Bible Book Summaries

Gospels · New Testament

John

c. AD 27–30

Section
Gospels · New Testament
Events span
c. AD 27–30
Written
c. AD 85–95, from Ephesus (near modern-day Selçuk, Turkey)
Author
John the Apostle

John's Gospel is the most theological, presenting Jesus as the eternal Word made flesh and the Son of God. Built around seven signs and seven “I am” sayings, it was written “that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

Historical setting: Judea and Galilee under Roman occupation during Jesus' ministry, the Second Temple still standing and often its setting.

Key themes

  • Jesus the Word made flesh
  • The seven signs
  • The "I am" sayings
  • Belief and eternal life
  • Love one another

Key events

The Word & the Signs (John 1–12)

  • "In the beginning was the Word" — Jesus is the eternal Word made flesh, announced by John the Baptist John 1c. AD 27
  • Jesus turns water into wine at Cana, the first of his signs John 2c. AD 27
  • Jesus tells Nicodemus, "ye must be born again" John 3c. AD 27
  • Jesus speaks with the Samaritan woman at the well and offers living water John 4c. AD 28
  • Jesus feeds the five thousand and declares, "I am the bread of life" John 6c. AD 29
  • Jesus heals a man born blind, exposing the blindness of the Pharisees John 9c. AD 29
  • "I am the good shepherd" — Jesus lays down his life for the sheep John 10c. AD 29
  • Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, his greatest sign John 11c. AD 30

The Upper Room, the Cross & the Resurrection (John 13–21)

  • Jesus washes the disciples' feet and gives a new commandment to love one another John 13c. AD 30
  • "I am the way, the truth, and the life" — Jesus comforts them and promises the Spirit John 14–16c. AD 30
  • Jesus prays for his disciples and all who will believe (the High Priestly Prayer) John 17c. AD 30
  • Jesus is arrested, tried before Pilate, and crucified: "It is finished" John 18–19c. AD 30
  • Jesus rises and appears to Mary, the disciples, and doubting Thomas John 20c. AD 30
  • Jesus restores Peter by the Sea of Galilee: "Feed my sheep" John 21c. AD 30

Key lessons

  • Jesus is fully God and fully human, the eternal Word made flesh; to see him is to see the Father. John 1:1, 14
  • John’s whole purpose is faith: the signs and “I am” sayings are written “that ye might believe… and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:31
  • The mark of a real disciple is love; “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34–35
“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.”
John 3:16 KJV
Critical scholarship view

Where mainstream critical scholarship dates or attributes this book differently from the traditional view above.

Written
c. AD 90–110
Author
The Johannine community / anonymous