Gospels remain implicit and underdeveloped. The literary style of this witness of Jesus is also unique among the Gospels; here focus is on the 'signs' of Jesus' identity and mission and on lengthy, theologically rich discourses.
John begins with the profound announcement that Jesus is the 'in the beginning' creative Word of God who had become embodied (incarnated) as a human being to be the light of life for the world. After this comes the proclamation that this Jesus is the Son of God sent from the Father to finish the Father's work in the world (see 4:34 and note). God's own glory is made visible in him ('Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father,' 14:9), and what he does glorifies the Father. In him the full grace and truth of God has shown itself. Strikingly, a series of 'I am' claims on Jesus' lips echoes God's naming of himself in Ex 3:14, further strengthening the link between the Father and the Son (see 6:35; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7,9,14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1,5).
Jesus' words to Nicodemus nicely summarize this Gospel's central theme: 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life' (3:16). Although a variety of motivations for the composition of John's Gospel have been posited by interpreters (such as to supplement the other Gospels, to combat some form of heresy, to oppose the continuing followers of John the Baptist), the author himself states his main purpose clearly in 20:31: 'that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.'
For the main emphases of the book see notes on 1:4,7,9,14,19,49; 2:4,11; 3:27; 4:34; 6:35; 13:1 -- 17:26; 13:31; 17:1-2,5; 20:31.
Outline
Prologue: The Word Became Flesh (1:1-18)
The Beginning of Jesus' Ministry (1:19-51)
John the Baptist's Testimony about Jesus (1:19-34)
John's Disciples Follow Jesus (1:35-42)
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael (1:43-51)
Jesus' Public Ministry: Signs and Discourses (chs. 2-11)
Changing Water into Wine (2:1-11)
Cleansing the Temple (2:12-25)
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus (3:1-21)
John the Baptist's Final Testimony about Jesus (3:22-36)
Jesus and the Samaritans (4:1-42)
Healing of the Official's Son (4:43-54)
Jesus' Visit to Jerusalem at an Annual Feast (ch. 5)
Feeding the 5,000 and Jesus' Claim to Be the Bread of Life (ch. 6)
Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles and Disputes over Who He Is (chs. 7-8)
Healing of the Man Born Blind (ch. 9)
Jesus is the Good Shepherd (10:1-21)
Conflict at the Feast of Dedication over Jesus' Identity (10:22-42)
The Raising of Lazarus (ch. 11)
The Passion Week (chs. 12-19)
The Anointing of Jesus' Feet (12:1-11)
Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem as King (12:12-19)
Jesus Predicts His Death (12:20-36)
Belief and Unbelief among the Jews (12:37-50)
Jesus' Farewell Discourses and Prayer (chs. 13-17)
At the Last Supper (chs. 13-14)
Jesus washes the disciples' feet (13:1-17)
Jesus predicts his betrayal (13:18-30)
Jesus predicts Peter's denial (13:31-38)
Jesus comforts his disciples (14:1-4)
Jesus is the way to the Father (14:5-14)
Jesus promises the Holy Spirit (14:15-30)
On the way to Gethsemane (chs. 15-16)
The vine and the branches (15:1-17)
The world hates the disciples (15:18-25)
The work of the Holy Spirit (15:26 -- 16:15)
The disciples' grief will turn to joy (16:16-33)
Jesus' prayer (ch. 17)
For himself -- that he be glorified (17:1-5)
For his disciples (17:6-19)
For all believers (17:20-26)
Jesus' Betrayal and Arrest (18:1-11)
Jesus' Trials before Jewish and Roman Officials (18:12-40)
Jesus' Crucifixion (19:1-27)
Jesus' Death and Burial (19:28-42)
Jesus' Resurrection (20:1-29)
Statement of the Gospel's Purpose (20:30-31)
Epilogue: Jesus' Recommissioning of the Disciples (ch. 21)
John1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
John1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
John1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
John1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
John1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
John1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
John1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
John1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
John1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
John1:20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
John1:21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
John1:22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
John1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said
