Lesson 11 - John (Intro)

Question 1

What is the signs structure of John?

Answer 1

• • John uses 7 signs in the 1st ½ of John to show theological significance and 7 is an intentional move to show Jewish completeness.
• • Book of Signs (1:19-11)
    i. Water to Wine (2:1-11)
    ii. Healing of Official’s son (4:46-54)
    iii. Healing at Bethseda Pool (5:1-18)
    iv. Feeding the 5,000 (6:1-15)
    v. Walking on Water (6:16-21)
    vi. Healing of the Blind Man (9:1-42)
    vii. Raising Lazarus from the dead (11:1-57)

Question 2

What are the various types of dualism in John’s Gospel?

Answer 2

Dualism = contrast between two things

Horizontal vs. Vertical = Earthly vs. Heavenly

Question 3

What are examples of vertical dualism in John’s gospel?

Answer 3

Vertical Dualism = heavenly vs. earthly

a) Light vs. Dark - John 1
b. ) Flesh vs. Spirit - John 3
c. ) Water - John 4
d. ) Bread - John 6

Question 4

What are examples of horizontal dualism in John’s gospel?

Answer 4

1. ) Timeline language
   - - “the hour has come”
   - - the time is coming and has come
   - - description of resurrection/final judgement
2. ) Redemptive historical dualism
   - - Jesus is the fulfillment of OT types and shadows
   - - Contrast between the old/new covenant (Jesus is the new temple/tabernacle/feast)

Question 5

What are the “I am” statements?

Answer 5

a. ) Self-identification markers in John

b. ) Divinity of Jesus

Question 6

What are the 2 categories of “I am” statements and examples?

Answer 6

1. ) Predicative Nominative - “I am” something
   - - Bread of Life - John 6
   - - Light of the World - John 9
   - - Good Shepherd - John 10
   - - Resurrection and the Life - John 11
   - - Way, Truth, and the Life - John 14
   - - The Vine - John 15
2. ) Without Predicative Nominative - “I am”
   - - obvious - John 8:58
   - - non-obvious - John 4, John 13:18-19, John 18

Question 7

What is the Johannine problem?

Answer 7

Johannine Problem = why is John so different than the other gospels (synoptics)?

Question 8

What are the content differences between John and the synoptics?

Answer 8

Content

1. ) Lacks key synoptic material
   a. No baptism in John
   b. No temptation in the wilderness in John
   c. No exorcisms in John
   d. No parables in John
   e. No transfiguration of John
   f. No institution of the Lord’s Supper in John
   g. No gethsame in John
2. ) Lacks key synoptic themes
   a. Synoptics - theme of repentance; missing from John
   b. Synoptics - kingdom of God; not as emphasized in John
3. ) Original content in John
   a. Long discourses in John (John 9 - story of man born blind)
   b. Original miracles - (John 2 - water into wine, John 11 - raising Lazarus)

Question 9

What are the chronological differences between John and the synoptics?

Answer 9

1. ) Galilee vs. Jerusalem
   a. Synoptics are largely in Galilee, John’s focus is on 3 trips to Jerusalem
2. ) Cleansing of the temple
   a. Synoptics – put this at the end
   b. John – put’s this at the beginning
3. ) Days of Crucifixion
   a. Synoptics – Thursday was Passover meal, Jesus crucified on Friday
   b. John – Jesus and lambs slaughtered at same time
4. )Language
   a. John is much more basic in the Greek and Jesus speaking in John is much different than Jesus speaking in the synoptics

Question 10

What are solutions to the Johaninne problem?

Answer 10

1. ) Don’t overestimate the differences
   - - There are more similarities than differences
   - - Every other gospel in ancient hisotiry is an entire different category
   - - What’s suprising is not that John is different, but the synoptics are so similar.
2. ) John likely knew the synoptics
   - - The longest living apostle
   - - He felt no need to replicate what had already been said
   - - John focuses on the areas the synoptics leave blank
3. ) John, like the other writers, did not always quote Jesus verbatim
   - - Ancient culture it was normal to paraphrase