The Plan of the Fourth Gospel Part II -- By: W. H. Griffith Thomas

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 125:500 (Oct 1968)
Article: The Plan of the Fourth Gospel Part II
Author: W. H. Griffith Thomas


The Plan of the Fourth Gospel
Part II

W. H. Griffith Thomas

The Plan of the Gospel Introduced

We must now look more closely at the Gospel of John in order to see how its purpose is fulfilled and its object realized. We have seen that its purpose is to elicit faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God, and, through faith thus elicited, to lead to the possession of spiritual life in union with Him. This purpose thus definitely stated is as definitely carried out from beginning to end by means of a clear and precise plan. The plan, stated briefly, is the presentation of the Person and work of Jesus in those aspects of His revelation which drew forth men’s faith in Him, and which would continue to do the same in proportion as the record was earnestly read and pondered.

Comprehensive picture of life, teaching, and works of Jesus. There is a plain, clear, and comprehensive picture of the life, teaching, and works of Jesus as carrying with it and in it a personal and practical gospel for man. The materials are always historical. Not by presentation of an argument, or the statement of a philosophy, or by means of abstract theology, but in the form of a record of a life, Jesus is brought before the readers. The marks of time are carefully preserved (2:12; 4:43; 5:1; 6:1; 7:1; 10:22; 12:1; 13:1), and the record of our Lord’s earthly manifestation is clearly given. And yet these materials are selected for and strictly adapted to the one purpose of showing the way in which Jesus revealed Himself to men and the way in which correspondingly He was received by them. In every chapter and in every section we have the record of some contact of Jesus with individuals, and the result of that contact is their faith in Him. Starting from chapter 1, where we have the faith of the first disciples, we note the growing, deepening impression until the culmination

is seen in the faith of the Apostle John (20:8), the faith of the Apostle Thomas (20:28), and the encomium on those who have not seen and yet believed (20:29).

Two sides in contrast. And yet this represents only half of the plan of the Gospel. Side by side with the developing...

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