The Fourth Gospel attributed to John the son of Zebedee.
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Is there an interpretation of the blood and water that poured from Jesus' side (John 19:34) that involves, in part, some physiological component?
In reading What significance does John perceive in the piercing of Christ's side and the flow of blood and water?, I wondered if there is anything unusual about both blood and water flowing from the ...
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Is John 21 a later addition to the Fourth Gospel?
Many readers have noted that John 20:30-31 makes for a fitting ending to the Gospel.
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But ...
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Details on “Western Unical D”?
The story of the woman caught in adultery in John 7:53-8:11 is generally regarded as inauthentic and uninspired.
D. A. Carson says the following in his commentary on this passage (p.333):
These ...
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Does John 21:20-24 indicate that the original author of the Fourth Gospel was dead?
Early tradition says that the author lived on for some time after the composition, while many post-eighteenth century critical scholars seem to take for granted that the author (if it even is the ...
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35 views
How many days elapsed between Jesus's baptism and his return to Galilee?
Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us that a period of at least forty days separated Jesus's baptism from his return to Galilee. Mark (1:9-15) writes,
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee ...
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47 views
Did Pilate know three languages?
John 19:20-22:
This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was
crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, [and]
Greek, [and] Latin. Then said the chief ...
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Can John's Passion chronology be reconciled with that of the Synoptics?
Background:
Over the centuries, many readers of the four Gospels have seen significant discrepancies between John and the Synoptics, particularly with regards to chronology. This has led many to ...
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59 views
To whom should we attribute John 3:16?
Who is speaking in John 3:16? Jesus or John? John 3 begins with Jesus speaking in the first person but in v. 13 there's a shift to the third person which continues until a change of scene at 3:22.
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Is the Gospel of John arranged as a chiasm?
In his book the Literary Structure of the Old Testament, David Dorsey compiles a list of fifteen ways the writers of the Hebrew bible linked narrative units into narrative patterns. One of these ...
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Why does John note the name of the servant whose ear was cut off?
Unlike the synoptics, John notes the name of the man whose ear was cut off during Jesus' arrest.
John 18:10 - Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, ...
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Is the water jar in John 4:28 a symbol?
At the end of Jesus' conversation with the woman by the well, John records
28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to
the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all ...
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Why does Jesus tell his mother his “hour has not yet come”?
Very early on, John tells a story that is unique to his gospel:
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding ...
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What significance does John perceive in the piercing of Christ's side and the flow of blood and water?
Both the piercing of Christ side and the flow of blood and water (John 19:34) are unique to John’s gospel and it’s clear from the testimony which follows (19:35) he sees in them great deal of ...
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49 views
Why in John's account does Jesus reply to Pilate's inquiry with a question?
The initial exchange between Pilate and Jesus in Mark 15:2 is quite terse:
And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.”
Matthew 27:11 and Luke ...
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35 views
In John 18, who was high priest at the time of Jesus' arrest?
First the text in John 18 (NIV) seems to make clear that Caiaphas was high priest:
18:13 They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that ...
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112 views
Does John distinguish between terms for love?
It's fairly common knowledge that there are four Greek words for love, but it's not clear from the Wikipedia article whether certain distinctions persist from Ancient Greek to Koine, namely the ...
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49 views
Why does John interweave the stories of Jesus' questioning and Peter's denial?
In John 18, the author weaves together an account of Peter's denial and a questioning of Jesus before Annas. It's very well done and seems rather more complex from a literary standpoint. But what does ...
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Who are the soldiers in John 18:3?
Does the "detachment of soldiers" refer to a Roman guard? If so, how large of a group? Or is it a different group of soldiers, perhaps a temple guard or Jewish soldiers if there were any at the time?
...
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Why did the Samaritans worship God in Mount Gerissim rather than Jerusalem?
In John chapter 4, Jesus has a discussion with a woman of Samaria:
The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in ...
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What is the difference between ζωὴ and ψυχὴ?
The word "life" appears in most translations of John 12:25 three times. For example, in the ESV:
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal ...
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43 views
Is John 16:31 meant to be a question?
In the 1984 NIV, Jesus replies to his disciples in John 16:31 saying, "You believe at last!" However, there is also a footnote on the verse, "Or Do you now believe?" In the 2011 NIV, however, the ...
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What does John 12:40 mean?
I'm just going to post the King James Version. Feel free to reference your preferred version at your leisure.
John 12:40
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not ...
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Why does everyone in John misunderstand Jesus?
Jesus seems to be misunderstood pretty consistently throughout the Gospel According to John:
John 2:19-20
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
...
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Is the statement about love and obedience in John 14:15 an imperative or an indicative?
In the 1984 NIV, Jesus says in John 14:15:
If you love me, you will obey what I command.
But in the 2011 revision, the same sentence is rendered:
If you love me, keep my commands.
This ...
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What does it mean to convict the world concerning righteousness?
In John 16:8-11, we read (emphasis mine):
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in ...
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How should the phrase ἐλέγξει τὸν κόσμον περὶ in John 16:8 be translated?
The 1984 NIV of John 16:7b-11 reads (emphasis mine):
Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of ...
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In John 14:2, what is Jesus' Father's house?
In John 14:2, Jesus tells his disciples:
In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. (NIV)
What is Jesus referring ...
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Jesus is both the good shepherd and the gate - Is it the same parable or two different?
In John 10 Jesus use two images. First he is the gate for the sheep.
John 10:7-10 (NIV):
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for
the sheep. All who have come ...
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2answers
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Who does Jesus refer to by the phrase “another who testifies about me” in John 5:32?
There is another who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony that he testifies about me is true.
ἄλλος ἐστὶν ὁ μαρτυρῶν περὶ ἐμοῦ καὶ οἶδα ὅτι ἀληθής ἐστιν ἡ μαρτυρία ἣν μαρτυρεῖ ...
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How does John use the Feast of Dedication in John 10?
In John 10:22, John mentions that it was winter and the Feast of Dedication had come. Earlier in the Festival Cycle, John transparently uses the various feasts to give a better understanding of Jesus ...
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Why did Jesus' disciples believe in him after he turned water into wine?
Yeshu'a did this beginning of the signs in Kana of Galil, and he manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:11)
What were these "signs" a sign/ indication of?
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Why is the blind man in John 9 sent to the pool that means “sent”?
In John 9, Jesus performs the miracle of healing the blind man in a rather unorthodox manner. He first creates some mud or clay out of the dirt and his saliva, then he "anoints" the man's eyes, and ...
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Jesus and the adulterous woman: was stoning a practical possiblity?
In John 8:5, the Pharisees ask Jesus:
In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say? (NIV)
Was stoning a woman for adultery often/sometimes done during Jesus' days, or ...
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Is there any significance behind Jesus' use of the word “love” in “John 21:15-17”
In John 21:15-17 (ESV), we read:
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him,
“Yes, Lord; you know that ...
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John 12:25 on life hating
Every year we read John 12 during Lent and every year our priest gives us the same schpeel about hate, in this context, meaning "to love less".
Why, then, does hate, in this context, mean "to love ...
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Why do many chinese Bibles translate “Logos” in John 1:1 as 道 (dao)?
道（dao) is the concept which the entire Dao De Jing seeks to expound upon and discuss. Dao De Jing is the central text of Daoist philosophy. I don't know how to define "dao" beyond an extremely ...
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Why did John write in this seemingly time-bending way?
John 11:1-2 (NLT)
11 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet ...
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“First day of the week” or “one of the Sabbaths”? [closed]
In the following interesting article (which, regardless of whether it is right or wrong, is nevertheless an interesting viewpoint, in the sense of iron sharpening iron), the author hypothesises that ...
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4answers
404 views
Is Jesus equal to or less than the Father [closed]
Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.
Joh 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again
unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto
the Father: ...
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*Two* miraculous catches of fish in John 21 and significance?
In John 21, Jesus tells the disciples to throw their nets on the "right side of the boat" (verse 6) which enables the second miraculous catch of fish in Jesus' ministry, the catching of 153 fish.
...
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2answers
245 views
Why did Jesus tell Mary not to hold onto Him?
John 20:17a:
Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father."
Why did Jesus tell Mary not to "hold on to" Him? Presumably it was not a problem with touching, since ...
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How and why did Jesus weep?
John 11:35 (the shortest verse in the Bible?) says simply:
Jesus wept.
How should we understand this? Tearful? Sobbing? What was the nature of his weeping?
And what was the reason? Sadness at ...
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Why did John make such a big deal about being a faster runner than Peter?
John 20:3-8:
So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of ...
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Were the disciples that certain?
John 17:8b:
They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
I'm guessing that this is a translation issue, but I'm curious to hear expert opinion. Here Jesus ...
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What is Philip asking for in John 14:8?
When Philip asks Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be content," what is he asking for? Obviously his categories were mistaken, because the answer to his request was standing right before ...
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Does the phrase “born of water and the Spirit” refer to one, or two births?
In John 3:5, Jesus says that we must be "born of water and the Spirit".
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of ...
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How many and who were the people the women found at Jesus' tomb?
In the empty tomb stories, somebody was already there when the women arrived. But how many people and who were they?
For reference:
Mark: a young man
Matthew: an angel of the Lord
Luke: two men
...
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“A god” or “God” in John 1:1?
John 1:1 (NWT):
In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.
This translation, the Jehovah's Witnesses New World Translation is, I think, unique in using ...
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Was the Beloved Disciple the author of the Fourth Gospel?
One very common interpretation of the Gospel of John is that the Beloved Disciple was the author of the book. (Presumably, he was interested in obscuring his identity for some reason.) But other ...
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Who was the Beloved Disciple?
According to Wikipedia:
The Gospel [of John]'s authorship is anonymous. Its Chapter 21 states it derives from the testimony of the 'disciple whom Jesus loved.' Along with Peter, the unnamed ...
