About the Bible
Covenant
"The word testament comes from the Latin word testamentum, meaning "covenant" or "agreement."
What is a "doctrine"?
A summarized teaching from the Bible (ex. The Doctrine of the Trinity, The Doctrine of Sin)
An eye-witness representative sent by Jesus
What was Jesus' first "I am" statement in the Gospel of John?
A. I am the light of the world
B. I am the bread of life
C. I am the good shepherd
D. I am the resurrection and the life
B. I am the bread of life
What was the first miracle Jesus ever did?
Turning water to wine at the Wedding in Cana (see John 2:1-11).
What were the original languages that the Bible was written in?
Hebrew and Greek (with a little Aramaic!)
What does the word "Christ" mean?
Messiah = Anointed One
When was the Gospel of John written?
Around 85-90 A.D.
Finish this verse:
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before ______________was, I am.”
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
How many signs (aka miracles) of Jesus does John record in his Gospel?
Seven
What and where is the prophecy about Christ in the Bible?
Genesis 3:15
"I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
What foundational doctrine about God do we learn from this passage:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God."
The Doctrine of the Trinity.
There is only one true God and He exists in three persons: The Father, The Son ("The Word"), and The Holy Spirit.
What genre is the Gospel of John?
A Historical Account about the life of Jesus which can be summarized as good news.
This is also known as a “Historical Narrative” which is tells history in the format of a story.
Finish this verse:
"I am the ________. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture."
"I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture."
What miracle was the climax of Jesus' signs in the Gospel of John?
Name three different genres (types of writing) in the Bible.
History (or Historical Narrative)
Poetry
Wisdom
Law
Epistles (or Letters)
Apocalyptic
What doctrine do we learn from this passage:
"He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
The Doctrine of Adoption: God adopts those who believe in Christ into his own family.
What are two major themes in the Gospel of John?
1. The “Signs” (or Miracles) of Jesus
2. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 4:29)
3. Jesus is God (John 1:1-2)
4. Believing in Jesus (John uses the verb “believe” 98 times.)
5. Eternal Life (John 17:3)
Which one of these statement was hard for people to hear and led to some disciples turning away from following Jesus?
A. I am the light of the world
B. I am the bread of life
C. I am the true vine
Why was it a hard saying for them?
Hint: figurative language
B. I am the bread of life
They heard it too literally.
Why did the disciples think the man was born blind in John 9? Why did Jesus say he was born blind?
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. - John 9:1-3
How did the Bible go from being written in Hebrew (OT) to being written Greek (NT)?
1. Hebrew (or Jewish) first language.
2. Exile among the other nations.
3. Alexander the Great; Greek rule and Hellenization led to Greek as a common language rather than Hebrew.
4. The Old Testament was first translated into Greek ("The Septuagint").
What doctrine do we learn from this passage:
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Hint: "Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, late in time behold him come, offspring of the Virgin's womb: veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th'incarnate Deity, "
The Doctrine of the Incarnation:
"Incarnation" literally means “in flesh” or “in a body”. This teaches us that the "The Word" (who is also the Son of God) became man in order to make God known in a very special way.
"No one has ever seen God; God the only Son, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." (John 1:18)
What is John's purpose in writing? What passage in his Gospel tells us this?
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
John 20:30-31
Explain where the phrase "I am" came from and why it is significant that Jesus used this to refer to himself.
LORD = Yahweh = “I Am”
Exodus 3:13-14: “Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
Why did Jesus stay two days longer after hearing that Lazarus was sick (see John 11:1-7).
Since he loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, he allowed him to die so that he might display to them that He has the power of eternal life, because he is "the resurrection and the life".