These notes are designed to help readers dive deeper into the rich layers of John's Gospel by highlighting key themes, historical context, and cultural references.

I have included hyperlinks to outside resources, providing quick access to additional materials that enhance understanding.

These notes serve as my personal tool to track the many references within John, offering a guided journey through this profound text.

​Whether you're a seasoned student of the Bible or just beginning, these notes are crafted to enrich your study and inspire a deeper appreciation of the Gospel of John.

These notes are designed to help readers dive deeper into the rich layers of John's Gospel by highlighting key themes, historical context, and cultural references.

I have included hyperlinks to outside resources, providing quick access to additional materials that enhance understanding.

These notes serve as my personal tool to track the many references within John, offering a guided journey through this profound text.

​Whether you're a seasoned student of the Bible or just beginning, these notes are crafted to enrich your study and inspire a deeper appreciation of the Gospel of John.

In this lesson from the Gospel of John, we examine the theme of testimony, a central concept throughout John's writing. 

John's gospel is not merely a historical record but a testimony for his community in Ephesus and, by extension, a testimony for us today.

In our modern world, many of us are consumed with logic, reason, and apologetics to defend the existence of God.
 
Yet, the Bible doesn't call us to prove God's existence scientifically. Instead, we are called to testify. 

Like the Scriptures offer testimony to God's actions in history, we provide testimony to how God has worked in our own lives.
 
Proof speaks to the intellect, but testimony speaks to the soul.

The Gospel of John highlights this contrast: "I was blind, but now I see." This simple yet profound line isn't a logical argument—it's a testimony of transformation. 

John's gospel, more than the other three, emphasizes the importance of testimony, especially in a world that no longer regards the Bible as relevant or God as real.

When faced with a world that argues away proofs, what remains is the power of personal testimony. 

Testimony speaks to the heart in a way that intellectual arguments never will.
 
Join us as we explore this essential theme and learn how to engage a skeptical world with the simplicity and power of our own stories of transformation.

This lesson delves into the profound meaning behind Luke 22:44, where Jesus' sweat is compared to "great drops of blood." 

A common misunderstanding of this verse suggests that Jesus was literally sweating blood, but a closer look reveals something different. 

The verse vividly compares two bodily fluids—sweat and blood—not to suggest they were the same but to emphasize the intensity of Jesus' suffering and the volume of His sweat. 

But why would Luke include this striking detail in his Gospel when the other Evangelists did not?

Join us as we uncover this passage's more profound theological significance and what Luke intended this detail to mean. 

We'll dive into the first-century theological ideas surrounding the First Adam and the Last Adam and how Jesus, the Last Adam, reversed the curse of the first Adam's disobedience. 

Discover how the term "sweat," used only twice in the entire Bible—in Genesis 3 with Adam and in Luke 22:44 with Jesus—serves as an ancient idiom for anxiety. 

Jesus' triumph, in the fullness of His humanity, over anxiety at the Gethsemane signifies the breaking of humanity's curse, paving the way for redemption.

Don't miss this insightful lesson, which connects the dots between Genesis and the Gospels, shedding light on Christ's redemptive work and His ultimate obedience to God's will. 

Join us in today's lesson as we delve into the rich cultural background of Jesus' teaching in Matthew 17:20, where he declares that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.

This well-known saying gains profound significance when we explore its origins in first-century Judaism. 

In this lesson, we discover that several plants in the mustard family grow in Israel, including a variant often regarded as a "weed" with seeds no larger than pepper flakes. 

Remarkably, this plant can thrive in even the most unforgiving environments, sometimes causing stones to crack as its roots take hold.

In Rabbinic writings, the mustard seed symbolized something incredibly small, yet its ability to "move" stones became a powerful metaphor for the unexpected strength found in small things. 

Jesus harnesses this imagery to teach us that even the smallest measure of faith can unlock God's power, making the miraculous possible. 

In this lesson, we delve into the profound significance of John 1:14, a verse that stands at the heart of Christian belief. 

"The Word (Logos) became flesh (Sarx) and dwelt (tabernacled) among us." 

But what does this truly mean? How can the eternal Logos, the Word of God, take on the form of temporary flesh? 

Join us as we explore this paradox and consider what John means by using the Greek term ‘Sarx’ for flesh. What are the implications of this statement? 

Finally, we'll uncover the rich imagery of the Tabernacle from the book of Exodus, understanding how John portrays God's presence as now dwelling—'tabernacling'—among us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. 

This exploration not only deepens our understanding of scripture but also enriches our faith journey. 

Join us in this insightful study of one of Christianity's most essential truths.

Lesson Handout: 

This week's lesson delves into the fascinating concept of the "Heavenly Man," a profound aspect of the mystery of the Logos. 

The phrase “Heavenly Man” is found in the writings of Philo of Alexandria and is later used by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 15:44-49).
  
Genesis 1:26 tells us that humanity – the first Adam – is made in the image of God. Yet  God has no image. How is this possible?
 
The Jewish mystics resolve enigma through the notion of the "Heavenly Man"—a divine archetype that serves as the original template for humanity.
 
Through this lens, the Logos, or the "Word," becomes more than an abstract principle; it is intimately connected to the image we were initially created to reflect.

Join us to discover how we are called to transform into the image of this Heavenly Man, with Jesus Christ as our ultimate model. Jesus embodies the "telos," the end goal of our spiritual journey and transformation. 

This video offers a deeper understanding of how the Logos relates to our identity and purpose, encouraging us to strive towards becoming more like Christ.

Handouts from previous lessons on the Heavenly Man - Part 1 and 2

Today's lesson delves into the fascinating connection between John's use of "the Word" and the Aramaic translations of the Hebrew Bible, known as Targum.

Scholars have long interpreted the Gospel of John through a Greek philosophical lens due to its Greek composition and the term "Logos" used for Jesus. However, recent scholarship has shed light on the profoundly Jewish nature of John's Gospel, revealing a rich background tied to the Aramaic term "Memra," meaning "word."

In this lesson, titled "The Gospel of the Memra," we explore the Targum's significant role in shaping Jewish thought during the time of Jesus.

The Targum, the Aramaic translations of the Hebrew Bible, were crucial for many Jews returning from Aramaic-speaking Babylon who no longer understood Hebrew. These translations, often accompanied by interpretative additions, frequently mentioned "the Memra of the Lord" at critical moments when God interacted with creation.

We will examine what a Targum is and provide examples showing how the Targum expresses the same truths found in John's Gospel.

In first-century Judaism, the "Memra of the Lord" was understood as the agent through whom God created, revealed, and healed. This understanding allowed John to begin his Gospel with the profound declaration, "In the beginning was the Word."

Join us as we uncover the rich Jewish context behind the Gospel of John, enhancing our understanding of how first-century Jews perceived Jesus as the embodiment of the divine "Memra."

This exploration offers a deeper insight into the religious thinking within first-century Judaism and enriches our comprehension of John's profound theological message.
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Lesson Handout: 

As we continue our journey to understand the concept of the Logos from John 1:1, we turn our attention to Philo, a first-century Jewish philosopher from Alexandria, Egypt.

Alexandria was a significant city, and Philo was a distinguished scholar, philosopher, and statesman.

In his doctrine of God, Philo extensively writes about the Logos – the emanation of God's mind that extends into finite creation.

Join us today as we explore some of Philo’s writings and compare them with the Prologue of John’s Gospel.

Scholars have found many similar characteristics in both Philo’s description of the Logos and John’s Prologue, indicating that these thoughts about the Logos were well-developed and circulating throughout first-century Jewish thought.

Don't miss this enlightening lesson as we delve deeper into the historical and philosophical context of John's Gospel and its profound connection to Philo's teachings.

Lesson Handouts: 

Philo Quotes

Daniel Boyarin - Logos, A Jewish Word

Join us in this exploration of the profound connection between the Hebrew concept of "Word" (Dabar) and "Wisdom" (Chokmah) and the Greek Logos, as presented in the Gospel of John.
 
While the Gospel of John is written in Greek and uses the term Logos to describe the "Word," it is essential to understand the rich Jewish heritage that shapes John's portrayal of Jesus as the pre-existent "Word" and "Wisdom."

In this video, we delve into the Hebrew Bible, revealing how both the Word and Wisdom were present at the beginning of creation. 

The Word of God not only creates but also heals, saves, and accomplishes the divine will. Similarly, Wisdom is depicted as holding sway over the nations, bringing order to the cosmos.

Discover how John, with his Jewish background, uses the concept of Logos to bridge the infinite, transcendent God with finite creation, portraying Jesus as the divine intermediary present from the beginning. 

This video provides a deeper understanding of the biblical narrative and enriches your comprehension of how the Hebrew Bible's presentation of Word and Wisdom informs John's theological framework.

Download Class Handout - HERE

Be sure to download the brief summary of the Greek concept of Logos below: 

Lesson Handout: 

Today’s lesson explores the rich, dual-cultural context of the Gospel of John. 

Born and raised in Israel, the Apostle John later moved to Ephesus, a vibrant city in the Roman province of Asia Minor. This geographical shift profoundly influenced how John communicated his truth about Jesus and the kingdom of God. 

This lesson introduces how we can read John’s Gospel through both a Jewish and Greco-Roman cultural lens. 

The Gospel of John is a thoroughly Jewish document proclaiming Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and the sovereign King of Israel. Yet, John's narrative is not solely confined to a Jewish audience. His teachings also reached out to the communities in and around Ephesus, where the presence of various Greek deities permeated everyday life. 

In this lesson, we will examine how John communicates a Jewish message about Jesus as God’s anointed Messiah while also addressing the diverse spiritual landscape of Asia Minor, asserting Jesus' supremacy over all gods.

Our primary goal is to uncover how the Gospel was relevant to its first-century audience in Ephesus and what that means for us today. By understanding John's Gospel's original context and audience, we gain a deeper appreciation of its timeless message and its relevance in a pluralistic world.

​This session is crucial for anyone looking to enrich their understanding of the Gospel of John and its application across different cultures and eras.

Lesson Handout: 

At the heart of our faith lies an orchard, a place of deep contemplation and spiritual nourishment.

This orchard, known in Hebrew as PaRDeS—a Persian loanword meaning "walled garden" or "park"—serves as a gateway to exploring the boundless wisdom of the Bible.
 
But how do we navigate this orchard to uncover its rich fruits?

PaRDeS represents an acronym that unveils the layered depths of the Bible:

• Peshat (the simple, direct meaning),
• Remez (hints of more profound significance),
• Drash (interpretive stories and lessons), and
• Sod (the mystical, hidden messages).

Far from mere academic exercises, these layers are the methods employed by Jesus, His disciples, and the early church leaders to engage with Scripture.

On this journey through God's orchard, we'll see the Bible's beauty and wisdom and learn key principles to understand its profound teachings.

Our exploration features a remarkable example from the Gospel of John, where a Remez weaves Abraham's narrative with John's revelations about God and His one and only Son. This simple "hint" brings forward the rich meaning of the story of Abraham and Isaac into that of God the Father and Jesus.

Join us on this enlightening adventure to pick and relish the nutritious fruits of the Bible. 

Class Handout:

In today's lesson, we dive into the ancient and enduring methods used by both Judaism and Christianity to interpret the sacred texts of the Bible.

Throughout history, scholars and spiritual leaders have recognized that Scripture offers layers of meaning that can only be unlocked through diverse approaches to interpretation.

In this video, we introduce the four levels of interpretation, revealing how each layer offers unique insights into the divine messages contained within the Bible.

The tradition of examining scripture across these four levels has been a cornerstone in the spiritual teachings of both faiths, aiming to enrich the congregation's understanding of God, Christ, and the Bible. Every level is a step on the spiritual ladder, drawing us closer to the divine from the literal to the mystical.

However, the challenge of interpretation is evident. Not all scripture can or should be taken at face value, especially regarding narratives, the poetry of the Psalms, or the prophetic imagery. A literal interpretation can sometimes obscure the deeper truths that guide us in our spiritual journey. This is particularly true for parables, which are not mere stories but profound lessons wrapped in fiction designed to reveal hidden truths about God's kingdom.

At the heart of our exploration today is the mystical or anagogical level of interpretation, derived from the Greek word 'Anagoge,' meaning to ascend or climb. This level invites us to engage with scripture on a spiritual plane, where our soul strives for a mystical union with our divine Bridegroom.

Join us as we explore the significance of reading Biblical stories through each of these levels, understanding that it's not just about intellectual knowledge but about allowing our spirits to be drawn ever closer to God.

This lesson is not just an academic exercise; it's a spiritual journey aimed at deepening our connection with the divine through the sacred texts of Judaism and Christianity.
​
Whether you're seeking to deepen your understanding of scripture or looking for ways to enhance your spiritual practice, this video will offer valuable insights into the multifaceted ways of engaging with the Bible. 

Lesson Handout: 

​In the Gospel of John, scholars identify a foundational literary structure known as the "Mystical Way" or the "Mystical Path." 

This path represents the journey toward the ultimate desire of mystics—the profound union with God. 

John's approach to guiding believers towards this union is subtly integrated into his gospel, utilizing selective narratives rather than explicit declarations. 

For John, achieving union with God involves an enlightening process that bestows "New Life" upon the faithful. 

Followers of Jesus within John's community are encouraged to embark on this path, which promises a gradual but continuous drawing closer to God as the true essence of reality unfolds before them.

Class Handout: