Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 5/29/2007

Question
QUESTION: What are the major themes of the Gospel of John and what are some examples or illustration of these themes?

ANSWER: Peace

dear Rich--
  Your question(s)sounds like a school work assignment. If you are asking for some other reason, please ask again and explaining why you ask.

         your servant but His first
         George

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What are the major themes of the Gospel of John and what are some examples or illustration of these themes?
I am 61 years old and I am taking a scripture class for fun and I would like to know for myself...
ANSWER: Peace

dear Rich,
    First, sorry for slowness of this follow-up, my server was down Fri and Sat and most of Sunday. I worked on Monday.
  Some of major themes I see in the Gospel of St. John's are:
         
1-The Divine Personage of Christ: Chapter 1
2-The Unity and Oneness of Trinity: Chapter 1
4-Eucharist: Chapter 6
5-The importance of Unity between Christ and the Believer and/or the Church: the Parable of the Vine and Branches

There are more themes and sub-themes. I can send you a more complete list about two weeks if you request it at that time. Before that, I challenge you to see any how many you can find.  As Catholics we are bound to agree doctrinally but theologically we can differ. So maybe different themes are more clear or "important" to what God wants you to give witness to, for the sake of souls you encounter.

         Your servant but His first
         George

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I get the themes part, but what are the examples or illustration of this gospel?

Answer
Peace


dear Rich--

Themes and Examples

Purification
  Cleansing of the Temple
  Washing the Feet of the Apostles
the Paraclete
14:16; 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-11; 12-15
Marriage
The Wedding at Canaan 2:1-12
Water
chapter 4:The Samaritan Woman at the Well
chapter 6: The Living Water
Jewish Festivals
Passover: John 2:13 - The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. John 2:23 - When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing.
John 6:4 - Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. John 11:55 - Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves.
John 12:1 - Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. John 13:1 - Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
John 18:28 - Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover.
John 18:39 - But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" John 19:14 - Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, "Here is your King!" Tabernacles
or "Booths": John 7:2 - But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Dedication: John 10:22 - Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter. An Unnamed
Festival: John 4:45 - When he came to Galilee, the Galilean welcomed him, since they had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the festival; for they too had gone to the festival.

Wine
Of the five mentions of wine in the Fourth Gospel four of these pertain to the miracle at Canaan (Jn 2:3,9-10; 4:46), the fifth being the sponge soaked in wine vinegar being offered to the crucified Jesus (Jn 19:29).  More frequently do we see Jesus take the related image of the vine and the branches.  In the Old Testament this image invariably applies to the people of Israel.


There are other themes as well, hope the above is of some help. God bless.
         your servant but His first
         George