BIBL 323 John

An analytical and exegetical study of the Gospel of John with special emphasis on John’s Christology that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

The fourth Gospel focuses on Jesus’ Judean ministry, contains no narrative parables, and focuses primarily on events not recorded in the Synoptics. Beyond this, no other Gospel so greatly develops a biblical theology of the church and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, an understanding of the fourth Gospel is essential for all seeking a practical understanding of the life and teachings of the historical Jesus.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each thread must be at least 200 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. Each thread must be supported with at least 3 scholarly citations in Turabian format. The student must support his/her thread by citing Scripture texts, textbook readings, and a scholarly source not used in this course.

In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to at least 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 150 words, expand on the classmate’s thread, and add valuable input to the discussion. Each reply must incorporate at least 1 scholarly citation in Turabian
format. Acceptable sources include the textbooks, Bible commentaries, journal articles, and the
Bible. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E)

Prologue Theme Map Assignment

Using the Prologue Theme Map Template, the student will trace out 6 key themes from John 1:1-18. For each theme, the student will complete 5 sections, including the theme’s description, Old Testament roots, development in John, connection to Jesus, and application for believers. The student must reference course readings, Bible tools, and other resources to find relevant Scriptures and references to these themes. (CLO: C)

Jesus and His Signs Assignment

The student will choose 1 of the 7 signs and create a PowerPoint or Canva presentation explaining their biblical context, how they demonstrate Jesus’ deity, the response of those who witnessed them, and modern applications for believers today. The presentation must consist of a title slide followed by 5–10 content slides. (CLO: E)

Personal Conversations Assignment

Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus has personal conversations that transform lives. These moments reveal spiritual needs, confront misconceptions, and show how Jesus communicates truth with grace. In this 3-step analysis, the student will explore key personal conversations with Jesus, reflect on Jesus’ engagement, and evaluate a modernization of these conversations with the help of AI. (CLO: E)

Bible Study Lesson Assignments (2)

John’s Gospel is often used to introduce people to Jesus because of its evangelistic purpose, theological richness, and accessible portrayal of Jesus’ encounters with people. In this two-part assignment, the student will create a four-part Bible study drawn with each lesson drawing from a Sign, an “I AM” statement, a personal conversation with Jesus, and a passage from either Jesus’ crucifixion or resurrection. The purpose of this study is to help the student understand how John reveals Jesus’ identity and mission and to equip the student to teach these truths clearly to a specific group of people in his/her life. (CLO: C, D, E)