The Gospel of John
The Word made flesh, written so readers may believe and find life in His name.
Unlike the other three Gospels, John opens with a theological prologue - "In the beginning was the Word" - and structures its 21 chapters around seven miraculous signs and seven "I Am" declarations of Jesus. John states his purpose plainly: that readers would believe Jesus is the Christ. Begin at John chapter 1.
About John
John is the forty-third book of the Bible and the fourth Gospel, written by the apostle John (the Beloved Disciple) around AD 85-95 and spanning 21 chapters. Unlike the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke), John's Gospel is more theological and reflective, written explicitly so that readers may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing they may have life in his name (John 20:31). John's Gospel is structured around seven miraculous signs and seven great I Am declarations of Jesus, along with extended theological discourses found nowhere else. Major themes include the divine nature of Jesus (the Word who was with God and was God), eternal life through faith, the love of God poured out in the cross, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the community of believers as those who love one another. Key chapters include John 1 (the prologue -- In the beginning was the Word), John 3 (Jesus and Nicodemus), John 11 (the raising of Lazarus), John 14-17 (the Upper Room Discourse), and John 20 (the resurrection). Famous verses include John 3:16 -- For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son -- and John 14:6 -- I am the way and the truth and the life. John KJV is arguably the most read and most evangelistically powerful book in the entire Bible. Read the Book of John online here in full.