What is the main theme of the Gospel of John?

Answer 1

The divinity of Christ.

John 20:30, 31 - And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. [NKJV]

Answer 2

John 12-19 pertains to the last week before Jesus' crucifixion. Chapter 12 discusses the supper at Bethany where Mary anointed Jesus' head and feet and wiped them with her hair. It also covers His Triumphal entry, some Greeks wanting to see Jesus, the unbelief of the Jews, and Jesus' final Temple message.

Answer 3

There are actually three major themes unique to John's Gospel and not found in the Synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke).

Divinity and pre-existence of Jesus

Scholars believe the Synoptic gospel authors did not fully equate Jesus with God. According to Mark, Jesus had some extraordinary powers and God called him his son, but Mark did not show him to be one with God. For example: (Mark 6:5) And he(Jesus) could there do no mighty work. (Mark 10:18) Why call me good. There is none good but God.
John's Gospel, from the very first verse, says that Jesus was with God in the beginning, and equates him to God. Among the gospels, this is unique to John's Gospel.

Comparison of the 'disciple whom Jesus loved' with Peter

Some believe that although John accepted Peter as leader, he frequently has the 'disciple whom Jesus loved' surpass Peter, as if wishing to undermine Peter. The 'disciple whom Jesus loved' is anonymous throughout the Gospel, but tradition holds that it was the disciple John. Some examples where the 'disciple whom Jesus loved' seems to surpass Peter, being either more favoured, more trustworthy, faster or more perceptive:

• This disciple reclined next to Jesus at the last supper. Peter did not ask Jesus who would betray him, but encouraged this disciple to do so.
• Even after Peter betrayed Jesus and fled, this disciple remained with his mother at the cross. Jesus entrusted him with the care of his mother.
• He and Peter ran to the grave, but this disciple arrived first, looked in and saw the linen clothing lying there but did not go in until after Peter, when he "saw and believed." It does not say whether Peter believed.
• When the risen Jesus appeared by Sea of Tiberius, this disciple was the first to recognise him, saying to Peter, "It is the Lord". Also at this appearance, Jesus said that this disciple shall not die, asking Peter, "What is that to thee?"

Even the title the author used, the 'disciple whom Jesus loved', implies greater favour or affection than that given to Peter. It may be that the author of John's Gospel was keen to eliminate any risk of the early Christians worshipping Peter, rather than just Jesus. Even by keeping the special disciple deliberately anonymous, he could have been avoiding the risk of creating a cult around that disciple.

Critical portrait of Thomas

Elaine Pagels sees a principal objective to refute the beliefs of the Thomas Christians. Only John presents a challenging portrait of the disciple he calls "Thomas, the one called Didymus". Although Thomas is presented as bravely loyal in John 11:16, when he says "Let us also go, that we may die with him, of all the disciples, Thomas also seemed to show doubt at different times. And, in John's Gospel, Thomas was not present at Jesus' first appearance to the group of all the other disciples, when they received the Holy Spirit from the risen Jesus. So, once again, John could be seen as opposing a cult around one of the disciples.

Answer 4

The theme of John's Gospel is love, as is expressed thouroghly throughout the entire Gospel.

( I learned this in my Bible studies at school )

Answer 5

The main theme of the Gospel of John is that Jesus was and is the Son of God and God Himself.

Answer 6

Another answer from our community:

The main theme of the Gospel of John is that Jesus was and is the Son of God and God Himself.

Answer 7

The main theme of the Gospel of John is the deity of Jesus Christ. It emphasizes Jesus's divine nature, his role as the Son of God, and his ability to offer eternal life to those who believe in him.

Answer 8

The theme for John is SON OF GOD