The author s purpose is clearly expressed in what must have been the original ending of the gospel at the end of jn 20. Thomass gospel of john commentary of the th century is still highly regarded today by modern scholars. Steve is also the author of the bestselling books crossing the tiber, and st. Already by the year 200, john s gospel was called the spiritual gospel precisely because it told the story of jesus in symbolic ways that differ sharply at times from the other three. Augustinea famous fourth century church fathercontributed no fewer than 124 tractates in his gospel of john commentary, while st.
With john s gospel, however, there have been theories put forward over the years, but the vast majority of bible experts now agree that john s gospel was written by john. Yes, it s old school, and sometimes you have to read a sentence a few times to get what he s trying to say in today s english, but the depth of study in this book is amazing, and there are some passages of john s gospel where working through temple s commentary takes days but days well spent. What was the purpose of the gospel of john answers. John the apostle, the beloved disciple of jesus, there has been considerable discussion of the actual identity of the author. It is believed that origen, an alexandrian christian scholar and theologian, wrote his gospel of john commentary while in alexandria at some point after 218 a. Ignatius s quotation of the fourth gospel illustrates that the book was viewed in a positive light and authoritative. The whole gospel of john is a progressive revelation of the glory of god s only son, who comes to reveal the father and then returns in glory to the father. The gospel of john is the fourth of the canonical gospels.
Now jesus did many other signs in the presence of his. The main debate centers on who authored the writings, and which of the writings, if any, can be ascribed to a common author. The author is the apostle john, the disciple whom jesus loved. John the apostle, there has been considerable discussion of the actual identity of the author. Selected fulltext books and articles the gospel according to john by d. He was prominent in the early church but is not mentioned by name in this gospel which would be natural if he wrote it, but hard to explain. A daily textbook, gathered from the sermons for the christian year, by e. The authorship of the johannine worksthe gospel of john, epistles of john, and the book of revelationhas been debated by scholars since at least the 2nd century ad. Like the other gospels it is anonymous, although it identifies an unnamed disciple whom jesus loved as the source of its traditions.
List of books and articles about gospel of john online. H studia sacra, commentaries on the introductory verses of st. This summary of the gospel of john provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the gospel of john. It reached its final form around ad 90110, most likely within a johannine community, but the reconstruction of this community, and therefore the social, religious and historical context of the. Gospel according to john, fourth of the four new testament gospels and the only account not considered among the synoptic gospels. Ignatius is noted as a disciple of john the apostle along with polycarp.