Reference: John, The Gospel According to
Fausets
Well called "the Gospel of the incarnate God," "the Gospel of witness," that of the Father, that of Scripture, that of miracles, that of Jesus Himself. Written at Ephesus at the request of the Asiatic bishops to set forth more profoundly Christ's Divinity (Jerome, Prolegomena in Matthew). Ephesus, after Jerusalem's fall, A.D. 70, took a chief place in oriental Christendom. Containing a large Christian church, a synagogue of zealous Jews, and the most famous of pagan temples that of Artemis or Diana, it was a common meeting ground for widely diverse creeds. Philosophical speculation too had free scope in its xystus; here Cerinthus broached his doctrines, concocted at Alexandria. Its commercial position on the sea linking the East and West adapted it as an admirable center for the diffusion of gospel truth. John sets forth the positive truth which indirectly yet effectively counteracts Gnosticism, Ebionitism, and docetism. The Spirit has made his Gospel virtually supplementary to the other three. (See GOSPELS; JESUS CHRIST.)
Theirs is that of "Christ according to the flesh," his that of "Christ according to the Spirit." As he joined Christ early he records facts of His ministry in Galilee and Jerusalem, prior to those in the three synoptists. He writes with a specification of times and places, and a freshness, which mark an eye-witness (Joh 1:29,35,37-40; 2:1; 3:1; 4:40,43; 6:22; 13:1-11; 18:10-16; 19:26; 20:3-10,24-29). That the beloved disciple (called episteethios from his reclining on Jesus' breast) was the writer appears from Joh 19:25-27,35; 21:24; 1:14. Another undesigned propriety identifying him is, though naming John the Baptist 20 times he always omits "the Baptist," whereby the three synoptists distinguish him from John the evangelist.
PLACE AND TIME. His allusions in the peculiar terms of his prologue to the theosophic notions prevalent at Ephesus accord with that city being the place of his writing the Gospel. Ac 18:24 implies the connection between Alexandria, the headquarters of Gnosticism, and Ephesus. John 21 is an appendix written subsequently to Joh 20:30-31 (which at first completed the Gospel), perhaps after Peter's martyrdom. The Gospel cannot have been written at the same time and place as Revelation, the styles are so different, His mode of counting the hours as we do was Asiatic (see Townson, Harmony, 8:1, section 3), and accords with Ephesus being the place of writing. His not feeling it necessary to explain Jesus' prophecy that John should tarry until He came (John 21) shows that he wrote soon after the destruction of Jerusalem (A.D. 70), when that event was generally understood as being the Lord's coming, namely, in judgment upon the Jews.
In Joh 5:2 the sheep market with five porches is spoken of as still standing, perhaps spared as some other things for convenience by Titus (Josephus, B. J., 7:1, section 1). Testimonies of authenticity. If Joh 21:24-25 came from some Ephesian disciples this is the oldest testimony to it. 2Pe 1:14 alludes to (Joh 21:18) Christ's prophecy of Peter's crucifixion, taking for granted his readers' acquaintance with the Gospel, the strongest kind of testimony as being undesigned. Ignatius (his Epistle to the Romans), Polycarp (his Epistle to the Philippians), the Epistle to Diognetus, Justin Martyr (Apol. 1:61, Dialogue with Trypho 63,88), contain implied quotations of it; their not expressly quoting it is due to the prevalence of oral more than written teaching at first; while the inspired preachings of apostles were fresh in memory definite appeals to writings are less to be expected than in the following age. The general references of the former and the definite quotations of the latter are just what we might expect presuming the Gospel genuine.
Papias (Eusebius H. E. iii. 39) used the first epistle of John which is close akin to the Gospel. Tatian's Diatessaron opens," In the beginning was the Word"; he quotes this Gospel in Orat. contra Gentil. Thus, its currency A.D. 170 is proved. Theophihs of Antioch (Autol. 2) first expressly attributes it to John; he wrote a commentary on the four and a harmony (Jerome Alg. 53, Vir. Illust. 25). He and Tadan therefore, in the second century, considered the four the exclusively canonical standard. Irenaeus, a hearer of Polycarp, the disciple of John, argues for the propriety of the number four; his argument proves their long and universal acceptance by the church more conclusively than if it had been his aim to demonstrate it. The Alogi of Asia Minor were the only sect that rejected this Gospel, owing to their opposition to Montanus, whose heresies they thought were favored by it. The diversity of the scene and incidents of Christ's ministry in it, as compared with the three preceding Gospels, is just what we might expect if the author were acquainted with them.
For while as an independent witness he does not with formal design supplement them, yet he generally omits under the Spirit those particulars already handled by his predecessors. Excepting the crucifixion and resurrection, respecting which he gives new information, he has only two sections in common with the Synoptists (Joh 6:1-21; 12:1). He omits Christ's baptism, temptation, mission of the twelve, transfiguration (of which he was one of the three selected eye witnesses), the Lord's supper, and the agony in Gethsemane, yet incidental hints show his taking them for granted as known already (Joh 1:14,32; 13:2; 14:30; 18:1,11), which last refers to the very words of His prayer during the agony, recorded by the synoptists, an undesigned coincidence and so a proof of authenticity; Joh 14:30 is the link between the temptation (Lu 4:13) and His agony (Lu 22:40-53); Joh 11:1 assumes the reader's acquaintance with Mary and Martha, from Lu 10:38.
So Joh 4:43-44; 7:41, tacitly refer to the facts recorded in Mt 13:54; 2:23; 18:33 takes for granted the fact recorded in Lu 23:2. John 6, wherein he repeats the miraculous feeding of 5,000 recorded by the synoptists, is introduced to preface the discourse which John alone records. In John 12 the anointing by Mary is repeated for its connection with Judas' subsequent history. The objections to John's acquaintance with the synoptical Gospels are based on the presumption that in that case he was bound to slavishly supplement them and guard against the appearance of discrepancies between him and them.
But he was an independent witness, not formally designing to supplement; yet as knowing their Gospels he would mostly use materials heretofore not handled. As they presented Jesus' outer and popular life, so it remained that he should represent the deeper truths of His divine mission and Person. They met the church's first needs; he, its later wants. Luke's Gospel was written under Paul's superintendence at least 20 years before John's. Considering the intercourse between the Christian churches it is incredible that his Gospel should have been unknown at Ephesus, John's and previously Paul's scene of labours, and this to John a "pillar" of the church.
DESIGN. John, the last surviving apostle, would surely be consulted on the canonicity of New Testament Scriptures which by God's providence he lived to see completed. Theodore of Mopsuestia, 4th century (Catena Johann. Corder. Mill New Testament) says John did attest it. Clement Alex. (Eusebius, H. E. vi. 14) states on the authority of old presbyters (and the Muratorian Fragment, Ant. M. Aev. 3, confirms the statement) that John wrote at his friends' request to give Christ's "spiritual" aspect, the former Gospels already having given His "bodily" aspect. John, who leant on Jesus' breast, His closest intimate, was the fittest to set forth the deeper spiritual truths of the Son of God. Thus the "ye" (Joh 19:35; 20:31) will refer to John's "friends" primarily, the general church secondarily. To prove "that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God" is this Gospel's declared design, that men so "believing might have life through His name."
A continued polemic reference is not likely, considering John's contemplative and usually loving spirit. An incidental guarding of the truth against incipient heresies in that region certainly there i
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And he came [and] lived in a town called Nazareth, in order that what was said by the prophets would be fulfilled: "He will be called a Nazarene."
And large crowds followed him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from the other side of the Jordan.
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
And it happened when Jesus finished these words the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.
Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest that he send out workers into his harvest."
All [things] have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and {anyone to whom} the Son wants to reveal [him].
And he came to his hometown [and] began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were amazed and said, "From where did this man [get] this wisdom and these miracles?
Now [when it] was evening, the disciples came to him saying, "The place is desolate and the hour {is late}. Release the crowds so that they can go away into the villages [and] purchase food for themselves."
And Simon Peter answered [and] said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!"
Should you not also have shown mercy to your fellow slave as I also showed mercy to you?'
And it happened that when Jesus had finished these statements, he went away from Galilee and came into the region of Judea on the other side of the Jordan.
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How many times I wanted to gather your children together {the way} a hen gathers her young together under [her] wings, and you were not willing!
For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.
Now [when it] was evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who also was a disciple of Jesus himself.
teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the age."
And after John {had been taken into custody}, Jesus went into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God
And Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd from Galilee followed [him]. And from Judea and from Jerusalem and from Idumea and the other side of the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon a great crowd came to him [because they] heard all that he was doing.
And [when] the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until a favorable time.
"The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because of which he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to send out in freedom those who are oppressed,
And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
All [things] have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father and who the Father is except the Son, and [anyone] to whom the Son wants to reveal [him]."
Now as they traveled along, he entered into a certain village. And a certain woman {named} Martha welcomed him.
Now as they traveled along, he entered into a certain village. And a certain woman {named} Martha welcomed him.
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How many times I wanted to gather your children together {the way} a hen [gathers] her own brood under [her] wings, and you were not willing!
And [when] he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not enter into temptation." And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw and {knelt down} [and] began to pray, read more. saying, "Father, if you are willing, take away this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done." [[ And an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. And being in anguish, he began praying more fervently and his sweat became like drops of blood falling down to the ground.]] And [when he] got up from the prayer [and] came to the disciples, he found them sleeping from sorrow, and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up [and] pray that you will not enter into temptation!" [While] he was still speaking, behold, [there came] a crowd, and the one named Judas, one of the twelve, leading them. And he approached Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" And [when] those around him saw what was about to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with the sword?" And a certain one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered [and] said, "{Stop! No more of this!}" And he touched [his] ear [and] healed him. And Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come out against him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber? Every day [when] I was with you in the temple [courts], you did not stretch out [your] hands against me! But this is your hour and the domain of darkness!"
And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man misleading our nation and forbidding [us] to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying [he] himself is Christ, a king!"
And behold, I am sending out what was promised by my Father upon you, but you stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
And the Word became flesh and took up residence among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth.
And the Word became flesh and took up residence among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth.
And the Word became flesh and took up residence among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth.
For from his fullness we have all received, and grace after grace.
On the next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
And John testified, saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and remaining upon him.
And John testified, saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and remaining upon him.
On the next day again John was standing [there], and two of his disciples,
And the two disciples heard him speaking, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus, turning around and seeing them following [him], said to them, "What do you seek?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means [when] translated "Teacher"), "where are you staying?" read more. He said to them, "Come and you will see!" So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day (it was about the tenth hour). Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed him.
And he said to him, "Truly, truly I say to all of you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
And on the third day, there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees {whose name was} Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
The wind blows wherever it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
The one who comes from above is over all. The one who is from the earth is from the earth and speaks from the earth; the one who comes from heaven is over all. What he has seen and heard, this he testifies, and no one accepts his testimony. read more. The one who accepts his testimony has attested that God is true. For [the one] whom God sent speaks the words of God, for he does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all [things] into his hand. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son will not see life--but the wrath of God remains on him.
Now when Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples), read more. he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.
Do you not say, 'There are yet four months and the harvest comes'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already.
I sent you to reap what you did not work for; others have worked, and you have entered into their work."
So when the Samaritans came to him, they began asking him to stay with them. And he stayed there two days.
And after the two days he departed from there into Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own homeland.
Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool called in Aramaic Bethzatha, which has five porticoes.
"If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true.
I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me. If another should come in his own name, you would accept that one!
After these [things] Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee (that is, Tiberias). And a large crowd was following him because they were observing the signs that he was doing on those who were sick. read more. So Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. (Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.)
(Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.) {Then Jesus, when he looked up} and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread so that these [people] can eat?"
{Then Jesus, when he looked up} and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread so that these [people] can eat?" (Now he said this to test him, because he knew what he was going to do.) read more. Philip replied to him, "Two hundred denarii [worth of] bread would not be enough for them, in order that each one could receive a little." One of his disciples, Andrew the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, "Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many [people]?" Jesus said, "Make the people recline." (Now [there] was a lot of grass in the place.) So the men reclined, approximately five thousand [in] number. Then Jesus took the bread, and [after he] had given thanks, he distributed [it] to those who were reclining--likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they were satisfied, he said to his disciples, "Gather the remaining fragments so that nothing is lost." So they gathered [them], and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. Now [when] the people saw the sign that he performed, they began to say, "This one is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world!" Then Jesus, [because he] knew that they were about to come and seize him in order to make [him] king, withdrew again up the mountain [by] himself alone. Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the sea. And getting into a boat, they began to go to the other side of the sea, to Capernaum. And it had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. And the sea began to be stirred up [because] a strong wind was blowing. Then [when they] had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were afraid. But he said to them, "[It] is I! Do not be afraid!" So they were wanting to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat came to the land to which they were going. On the next day, the crowd that was on the other side of the sea saw that other boats were not there (except one), and that Jesus had not entered with his disciples into the boat, but his disciples had departed alone.
And after these [things] Jesus was going about in Galilee. For he did not want to go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Now the feast of the Jews--the [feast of] Tabernacles--was near.
And [when he] had said these [things], he remained in Galilee. But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not openly, but (as it were) in secret.
Others were saying, "This man is the Christ!" But others were saying, "No, for the Christ does not come from Galilee, [does he]?
He answered and said, "And who is [he], sir, that I may believe in him?"
"Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter through the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up at some other place--that one is a thief and a robber. But the one who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. read more. For this one the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Whenever he sends out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. And they will never follow a stranger, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what it was that he was saying to them.
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Because of this the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take possession of it again.
Then the feast of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter,
So the Jews surrounded him and began to say to him, "{How long will you keep us in suspense}? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly!"
And he went away again on the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John was baptizing at an earlier time, and he stayed there.
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
For you have the poor with you always, but you do not always have me."
"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they see with [their] eyes and understand with [their] hearts and turn, and I heal them."
Now before the feast of Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, [and] having loved [his] own in the world, loved them to the end. And [as] a dinner was taking place, [when] the devil had already put into the heart of Judas [son] of Simon Iscariot that he should betray him,
And [as] a dinner was taking place, [when] the devil had already put into the heart of Judas [son] of Simon Iscariot that he should betray him, [because he] knew that the Father had given him all [things] into [his] hands, and that he had come forth from God and was going away to God, read more. he got up from the dinner and took off [his] outer clothing, and taking a towel, tied [it] around himself. Then he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe [them] dry with the towel {which he had tied around himself}. Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will understand after these [things]." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet {forever}!" Jesus replied to him, "Unless I wash you, you do not have a share with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head!" Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed {only needs} to wash [his] feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not all [of you]." (For he knew the one who would betray him; because of this he said, "Not all [of you] are clean.")
Children, yet a little [time] I am with you. You will seek me and just as I said to the Jews, "Where I am going you cannot come," now I say also to you.
I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has {no power} {over} me.
I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has {no power} {over} me.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
[When] Jesus had said these [things], he went out with his disciples to the other side of the ravine of the Kidron, where [there] was a garden into which he and his disciples entered.
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. (Now the name of the slave was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into [its] sheath! The cup that the Father has given me--shall I not drink it?"
So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into [its] sheath! The cup that the Father has given me--shall I not drink it?" Then the cohort and the military tribune and the officers of the Jews seized Jesus and tied him up, read more. and brought [him] to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. (Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was better [that] one man die for the people.) So Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. (Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.) But Peter was standing by the door outside. So the other disciple [who was] known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.
Now his mother and the sister of his mother, Mary the [wife] of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene were standing near the cross of Jesus. So Jesus, seeing [his] mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, said to [his] mother, "Woman, behold your son!"
So Jesus, seeing [his] mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, said to [his] mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her into his own [home].
But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water came out immediately. And the one who has seen [it] has testified, and his testimony is true, and that person knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.
And the one who has seen [it] has testified, and his testimony is true, and that person knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.
And again another scripture says, "They will look on [the one] whom they have pierced."
Then Peter and the other disciple went out and were going to the tomb. And the two were running together, and the other disciple ran ahead, faster than Peter, and came to the tomb first. read more. And bending over to look, he saw the [strips of] linen cloth lying there, though he did not go in. Then Simon Peter also came following him, and he went into the tomb and saw the [strips of] linen cloth lying there, and the facecloth that was on his head--not lying with the [strips of] linen cloth, but folded up separately in one place. So then the other disciple who had come to the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed. (For they did not yet know the scripture that it was necessary for him to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went away again to their [own homes].
And [when he] had said this, he showed [his] hands and [his] side to them. Then the disciples rejoiced [when they] saw the Lord.
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe!" read more. And after eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. [Although] the doors had been shut, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, "Peace to you." Then he said to Thomas, "Place your finger here and see my hands, and place your hand and put [it] into my side. And do not be unbelieving, but believing!"
Then he said to Thomas, "Place your finger here and see my hands, and place your hand and put [it] into my side. And do not be unbelieving, but believing!" Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" read more. Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me, have you believed? Blessed [are] those who have not seen and have believed." Now Jesus also performed many other signs in the presence of the disciples which are not recorded in this book, but these [things] are recorded in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that [by] believing you may have life in his name.
but these [things] are recorded in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that [by] believing you may have life in his name.
Truly, truly I say to you, when you were young, you tied [your clothes] around yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will tie you up and carry [you] where you do not want [to go].
This is the disciple who is testifying about these [things], and who has written down these [things]. And we know that his testimony is true.
This is the disciple who is testifying about these [things], and who has written down these [things]. And we know that his testimony is true. Now there are also many other [things] that Jesus did, which--if they were written down one after the other--I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.
Now a certain Jew {named} Apollos, {a native} Alexandrian, arrived in Ephesus--an eloquent man who was well-versed in the scriptures.
who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, because all [things] in the heavens and on the earth were created by him, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers, all [things] were created through him and for him,
[because I] know that the removal of my habitation is imminent, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.