may seem difficult to some but it is necessary to all who call themselves Disciples of Christ. Faith is not an inactive thought that remains motionless; it is the groundwork that guides one in the right direction, and develops a relationship with Jesus. This initial faith is the motivating power that compelled the royal official to travel across Galilee to see Jesus, and to bring him to his dying son (John 4:47); it is driving force that lead the man born blind in John 9 to go wash in the pool of Siloam before ever seeing any results (9:7), and perhaps the most noteworthy example of faith is the sister of a dead man trusting that Jesus could raise her brother to life, even though he had been dead for four days. These examples of faith challenge the modern day reader into asking the question, “Does my faith look like that of the characters in the Gospel of John?” The stagnant lukewarm life that many people of “faith” live today sadly do not embody these examples of faith, however as one matures in Christianity this walk of true belief can bolster one into an amazing life with Christ.
The truths found in the Gospel of John are profoundly important, and as one studies this Gospel intently it becomes apparent that the issues addressed inside are to individuals as well as the community of Christian faith as a whole. To understand how to apply the truth to one’s life; one must understand what the truth is. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This verse tells an individual that, “The three terms may be related in various ways. The way may be the process, the truth the means or goal, and life the result… The claims of Christianity are exclusive, nevertheless: “No one comes to the Father except through me” (Culpepper 210) Appling Culpepper’s ideas on this verse may seem difficult; however when one makes the conscience decision to follow Christ the process to obtain the goal, results in a relationship with Jesus which is life, and the ultimate truth for that individual is: a life without Jesus, is a life without the creator God, which is no life at all.
Interestingly the similarities between the application of the truths in John’s Gospel between an individual and the community of Christian faith as a whole are in some aspects one in the same, but on a broader scale one can see an example of the community in certain characters in the Gospel. For instance, the man who was born blind in the John chapter nine reflects the community of faith, “John 9 is also the window through which many interpreters have peered into the history of the Johannine community, because it describes the blind man’s expulsion from the synagogue.” (Culpepper 174) The Christian community was kicked out of the synagogue, but welcomed into the house God, and as a result the application of faith on the community resulted in a relationship with Jesus.
The three main themes that stand out and seem to be prevalent in the Gospel of John are: Faith and belief, life with the Paraclete, and love. Each one of these three themes seems to coexist and they are completely interwoven. True authentic faith and belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is the very life blood of every individual who clings to the Christian faith, and is the basis of our faith. Perhaps one of the most popular verses in the entire Gospel or perhaps the entire Holy Bible for that matter is John 3:16. This verse defines the theme of faith by saying, “whoever believes… [will] have eternal life.” Although Jesus is no longer on earth in the terms of the flesh; He did tell his believers that if anyone loves him and keeps his commands (that is to is have faith in him), he has promised to send the Paraclete, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth.” (John 14:15-17)
The idea of the Paraclete is another theme that is seen throughout the Gospel of John. The Paraclete is the “Spirit of truth” that, “will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) “The two words “teach” and “remind” describe the way the Spirit gives believers new insight into the story of Jesus.” (Koester 152) This theme is carried throughout the Gospel up to where Jesus breathes on his disciples and they received the Holy Spirit. The theme of the Holy Spirit helps unify the body of believers. Once one accepts Jesus as the Lord and Savior of their life, the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to them.
This unique bond between a believer in Jesus and the promised Holy Spirit is the dynamic life changing force that allows one to live out Jesus’ new commandment of love that was found in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. This theme of love is not a burdensome load that weighs a believer down, but a joyous lifestyle that is obtained once a believer walks in this truth, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:11-12)
The story of Jesus Christ presented in the Gospel of John is a historical narrative based on faith established in love through the power of the Holy Spirit that is necessary for both an individual believer as well as the community of faith as a whole.
Studying this Gospel as a history and understanding it as a literature will shed light on the fact that one is required to have faith and believe that Jesus was the one and only son of God. This faith allows both the reader and the community of faith that surrounds the reader to participate in a relationship with Jesus, and teaches three vitally important in the themes that are recurrent in this Gospel: faith, the Holy Spirit,
love.
Works Cited
Culpepper, Alan R. Gospel and Letters of John. Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 1998. Print.
Koester, Craig R. The Word of Life. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008. Print.
The New International Version. Zondervan. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. 2011. Print