God Came Down

(The Fourth Gospel)

There are many grand and intriguing themes running throughout the Fourth Gospel; one theme, however, dominates, the theme of “belief verses disbelief.”  In fact, this
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theme weaves itself throughout the whole composition.  John's concern is to inform our faith christologically (i.e., to give content to our faith with reference to the true identity of Nazareth was).  But all of this is to one end, viz., that we may believe.  During Jesus' ministry many people came to believe in him, while others disbelieved.  Why some believed while others did not is a critical question in this Gospel, and it is a question of critical relevance to us today.  John's Gospel develops from one text (or scene)
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to the next addressing this question.  These units of text consist of episodes, monologues or dialogues, and editorial comments in which some aspect of Jesus' Messianic identity is revealed, resulting in either belief or disbelief.

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How To Use This Material
1 The Gospel in Outline
2 Introductory Matters
3 The Prologue
4 The Messiah Will Come
5 The Messiah Has Come
6 The One God Sent
7 Discourse at the Well
8 You Search the Scriptures
9 Surely this is the Prophet
10 Never a Man So Spoke
11 The Adulteress
12 The Son of Man
13 Rabbi Who Sinned
14 I Am the Good Shepherd
15 The Feast of Lights
16 Lazareth Come Forth
17 Belief and Disbelief
18 The Farewell Discourses
19 Washing Feet
20. First Farewell Discourse
21 Farewell Discourse Pt 1
22 Second Discourse Pt 2
23 Second Discourse Pt 3
24 Third Farewell Discourse
25 Passion and Resurrection
26 The Conquest of Satan
27 John and Gnosticism
28 John and the Synoptics