Gospel of John
This assignment covers John 7-9.
- When was the feast of tabernacles and what was its significance? 7:2. Bruce, 169f.
- Jesus avoided going to Judea during that time because he knew that the Jews wanted to kill him. What did Jesus’ brothers propose? 7:1-4.
- When probably did Jesus’ brothers come to believe him to be the Messiah? 7:5. Bruce, pp. 171f.
- In what sense did Jesus speak of “the world?” 7:7. Bruce, p. 172.
- How does Bruce understand Jesus’ statement, “I go not up into the feast” (verse 8) compared to “then he also went up” (verse 10)? Bruce, p. 173.
- Why did some say, “He is a good man” and others say, “not so, but he leads the multitude astray?” 7:12.
- Explain the question “How does this man know letters, having never learned?” 7:15. Bruce, p. 175.
- In addition to “intellectual perception,” what else did Jesus suggest was necessary to understand that his teaching came from God? 7:16f. Bruce, pp. 175ff.
- Why did Jesus refer to Moses? 7:19.
- To what does the “one work” of verse 21 refer? Bruce, pp. 176ff.
- What did Jesus mean by “Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment?” 7:24.
- What belief kept the people of Jerusalem from accepting Jesus as the Messiah? 7:27. Bruce, p. 178.
- Jesus’ signs caused many of the crowd to say what? 7:31.
- What metaphor did Jesus use in referring to the giving of the Holy Spirit to believers? 7:37-39 (cf. Acts 2:38; 5: 32; Galatians 4:6). Bruce, p. 182.
- Why did many Jews in Jerusalem rule out Galilee as the home of the Messiah? 7:40-42 (cf. Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1). Bruce, pp. 183f.
- Describe the attempt by the Sanhedrin to arrest Jesus and the results. 7:32, 45ff., Bruce, p. 179.
- Determine why John 7:53 – 8:11 is absent from some versions of the Bible. Bruce, pp. 413-18.
- Write your own thoughts as to what principles might be derived from this story.
- What metaphor does Jesus use to describe himself that was used by the Evangelist to identify the Word (logos) in chapter 1? 8:12.
- Why was Jesus’ testimony about himself to be accepted even though testifying on one’s own behalf had no legal worth? 8:14-16. Bruce, p. 189.
- Whom did Jesus call to bear witness on His behalf? 8:17-18.
- Explain, “and no man took him; because his hour was not yet come.” 8:20. Bruce, pp. 190f.
- How did the Jews interpret Jesus’ words “Where I go, you cannot come?” 8:21f.
- Comment on the expression “I am he” of verse 24. Bruce, p. 193.
- What event did Jesus predict as the full disclosure to the Jews of His relation to the Father? 8:28 (cf. Acts. 2:36). Bruce, p. 195.
- What was the mark of true discipleship? 8:31. Bruce, p. 196.
- Were the Jews correct in saying they had never been in bondage to any man? What kind of slavery did Jesus speak of? 8:33-34.
- Explain “You cannot hear my word.” 8:43. Bruce, pp. 200f.
- Which two evil traits were reflected in the attitude of the Jewish opponents of Jesus? 8:44. Bruce, p. 201.
- What did Jesus mean in saying “If a man keep my word he shall never see death?” 8:51. Bruce, p. 203.
- In the words “Abraham rejoiced to see my day,” how and when did that occur? 8:56 (cf. Genesis 12:3, 22:18; Galatians 3:16). Bruce, p. 205.
- In using the present tense “Before Abraham was born, I am,” what is implied? 8:58.
- Why did the Jews attempt to stone Jesus? 8:59. Bruce, p. 206.
- The disciples’ inquiry concerning the man born blind suggests a connection between human suffering and personal sin. Explain the inconsistencies in that idea. 9:1. Bruce, p. 208.
- How does Bruce explain Jesus’ words, “but that the works of God should be made manifest in him?” 9:3. Bruce, p. 209.
- Explain the expression “While it is day.” 9:4. Bruce, p. 209.
- Describe the blind man and how he was healed 9:8-11. Bruce, p. 211.
- Did Jesus break the Sabbath by healing, or did the issue arise from the legal definition of work? 9:13-14. Bruce, p. 212.
- How did some Jews reason that Jesus could not be a sinner for healing on the sabbath? 9:16.
- Did the law of Moses teach that any person who performed miracles was therefore a man of God? Explain (Deuteronomy 13: 1-5). Bruce, p. 213.
- Explain why were the parents were reticent to speculate on how their son was healed? 9:22-23.
- Bruce comments on a “blessing” recited in the synagogue as early as A.D. 90. What did it say? Bruce, p. 215.
- Comment on the statement “We know that God hears not sinners.” Who said it? Was it true? 9:31 (cf. Proverbs 28:9; Psalm 66: 18; Acts 10:31).
- Comment on the expression “Son of Man” as opposed to “Son of God.” 9:35-38. Bruce pp. 219-20.
- What does Bruce call “a parable of illumination” and why? Bruce, p. 220.
- Do independent research and write a one-page discussion of Jesus’ life and ministry as the fulfillment of prophecy.