Introduction to John

 Dr. Gail E. Terrell
Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Hamilton, Ohio

  1. Author.   Although the author does not identify himself by name, he does write in the first person and is a Jew as shown by his familiarity with the Old Testament.   The writings of early Christians uniformly recognize the apostle John as the author of the Gospel of John.   The author seems to identify himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved, an expression used 5 times (13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20), and as the other disciple (18:15-16; 20:2; 21:2).   The author also claimed to be the disciple about whom a rumor was spread that he would not die before Christ’s return (21:20-25).   Because the apostle John’s name is conspicuously absent in this book, it seems accurate to conclude that John is the author.   Similarities of vocabulary and style found in all of John’s epistles match the contents of the Gospel of John.   John the apostle was the son of Zebedee, a somewhat wealthy successful fisherman on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 1:20).   The author probably wrote John from Ephesus in about 85-95 A.D.
     
  2. Recipients.   John does not have an addressee; however, John has the entire world in view and uses the word world 78 times.
  3. Theme.   Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God is fully God with all the attributes and works of God belonging to Him.
     
  4. Key verses.   1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.   1:14 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.   3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.   14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:   no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.   21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.   Amen.
     
  5. Key words used in John:   Father (God) – 121 times; believe – 98 times; world – 78 times; love – 57 times; life – 52 times; true, truly, truth – 49; Son (Christ) – 42 times.
     
  6. References to the Lord’s church in John :   the word churchdoes not appear in John.   Follow men, Jesus commanded Philip (1:43) as he did all 12 apostles.   This called-out body of believers had been baptized by John the Baptist, but now they had Christ as their head (pastor-shepherd).   Jesus may have started a church in Samaria (4:1); many were converted there (4:39-42) and church( es) were later in Samaria (Acts 9:31).   Jesus spoke of His sheep being in a sheepfold and a sheepfold has a pastor (shepherd); the sheepfold is an excellent picture of the pastor and the members in a church. John does describe the naming of the 12 apostles which were the first members of whom God set in the first church (I Corinthians 12:28).   Jesus has given pastors (shepherds, Greek poimen) to his separate churches (flocks) all over the world.   John describes the special observance of the Lord’s supper which was to remain a church ordinance until Jesus comes again.
     
  7. John has 21 chapters, 878 verses, and about 19,099 words. 

Notes