Page 3 - The Gospel of John - Student textbook

The Gospel of John
By Mark Patton, M.R.E.

Study Section 1: Introduction to the Book of John

1.1 Connect

The gospel of John has been used by Christians in every age, for the greatest array of purposes. John
3:16 is the best-known verse in the Bible. From this verse we learn the most profound truth that has
ever been heard. “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” There have been more
copies of the gospel of John distributed than any other book in the Bible. The New American
Commentary states that the term gospel carries a foundational meaning of "good news" (PP 25).
Justin Martyr appears to have been the first to refer to these “memoirs of the apostles” as “gospels”
(PP 28).

John is unique among the Gospels. The first three, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, are known as the Synoptics
because of their similarities to each other. Although each has its own distinctive emphasis and themes, the
Synoptics have much in common. They follow the same general outline of Christ’s life and are similar in
contents, structure, and perspective. On the other hand, John includes a large amount of material (more than
90% of the gospel) not found in the Synoptics.

1.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to attest to John’s authorship of the Gospel.

2. The student should be able to explain the purpose for John writing the Gospel.

3. The student should be able to share eight key words used in the Gospel of John

1.3 The authorship of John's Gospel

Like the other three gospels, the gospel of John does not name its author. But according to the
testimony of the early church, the apostle John wrote it. Irenaeus (130-200 AD.) was the first
person to explicitly name John as author. The church fathers after Irenaeus consistently held that
the apostle John authored this gospel. The testimony of the church fathers further confirms that
John was the last of the four Gospels to be written. According to the tradition of the early church,
John wrote his gospel while living in Ephesus. The Muratorian Canon (a second – century list of New Testament
books) the earliest Orthodox list of New Testament books to come down to us, tells us that John's fellow
disciples and bishops urged him to write.

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