John

New Testament · 21 chapters

Seven signs and seven "I am" sayings, written so that you may believe.

About John

John differs from the other three gospels in structure and tone, opening not with a birth but with the Word who was in the beginning. It is built around seven signs and the great "I am" sayings — bread of life, light of the world, resurrection and life. Long conversations replace short parables, and the upper room discourse before the arrest is the longest sustained teaching. John states his purpose plainly near the end: that readers may believe and have life.

  • Belief
  • Life
  • Light and darkness
  • Love

Key verses in John

All 21 chapters of John

Verses to memorize from John

  • John 1:1 — John opens his Gospel by declaring that the Word already existed at the beginning, was with God, and was himself God.
  • John 1:12 — To everyone who welcomes Jesus and trusts in his name, God gives the right to become his children.
  • John 1:14 — The eternal Word became a human being and lived among us, and those who saw him saw God's glory, full of grace and truth.
  • John 3:16 — God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, and everyone who trusts in him receives life that never ends — the whole gospel in one sentence.
  • John 11:25 — On his way to raise Lazarus, Jesus tells Martha that he is the resurrection and the life, and that whoever believes in him will live even after dying.
  • John 14:6 — Jesus tells his disciples that he himself is the way to God, the truth and the life, and that he is the one way to the Father.
  • John 15:5 — Jesus pictures himself as the vine and his followers as its branches: staying joined to him bears fruit, and cut off from him we can do nothing.
  • John 16:33 — Jesus warns that his followers will face trouble in the world, but tells them to take courage because he has already overcome it.

Topics drawn from John

Guides that explore John

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