The Fourth Gospel attributed to John the son of Zebedee.
18
votes
2answers
289 views
Did John know about the Synoptics?
What evidence is there that John was aware of the Synoptics when he wrote the Fourth Gospel?
17
votes
8answers
2k views
What does it mean to be “born of water”?
In John 3:5, Jesus tells Nicodemus that to enter the kingdom one must be "born of water and the Spirit". How is this phrase understood? Is it a single construct (i.e. one birth of both water and ...
17
votes
5answers
740 views
“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 ...
17
votes
1answer
173 views
Is NWT's translation of John 8:58 reasonable?
I already assumed the opposite in an answer to why there are so many Bible translations, on Christianity.SE. Now that we have an expert community, I'd like to check. The translators of the New World ...
14
votes
5answers
1k views
Is Jesus giving the Spirit in John 20:22?
After the resurrection in John's gospel, Jesus appears to the disciples and in John 20:22 he breathes on them and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit." What is happening here? Is Jesus giving them the Holy ...
12
votes
2answers
408 views
“You are gods” in John 10:30-36
In John 10:30-36 (NASB), Jesus responds to an accusation of blasphemy by quoting the Old Testament:
30I and the Father are one.”
31The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. 32Jesus ...
12
votes
4answers
590 views
Is John 7:53-8:11 inspired?
I've read several recent commentaries on John 8 and all agree that the story of the woman caught in adultery almost certainly wasn't there in the original manuscript. Yet they all go on to explain the ...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
Where is the citation of John 7:38 taken from?
Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living
water will flow from his inmost being!" (John 7:38 CJB)
I always read John 7:38 as "If I believe like the scripture ...
11
votes
2answers
245 views
Should John 1:19 read “the only begotten God”?
I was reading my New King James version of the Bible and found a footnote for this verse:
John 1:18 (NKJV)
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son,[a] who is in the bosom of the ...
11
votes
4answers
389 views
Why did John take Mary, who was married, into his home?
John 19:26-27
(26) When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved
standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” (27) and
to the disciple, “Here is your ...
10
votes
6answers
350 views
How should we understand the “Cleansing of the Temple”?
As a preface, I was talking with some good friends last night and this passage came up. On of my friends contributed an interpretation that made my blood boil. He was clearly wrong and clearly ...
10
votes
2answers
225 views
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 ...
9
votes
4answers
192 views
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 ...
9
votes
3answers
161 views
What types of birth were meant by 'blood', 'will of the flesh', and 'will of man'?
John mentions three specific types of birth that are not the avenue through which we may become children of God. To what types of births did each of these three things refer?
John 1:12-13 (ESV)
...
8
votes
3answers
272 views
Is there a sacramentalism in the “Bread of Life” discourse?
The "Bread of Life" discourse in John 6:22-59 seems to have all the components of a good discussion on the Lord's Supper (or Eucharist, or communion, or whatever your tradition calls it): Jesus is ...
8
votes
2answers
130 views
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 ...
8
votes
2answers
589 views
What does “born again” from John 3:3 mean?
John 3:3 (NIV)
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
A note for this verse in the NIV says, "The Greek for again also means from ...
8
votes
4answers
664 views
In what sense would Nathanael have “seen” in John 1:51?
In John 1:51, Jesus tells Nathanael that he will "see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man".
John 1:49-51 (ESV)
49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, ...
7
votes
3answers
163 views
What are the Pharisees saying to search in John 7:52?
The Pharisees say to Nicodemus in John 7:52:
ἐραύνησον καὶ ἴδε ὅτι ἐκ τῆς Γαλιλαίας προφήτης οὐκ ἐγείρεται
Or
Search and see that a prophet has not arisen from Galilee
Is there any way to ...
7
votes
1answer
147 views
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 ...
7
votes
1answer
135 views
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
...
6
votes
3answers
143 views
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 ...
6
votes
5answers
4k views
When did Jesus change his view on preaching to Gentiles?
In John 10:16 Jesus says (ESV quoted):
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
The ...
6
votes
3answers
325 views
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 ...
6
votes
2answers
183 views
Does John 7:15 mean Jesus was untaught?
John 7:15 (ESV):
The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning,1 when he has never studied?”
The footnote is:
7:15 Or this man knows his letters
So there ...
6
votes
3answers
3k views
What is the significance of 153 fish?
John 21:11
Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
Is there any significance to the number 153? Or ...
6
votes
1answer
24 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
127 views
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 ...
5
votes
3answers
108 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
922 views
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
200 views
Was Nazareth a joke town?
Nathanael said (John 1:46a):
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
What was the reputation of Nazareth at the time? Was it considered a "joke town" to be made fun of?
5
votes
2answers
95 views
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
186 views
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 ...
5
votes
5answers
338 views
The beloved disciple vs Peter
I was reading a book by Andreas Köstenberger and he points out that in the Fourth Gospel, the beloved disciple is depicted at least several times as having greater access to knowledge as compared ...
5
votes
3answers
124 views
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?
5
votes
2answers
118 views
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
100 views
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
36 views
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?
...
4
votes
4answers
274 views
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 ...
4
votes
3answers
255 views
How should John 1 be interpreted?
The first chapter of the Gospel of John seems to contrast with the rest of the book, in style and purpose. It seems very abstract and poetic, while the rest of John seems to be a more traditional ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Does Jesus refer to aliens in John 10:16?
Jesus said:
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.—John 10:16 (ESV)
Who are ...
4
votes
2answers
309 views
Chronology of Jesus' ministry: John and the Synoptics
I've heard that there is a recent trend to see the Fourth Gospel - despite its obvious theological purpose as compared to especially Luke - as actually more chronological than the Synoptics. Wikipedia ...
4
votes
2answers
45 views
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
63 views
Where was the dinner in John 12?
On this question someone posted a link to an article arguing that Lazaraus is the beloved disciple. One of the arguments he makes is that his theory cleanly reconciles the account of a dinner in John ...
4
votes
2answers
100 views
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.”
...
4
votes
1answer
142 views
Reconciling the accounts of the calling of Simon Peter
How do you reconcile the two accounts of Jesus calling Peter? (Matt 4:18-19 and John 1:35-42)
In the Matthew passage, Peter and Andrew are together fishing. In the John passage, Andrew was with John ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
506 views
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 ...
4
votes
3answers
240 views
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
41 views
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 ...
