Gospels and Acts
The book of John
The Gospel of the Word made flesh, written “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.”
John says he wrote that readers might believe (John 20:31). The early church placed it last among the Gospels, written at Ephesus when John was old, and it adds much that the others omit, such as the raising of Lazarus and the long teaching in the upper room.
Written at: Ephesus, by early church tradition (Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.1.1)
Kinds of writing
- Narrative 76%
- Discourse 24%
Key verses
In the beginning was the Word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1 (World English Bible)
The Word became flesh. The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 (World English Bible)
God so loved the world. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (World English Bible)
The way, the truth, and the life. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
John 14:6 (World English Bible)
Written that you may believe. but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:31 (World English Bible)
People
JohnJesusNicodemusLazarusMarthaMaryThomasPeter
Places
CanaJerusalemSamariaSea of GalileeSiloamBethanyGabbathaGolgotha
On the timeline
Water turned into wine at CanaJesus clears the temple at his first PassoverNicodemus comes to Jesus by nightThe woman at the well in SamariaJesus feeds the five thousandLazarus is raised from the deadThe Last SupperJesus rises from the deadJesus appears to the disciples; Thomas believes
John quotes or alludes to the Old Testament 16 times (counted in the site’s Old in the New).
Dating notes
This timeline plots AD 90. A few scholars give an earlier date, before AD 70. The span is an estimate; Scripture doesn’t say when the book was written.