Themes in the Gospel of John
What you'll learn
- Understand the background surrounding this wonderful Gospel as well as how the writing relates to us today.
- Describe the different overarching themes that tie the Gospel of John together.
- Explain the elements of the Gospel of John that are so important to embrace today.
- Delineate the similarities and differences between the issues of today that overlap with the issues Jesus spoke about in this Gospel.
- Develop a broader understanding of what it means to be a King Jesus follower in a countercultural way.
- Appreciate the importance of having a robust understanding of the seven overarching themes that the Gospel of John identifies.
Requirements
- This course only requires a desire to learn about the New Testament. No other materials are required.
Description
The Gospel of John has been a favorite of many readers of the New Testament and is full of beauty, mystery, and, occasionally, surprises. Jesus, in this Gospel, points to a new way of living. It is the Kingdom of God way of life. This way of life was in contrast to the normal Roman way of living in the first century A.D as much as it is in contrast to what most people in the twenty-first century experience.
The course approaches the Gospel of John in a way that looks at seven key themes. These themes bind the Fourth Gospel together in a manner that allows us to see this 'new way of living' as possible for followers of King Jesus. In so doing, we then apply these themes to the current era in order to ask ourselves questions about how we are putting them into practice. In a way, this is the story of how to live out being the presence of God on earth through the indwelling of God's spirit.
Students will encounter these seven themes through understanding many biblical references which Prof. Wright explains. The course is not an 'exegetical' walk through the text. Rather, the explanation of cultural and historical background of our era is explored to help us apply the Gospel of John to today's world. This makes the study very application oriented.
Who this course is for:
- This course is for students with an interest in the New Testament writings, particularly the Gospel of John, likely written towards the end of the First Century A.D.
- This course is designed to enable the student to discover what the Gospel of John highlights as vital to our understanding of this beautiful Gospel.
- Anyone with an interest in the Bible will be encouraged by this course.
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Instructors
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N.T Wright received his BA, MA and D.Phil. from Oxford University. He taught New Testament at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford Universities 1978-1993. He was Dean of Lichfield, then Canon of Westminster, then Bishop of Durham (Church of England), 1994-2010. Prof. Wright is Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and is currently Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University. He has published over 85 books and hundreds of articles. In 2014 Prof. Wright received the Burkitt Medal from the British Academy for services to New Testament scholarship. He enjoys music, golf the Isle of Harris, and spending time with his family in the midst of a busy schedule of writing and travelling.
- 4.8 Instructor Rating
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David Seemuth has a Ph.D. from Marquette University in the field of Religious Studies with an emphasis on New Testament Theology. He has taught at the graduate level for over 30 years at numerous universities and seminaries. He also has 21 years of on-line teaching experience. His passion is to see that people not only understand the Scripture, but also apply them to daily life.
- 4.8 Instructor Rating
- 28,876 Reviews
- 123,251 Students
- 41 Courses
Jennifer Loop is currently a doctoral student at Durham University. She is the Director of Ministry Engagement for the Wisconsin Center for Christian Studies, and plays a critical role in the online education, both organizational and theological, by guiding the online student experience. Jennifer enjoys engaging with a virtual community of diverse students and learners to explore how theology, faith and practice intersect.