The Gospel Of John Research Paper
Is John Written to a Jewish Audience? While there is certainly debate about whether or not Jews were the primary audience for the gospel of John, there are many who do believe that John is the most Jewish of the four gospels. For example, Steve Wertheim, of Jews for Jesus related the following observation: “Not only is John 's gospel written for evangelism, it seems to be written particularly for Jewish evangelism. From the beginning, the book of John is geared to Jewish thinking. John 1:1 sounds very much like the beginning of Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Scriptures Taken with the Genesis account that Elohim (God) created the heavens and the earth, the gospel of John reinforces the idea of Messiah as the Creator Himself. Genesis 1:26 records Elohim as saying, "Let Us make man in Our image.…" The Hebrew Elohim is a plural noun. It embodies a sense of composite unity which, seen in the context of the gospel accounts, relates to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit working together in creation”2 After reading
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John, I can definitely see that there is a Jewish style to the book. John was raised as a Jewish male and was well indoctrinated with the scriptures. John was acquainted with the High Priest in John 18:15 “15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard.” John records Jesus’ statement concerning the Jews attempts to gain salvation through works.
In John 8.39 Jesus answers the Jews when they say that Abraham is their father, He says the following: “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would[d] do the things Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the things your own father (The devil) does.” Leon Morris, in his book Jesus is the Christ, states that “The Jews were looking for a list of good deeds that they might do to please God. Jesus answers with a statement about the necessity of faith.” In John 6.28, we find Jesus telling the Jews that it is through faith that you can attain eternal life. “ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has
sent.” Of course this is not only true for Jews but also for Gentiles who place their trust for heaven own their own good works and not on Jesus’ redemptive work. Most of the Jews rejected Jesus because they were not looking for a humble servant who healed the sick and glorified the Father. They were looking for a conqueror to overthrow the Romans. Today many of us are looking for religion that does not translate into action. We seek to be entertained. James states this in chapter 2 verse 17” In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
Why do we tell new converts to read John? Many preachers and Bible teachers tell new converts to read John because as Dr. Towns states in the introduction of The Gospel of John Believe and Live “that the gospel of John seems to be the simplest of all the books in the Bible to understand.”4 When I repented and placed my trust in Christ, my pastor told me to read John. I was impacted greatly by what I read. Also, the emphasis on the Deity of Jesus in John is an important reason for new converts to read the book. In today’s media there is so much confusion being produced from people like Oprah and some popular preachers about the exclusivity of Jesus. Jesus is not a way He is the way. John 14.6 states "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” This is simple yet profound and incredible important to our eternity.
Bibliography
1. The NIV Holy Bible, Zondervan, 1984
2. http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/newsletter/1993_01/johnsgospel
4. Elmer Towns, The Gospel of John, Believe and Live, Scofield Ministries, 2002: Intro Xi
5. Leon Morris, Jesus is the Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989: 14
John, I can definitely see that there is a Jewish style to the book. John was raised as a Jewish male and was well indoctrinated with the scriptures. John was acquainted with the High Priest in John 18:15 “15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard.” John records Jesus’ statement concerning the Jews attempts to gain salvation through works.
In John 8.39 Jesus answers the Jews when they say that Abraham is their father, He says the following: “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would[d] do the things Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the things your own father (The devil) does.” Leon Morris, in his book Jesus is the Christ, states that “The Jews were looking for a list of good deeds that they might do to please God. Jesus answers with a statement about the necessity of faith.” In John 6.28, we find Jesus telling the Jews that it is through faith that you can attain eternal life. “ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has
sent.” Of course this is not only true for Jews but also for Gentiles who place their trust for heaven own their own good works and not on Jesus’ redemptive work. Most of the Jews rejected Jesus because they were not looking for a humble servant who healed the sick and glorified the Father. They were looking for a conqueror to overthrow the Romans. Today many of us are looking for religion that does not translate into action. We seek to be entertained. James states this in chapter 2 verse 17” In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
Why do we tell new converts to read John? Many preachers and Bible teachers tell new converts to read John because as Dr. Towns states in the introduction of The Gospel of John Believe and Live “that the gospel of John seems to be the simplest of all the books in the Bible to understand.”4 When I repented and placed my trust in Christ, my pastor told me to read John. I was impacted greatly by what I read. Also, the emphasis on the Deity of Jesus in John is an important reason for new converts to read the book. In today’s media there is so much confusion being produced from people like Oprah and some popular preachers about the exclusivity of Jesus. Jesus is not a way He is the way. John 14.6 states "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” This is simple yet profound and incredible important to our eternity.
Bibliography
1. The NIV Holy Bible, Zondervan, 1984
2. http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/newsletter/1993_01/johnsgospel
4. Elmer Towns, The Gospel of John, Believe and Live, Scofield Ministries, 2002: Intro Xi
5. Leon Morris, Jesus is the Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989: 14