The Gospel of John

Although the Apostle John does not identify himself as the author of the Gospel of John, most scholars believe he must be the author of the Gospel that bears his name. The Gospel of John was most likely written at least sixty years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, so John was well along in years and had plenty of time to reflect before he wrote. John wanted his readers to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that Jesus was the Son of God and was, in fact, God.

 John’s Gospel is different from the other three in that he omits several significant events in Jesus’ Life and ministry and teaching. John instead focuses on Jesus’ divine identity even in his narrative passages. His writing is both simple and profound. He is the author of one of the most quoted verses in the Bible, “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 (John 3:16, KJV),” and he also wrote poetic passages that are rich with philosophical meaning. The opening words of his Gospel could occupy the mind of a deep thinker for a long, long time:

 “In the beginning the Word already existed.

    The Word was with God,

    and the Word was God.

He existed in the beginning with God.

God created everything through him,

    and nothing was created except through him.

The Word gave life to everything that was created,

    and his life brought light to everyone.

The light shines in the darkness,

    and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:1-5, NLT).”