Structural Outlines of the Fourth Gospel
by Rev. Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.
Notes:
Memorable Features:
Note: Most scholars agree that John 8:12-59 is a continuation of the dialogues begun in John 7:1-52, thus also take place at the Feast of Tabernacles.
Jesus, the Light of the World (8:12-30)
[full
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A: Jesus Disputes with some Pharisees, about himself and the Father (vv. 12-20)
Narrator: Jesus spoke to them again... (v. 12a)
Jesus: "I am the light of the world. [cf. 9:5] Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." (v. 12b)
Pharisees: "You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid." (v. 13)
Jesus: "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. /
You judge by human standards; I judge no one. / Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. /
In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. [cf. Num 35:30; Deut 17:6; 19:5] / I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf." (vv.14-18)
They: "Where is your father?"(v. 19a)
Jesus: "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also." (v. 19b)
Narrator's Summary: He spoke while teaching in the temple treasury; no one arrested him, for his hour had not yet come (v. 20; cf. 7:30)
B: Jesus Disputes with some Jewish Authorities, bringing some to Believe in Him (vv. 21-30)
Jesus: "I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come." (v. 21; cf. 7:33-36)
The Jews: "Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?" (v. 22)
Jesus: "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. /
I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I AM [he]." (vv. 23-24)
They: "Who are you?" (v. 25a)
Jesus: "Why do I speak to you at all? / I have much to say about you and much to condemn;
but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him." (vv. 25b-26)
Narrator: They didn't understand that he was speaking about the Father. (v. 27)
Jesus: "When you have lifted up the Son of Man [cf. 3:14; 12:32, 34], then you will realize that I AM [he], and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. /
And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him." (vv. 28-29)
Jesus and Abraham (8:31-59)
Note: Most of this section is intentionally left in outline form, so that you can do your own analysis, similar to what you see above.
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