This Bible study of the Gospel of John is set up to provide you with the Bible text with commentary. I recommend reading the Bible text and then use the commentary that is provided only when needed, that is, when you run onto a verse or portion of Scripture that you don't understand, then you can read how it is interpreted by the commentator (CORNELIUS À LAPIDE). I don't recommend reading all the commentary along with the Scripture, unless you are really ambitious, because it will take so much time and may cause it to get monotonous leading to burn out very quickly. Plus there is a place at the bottom of this webpage where you can start threads to make comments or ask questions.

Also you can consult many more commentaries HERE

__________________________________




Scripture and commentary

Verses 35-42.
1. List the people involved in the chain of witnessing that led to Simon's name being changed to Peter. Jot down any insights into witnessing that you receive.
2. Words that are repeated and appear three or more times in a paragraph are usually very important. List two or three words that you consider important from verses 35-42. Why are they important?
3. Jesus' words in verse 39, "Come and you will see," were an invitation for the two men to examine his life. Could you invite people seeking Christ to come and examine your life? What are some things you would want to change before you gave such an invitation?


Verses 43-51.
1. How did Philip describe Jesus to Nathanael? What ideas does that generate about ways we can witness for Christ?
2. What kind of change of attitude does Nathanael demonstrate from verse 46 to verse 49? What brought about this change in attitude?
3. Verse 51 harks back to Genesis 28:10-19. Read those verses in Genesis and reflect on the meaning of Jesus as the ladder or stairway to heaven. In what ways does Jesus fulfill the promise of those verses?

Life application
1. Identify one or two new thoughts that seemed important to you.
2. Select a truth for which you see a particular personal application in your own life. Describe how it would apply to you.
__________________________________



Scripture and commentary



Verses 1-12.
1. In what ways does Jesus' mother demonstrate her confidence in him?
2. Verse 11 states that Jesus revealed his glory in the sign done at Cana. Describe how these verses illustrate John 1:14.
3. Many scholars believe John 2:1-11 is "parable in life." Read Matthew 9: 14-17 and describe how the action of Jesus in John 2:1-11 illustrates the passage in Matthew.

Verses 13-22.
1. Read the account of the cleansing of the temple in either Matthew 21:12-13 or Mark 11:15-17 or Luke 19:45-46. What key phrase or phrases of Jesus found in these gospels does John omit?
2. What are some reasons Jesus would have wanted to cleanse the temple? Which ones fit best with the account of the Synoptics? Which reasons fit best with John's account? Why?
3. In our passage Jesus compares the temple with his own body. Read Ezekiel 47:1-12. What aspects of Ezekiel 47:1-12 find expression in Jesus or in the work of the Spirit whom Jesus sends forth?

Verses 23-25.
1. What is the common element of John 2:11, 22, 23, and 20:31?
2. Verse 24 indicates that Jesus did not entrust himself to everyone. What are some things people do in response to Jesus so that he should not entrust himself to them?
3. Verse 25 states that Jesus knew what was in everyone. Based on the first two chapters of John what can we say that Jesus knew about human beings? Give chapter and verse numbers with each answer.

Life application
1. Identify one or two new thoughts that seemed important to you.
2. Select a truth for which you see a particular personal application in your own life. Describe how it would apply to you.
__________________________________



Scripture and commentary


Verses 1-10.
1. What can we learn about Nicodemus from these verses? What additional insights do you gain from John 7:50-52 and 19:39-40?
2. Why do you think Nicodemus did not understand Jesus' statement about being born again and asked the question of verse 4?
3. What do you think Jesus meant when he said in verse 5, "Unless a person be born of water and of the Spirit, he is not able to enter the kingdom?

Verses 6-15.
1. What new title describing Jesus appears in these verses? Compare the use of the same title in John 1:51.
2. What point do you think Jesus was trying to make in verse 8 by comparing the work of the Spirit with the wind?
3. Jesus compared himself and the serpent lifted up in the wilderness. Read Numbers 21:4-9. What are the points of comparison between Jesus and the bronze snake?

Verses 15-21.
1. List three or four words or phrases that seem to be especially significant in these verses. (Remember, the more a word is repeated the more important it is.)
2. John 3:17; Romans 8:3-4; Galatians 4:-5; and 1 John 4:9-10 are called sending formulas. What purposes do these verses give for God sending His Son?
3. Read John 3:16; Romans 5:5-11; and Romans 8:31-39. Briefly describe what the love of God means to you. How do you want to respond to God's love?

Life application
1. Identify one or two new thoughts that seemed important to you.
2. Select a truth for which you see a particular personal application in your own life. Describe how it would apply to you.




__________________________________




Scripture and commentary


verses 4-15.
1. Why would it have been strange for Jesus to have asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water?
2. Who is called a fountain of living water in Jeremiah 2:13 and 17:13? What implications does that have for our verses?
3. How does the water of Jesus become a well of water springing up to eternal life? In what ways have you drunk from the water of Jesus?


verses 16-24.
1. What causes the woman to call Jesus a prophet?
2. What does Jesus mean in verse 22 when he says "salvation is from the Jews?" Psalm 76:1 and Romans 1:16 may be helpful.
3. These verses emphasize worship, especially worship in Spirit and in truth. Define worship and describe the meaning of worship in Spirit and in truth.



verses 25-30.
1. What new title is applied to Jesus in these verses?
2. Jesus' reply in verse 26 is literally, "I AM, the one who is speaking." Compare this to Exodus 3:14. What conclusions can you draw about Jesus?
3. In verse 29 the woman describes Jesus as "a man who told me everything I have done." Imagine yourself in a conversation with Jesus as he tells you everything you have done. What areas of your life would you want to change as a result of such a conversation?




verses 31-38.
1. Why did Jesus refuse the food the disciples brought?
2. What does the transition from verse 34 to verse 35 tell us about the will of God?
3. Verses 37-38 speak of us reaping what we have not sowed. What are the benefits that you have reaped from other people's labor? Is there labor that you are doing that will be harvested by others? Read 1 Corinthians 3:6-10.


verses 39-42.
1. List the progression of titles applied to Jesus through this entire passage.
2. Describe the progression from the woman's testimony to the townspeople's confession of faith.
3. Verse 42 states an important truth. Faith cannot ultimately be based on what someone else says. It must come from a personal encounter with Jesus. Has your faith come from a personal encounter with Jesus? If so, write how you came to believe in Him.


John 4:43-54.
1. What is the second sign that John describes Jesus as doing?
2. What do these verses teach about faith? What is the connection between faith and obedience?
3. As background to verse 44 read Mark 6:1-6 and Luke 4:23-30. What dangers do we face when we become so used to Jesus that he seems to be a part of our hometown?

Life application
1. Identify one or two new insights that seemed important to you.
2. Select a truth for which you see a particular personal application in your own life. Describe how it would apply to you.



____________________________



Scripture and Commentary John 5


John 5:1-9.
1. What is the time and place of the events described in John 5:1-9?
2. Is the man's answer in verse 7 an appropriate response to Jesus' question in verse 6? Why or why not? What parallels can you draw to the way we often respond to a word from Christ?
3. Read Mark 2:1-12. What elements are common to Mark 2:1-12 and John 5:1-9? What are the most important differences?


John 5:10-18.
1. What reasons are given in these verses for Jewish opposition to Jesus?
2. Read Mark 2:27-28. In what ways does John 5:1-18 illustrate these verses from Mark?
3. In verse 17 Jesus says that The Father is working and He (Jesus) is also working. List some of the things you think Jesus meant when he said the Father was working until now. What things have you read about Jesus in the gospel of John already that show Him doing the same work as the Father?



John 5:19-24.
1. What things does Jesus describe God the Father as doing in these verses?
2. What are the four most significant verbs in verse 24? What tense are they in (are they past, present, or future)? What significance do you see in the tense of the verbs?
3. How would you describe Jesus' relationship with the Father based on these verses? What aspects of Jesus' relationship with the Father are also applicable to your own relationship to God?



John 5:25-29.
1. List several words, phrases, or concepts from John 5:19-24 that are repeated in John 5:25-29.
2. Compare and contrast verse 25 and verse 29. What seems to you to be the most important differences? Why are they important?
3. Think about how you are living your life now in relationship to verses 25-29. Are there any changes in your life that you would like to make as you look forward to these promises being fulfilled?


John 5:31-38.
1. What or who is described as providing testimony about Jesus?
2. What was John's testimony to the truth about Jesus? You may want to re-read John 1:6-8, 19-35; 3:25-30.
3. Jesus said that the Father testified in His (Jesus') behalf. If God were to testify about you what kind of things do you think He might say? What can you do to give God a better testimony about you?



John 5:39-47.
1. What did the Jews believe they would find in Scripture? What do Christians find in Scripture?
2. Why do you think Jesus said that the Jews did not have the love of God in them?
3. What hindrances to belief does Jesus discuss here? What do you think are the major hindrances to belief today? How have you overcome them?



Life application
1. Identify one or two new insights that were meaningful to you.
2. Select a truth for which you see a personal application in your own life. Describe how it would apply to you.
____________________________


Scripture and Commentary on chapter 6

Verses 4-6
What question did Jesus ask Philip? Why did Jesus ask this question?


Verses 12,13 What was done with the remaining food? How much food was left over?
Describe how the details that are given prove this event was im-possible by natural law.


Verse 14
What effect did this have on the people (v14), and how does this again demonstrate the nature and purpose of Bible miracles?


Verse 21 What details are given here and in the other accounts that demonstrate the miracu-lous nature of this event?

Application: What lessons can we learn from this event?

Verses 22-24 On the next day, what did the multitudes realize had happened?
What did they do and where did they go?


Verses 25,26 1. What question did the multitudes ask Jesus and what events occasioned the ques-tion? 2. What did Jesus say was the people’s motive for seeking Him?
3. What lesson can we learn from this about the purpose of the feeding of the 5000?


Verse 27 1. What did Jesus say they should do instead of seeking physical food? Explain the meaning. 2. List other passages that discuss the importance of spiritual matters compared to physical.
3. Case Study: Some churches use carnal appeals - such as meals, entertainment, or recreation – to attract people to attend church activities. What application would Jesus’ statements here have to such a practice?


Verses 30-33 1. What Old Testament miracle did the people remind Jesus about? What were they still wanting Jesus to do (vv 30-33)?
2. What response did Jesus give? (Thought question: What is the bread of God that Je-sus refers to?


Verses 34-36 1. What is the "bread of life," and how do we partake of it?
2. What is the benefit of partaking of this bread? (Thought question: How is Jesus like bread? Notice this theme as it continues through the chapter.)


Verse 37
What promise did Jesus give in v37? Explain it.


Verses 38-40 1. Where did Jesus come from, and for what purpose did He come (v38)?
2. What was the Father’s will for Jesus, and what was His will for those who believe in Him (vv 39,40)?


Verses 41,42 1. What complaint did the people raise against Jesus (vv 41,42)?
2. Based on what we have learned, what mistake did the people make that led them to make this complaint?


Verses 47,48
What is the bread of life? Who can have eternal life (vv 47,48)?


Verses 49-51 1. How did Jesus’ "bread of life" differ from the manna Moses gave (vv 47-51)?
2. What did Jesus do so we could have life?

Verses 52-55 1. What problem did the Jews have with Jesus’ statement? 2. Explain how we can eat Jesus’ flesh and drink His blood. 3. What blessing may we have if we eat and drink of Jesus (vv 54,55)?
(Thought question: Is this talking primarily about partaking of the Lord’s Supper?


Verses 56-59 1. What other blessing do we receive if we eat and drink of Jesus in v56? 2. Application: Explain what it means to abide in Jesus? In what sense are we in Him? Verses 60-62 1. What did the disciples think at this point (v60)? 2. What else did Jesus say might offend them (vv 61,62)?
(Think: Why might this also offend them?)