Skip to content

The Gospel of

John

Gospel of John

The following are summaries and outlines for
the Gospel of John.
Gideon

Gospel of John Summary

John's Gospel is a little different from the other 3 gospels in that John highlights matters that are underdeveloped in the other Gospels. The Book of John where the focus is on the "signs" of Jesus' mission and goes into lengthy theological discourses.

The Bible - Numbers

Title

The book bears the fitting name of John, the author. He is noted as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" and was extremely close to Jesus, being in His inner circle with Peter and James. He was very prominent in the early Church and was with Jesus all through His ministry.

hebrew_writing

Author and Date of Writing

The author generally accepted to be the apostle John. He was prominent in the early church but is not mentioned by name in this Gospel. The Gospel of John was written around A.D. 60.


John Outline

I. Prologue: The Word Became Flesh (1:1–18)

II. The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry (1:19–51)

  1. John the Baptist’s Testimony About Jesus, John 1:19–34
  2. John’s Disciples Follow Jesus, John 1:35–42
  3. Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael, John 1:43–51

III. Jesus’ Public Ministry: Signs and Discourses (chs. 2–11)

A. Changing Water Into Wine (John 2:1–11)
B. Clearing the Temple Courts (John 2:12–25)
C. Jesus Teaches Nicodemus (John 3:1–21)
D. John the Baptist’s Final Testimony About Jesus (John 3:22–36)
E. Jesus and the Samaritans (John 4:1–42)
F. Healing of the Official’s Son (John 4:43–54)
G. Jesus and the Jewish Festivals (chs. 5–10)

    1. The Sabbath (ch. 5)
      1. Healing at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1–15)
      2. Jesus explains his divine authority (John 5:16–30)
      3. Testimonies about Jesus (John 5:31–47)
    2. The Passover (ch. 6)
      1. Jesus feeds the 5,000 (John 6:1–15)
      2. Jesus walks on the water (John 6:16–24)
      3. Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:25–59)
      4. Many disciples desert Jesus (John 6:60–71)
    3. The Festival of Tabernacles (7:1—10:21)
      1. Jesus travels to Jerusalem for the festival (John 7:1–13)
      2. Jesus teaches at the festival (John 7:14–24)
      3. Debate over who Jesus is (John 7:25—8:59)
      4. Jesus heals a man born blind (John 9:1—10:21)
    4. The Festival of Dedication (John 10:22–42)

H. The Raising of Lazaras (ch. 11) 

IV. The Passion Week (chs. 12–19)

A. Jesus Journeys to Jerusalem (ch. 12)

    1. Anointed at Bethany (John 12:1–11)
    2. Enters Jerusalem as King (John 12:12–19)
    3. Predicts his death (John 12:20–36)
    4. Belief and unbelief among the Jews (John 12:37–50)

B. Jesus’ Farewell Discourse and Prayer (chs. 13-17)

    1. At the Last Supper (chs. 13–14)
      1. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet (John 13:1–17)
      2. Jesus predicts his betrayal (John 13:18–30)
      3. Jesus predicts Peter’s denial (John 13:31–38)
      4. Jesus comforts his disciples (John 14:1–4)
      5. Jesus is the way to the Father (John 14:5–14)
      6. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit (John 14:15–30)
    2. On the way to Gethsemane (chs. 15–16)
      1. The vine and the branches (John 15:1–17)
      2. The world hates the disciples (John 15:18–25)
      3. The work of the Holy Spirit (John 15:26—16:15)
      4. The disciples’ grief will turn to joy (John 16:16–33)
    3. Jesus Prayer (ch. 17)
      1. For himself—that he be glorified (John 17:1–5)
      2. For his disciples (John 17:6–19)
      3. For all believers (John 17:20–26)

C. Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest (John 18:1–11)
D. Jesus’ Trials Before Jewish and Roman Officials (John 18:12–40)
E. Jesus’ Crucifixion (John 19:1–27)
F. Jesus’ Death and Burial (John 19:28–42)

V. Jesus’ Resurrection (John 20:1–29)

A. The Resurrection (John 20:1–10)
B. Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11–18)
C. Jesus Appears to the Disciples (John 20:19–23)
D. Jesus and Thomas (John 20:24–29)

VI. Statement of the Gospel’s Purpose (John 20:30–31)

A. The Purpose of this Book (John 20:30-31) 

VII. Epilogue: Jesus’ Recommissioning of the Disciples (John 21)

A. Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples (John 21:1–14)
B. Jesus and Peter (John 21:15–19)
C. Jesus and the Beloved Apostle (John 21:20–25)

Adapted from: NIV Study Bible, Copyright © 1985, 1995, 2002, 2008, 2011 by Zondervan.