New Believer's Bible Sample - Flipbook - Page 43
page 995
John
AUTHOR: John • DATE WRIT TEN: AD 85–90 • GENRE: Gospel
T H E A P O S T L E J O H N W R O T E the fourth Gospel sometime between AD 85–90, in order
that “you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by
believing in him you will have life by the power of his name” ( John 20:31). Although John’s
Gospel is a very personal, eyewitness account of who Jesus is and what he came to do, John
does not identify himself by name. Instead, he describes himself by using some form of the
phrase “the disciple Jesus loved” (see John 13:23; 19:26; 21:7, 20).
John uses very simple language to convey his message, but the truth he presents is as rich
and deep as anything in the Bible. The Gospel of John is an excellent place to start when
first reading the Bible. While the other three Gospels center on key events in Jesus’ life, John
often focuses upon the meaning of those events. Consider the miracle of the feeding of the
five thousand, which all four Gospels record (Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:31-44; Luke 9:11-17;
John 6:1-13). Only John gives us Jesus’ message on the “bread of life,” which follows that miracle. Here, as elsewhere, John puts special emphasis on the deity of Jesus, reporting Jesus’
words, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever
believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35).
John does not always record the events of his Gospel chronologically; instead, he highlights seven miracles that Jesus performed and seven “I am” statements that the Savior
made. In following this plan, John gives us a unique perspective; in fact, 90 percent of the
material found in his Gospel appears nowhere else. John made these selections to lead his
readers to put their faith in Jesus Christ the Messiah, the Savior of the world. For this reason,
the word believe plays a critical role in the Gospel of John.
Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word
1 In the beginning the Word already
existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except
through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was
created,*
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never
extinguish it.*
1
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist,* 7 to tell
about the light so that everyone might believe
because of his testimony. 8 John himself was
not the light; he was simply a witness to tell
about the light. 9 The one who is the true light,
who gives light to everyone, was coming into
the world.
10 He came into the very world he created,
but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came
to his own people, and even they rejected him.
12 But to all who believed him and accepted
him, he gave the right to become children of
God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical
birth resulting from human passion or plan,
but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human* and made
his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.* And we have seen
his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and
only Son.
15 John testified about him when he shouted
to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking
about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after
me who is far greater than I am, for he existed
long before me.’”
16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.*
17 For the law was given through Moses, but
God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came
through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen
God. But the unique One, who is himself
God,* is near to the Father’s heart. He has
revealed God to us.
1:3-4 Or and nothing that was created was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything.
1:5 Or and the darkness
has not understood it.
1:6 Greek a man named John.
1:14a Greek became flesh.
1:14b Or grace and truth; also in 1:17. 1:16 Or
received the grace of Christ rather than the grace of the law; Greek reads received grace upon grace.
1:18 Some manuscripts read
But the one and only Son.
