Outline of John: Believe and live
The eternal Word became flesh; His signs and His hour of glory show He is the Christ, the Son of God, that believers may have life in His name.
Part 1 · Prologue: the Word made flesh 1:1–18
The eternal Word, who was with God and was God, made all things, came to His own, and became flesh to make the unseen Father known.
- 1John 1: The Word became flesh
The eternal Word, who is God, became flesh; John points to Him as the Lamb of God, and the first disciples follow.
In the beginning was the Word 1:1–5 · A man sent from God 1:6–8 · To all who did receive Him 1:9–13 · The Word became flesh 1:14–18 · Who are you? 1:19–28 · Look, the Lamb of God 1:29–34 · Come and see 1:35–42 · Follow Me 1:43–51
Part 2 · The book of signs 1:19–12:50
Jesus shows His glory to Israel in signs, sayings and feasts; some believe, but His own people as a whole do not receive Him.
Witnesses to Jesus 1:19–51
John points to the Lamb of God, and the first disciples find the Messiah, the Son of God and King of Israel.
From Cana to Cana 2:1–4:54
From the first sign to the second, Jesus brings what temple, purifying and holy mountains pointed to: new wine, new birth, living water.
- 2John 2: The first sign and the Father's house
At Cana Jesus turns water into wine, revealing His glory; at Passover He cleanses the temple and speaks of His body.
The water turned into wine 2:1–11 · Down to Capernaum 2:12 · My Father's house 2:13–17 · Destroy this temple 2:18–22 · He knew what was in a man 2:23–25
- 3John 3: You must be born again
Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be born of the Spirit; God gave His Son so that whoever believes has eternal life.
Born again 3:1–8 · Just as Moses lifted up the snake 3:9–15 · God so loved the world 3:16–21 · He must increase 3:22–30 · The One who comes from above 3:31–36
- 4John 4: Living water and the Savior of the world
Jesus offers living water to a Samaritan woman, many Samaritans believe, and His word heals a royal official's son.
He had to pass through Samaria 4:1–6 · Living water 4:7–15 · In spirit and in truth 4:16–26 · Ripe for harvest 4:27–38 · The Savior of the world 4:39–42 · A prophet in his own hometown 4:43–45 · Your son will live 4:46–54
At the feasts of the Jews 5:1–10:42
At a Sabbath, Passover, Tabernacles and Dedication, Jesus claims the Father's works and gives bread, water and light; opposition hardens.
- 5John 5: The Son who gives life
Jesus heals a lame man on the Sabbath and claims the Father's works: to give life, to judge, and to be honored.
Get up, pick up your mat, and walk 5:1–9 · Making Himself equal with God 5:10–18 · The Son gives life to whom He wishes 5:19–30 · The very words that testify about Me 5:31–47
- 6John 6: The bread of life
Jesus feeds five thousand and declares Himself the true bread from heaven; many leave, but the Twelve stay.
Five barley loaves and two small fish 6:1–15 · It is I; do not be afraid 6:16–21 · The true bread from heaven 6:22–34 · I am the bread of life 6:35–40 · Unless the Father draws him 6:41–51 · My flesh is real food 6:52–59 · They are spirit and they are life 6:60–65 · To whom would we go? 6:66–71
- 7John 7: If anyone is thirsty
At Tabernacles Jesus teaches in the temple amid division and promises the Spirit as streams of living water.
My time has not yet come 7:1–9 · Not publicly, but in secret 7:10–13 · Start judging justly 7:14–24 · Is this the Christ? 7:25–36 · Streams of living water 7:37–39 · Division in the crowd 7:40–44 · Never has anyone spoken like this man 7:45–52 · Each went to his own home 7:53
- 8John 8: Before Abraham was born, I am
Jesus declares Himself the light of the world and, before Abraham was born, the I AM; His hearers pick up stones.
Go and sin no more 8:1–11 · I am the light of the world 8:12–20 · You will die in your sins 8:21–30 · The truth will set you free 8:31–47 · Before Abraham was born, I am 8:48–59
- 9John 9: I was blind, but now I see
Jesus gives sight to a man born blind, who comes to faith, while the Pharisees who claim sight stay blind.
That the works of God would be displayed 9:1–5 · Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam 9:6–7 · The man they call Jesus 9:8–12 · He is a prophet 9:13–17 · He is old enough. Ask him 9:18–23 · One thing I do know 9:24–34 · Lord, I believe 9:35–38 · Your guilt remains 9:39–41
- 10John 10: The good shepherd
Jesus is the door and the good shepherd who gives His life for the sheep and keeps them; He and the Father are one.
He calls his own sheep by name 10:1–6 · I am the gate 10:7–10 · I am the good shepherd 10:11–18 · A division again 10:19–21 · My sheep listen to My voice 10:22–30 · The scripture cannot be broken 10:31–39 · Beyond Jordan 10:40–42
Lazarus and the coming hour 11:1–12:50
Raising Lazarus, Jesus is marked for death; anointed and hailed as King, He announces His hour, and Israel's unbelief is sealed.
- 11John 11: I am the resurrection and the life
Jesus raises Lazarus four days dead, showing He is the resurrection and the life; the council plots His death.
This sickness will not end in death 11:1–6 · Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep 11:7–16 · I am the resurrection and the life 11:17–27 · Jesus wept 11:28–37 · Lazarus, come out 11:38–44 · One man should die for the people 11:45–53 · A city called Ephraim 11:54–57
- 12John 12: The hour has come
Anointed for burial and hailed as King, Jesus says His hour has come: like a grain of wheat He must die and bear fruit.
In preparation for My burial 12:1–8 · Plans to kill Lazarus 12:9–11 · Your King is coming 12:12–19 · Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground 12:20–26 · When I am lifted up 12:27–36 · Who has believed our message? 12:37–43 · I have come into the world as a light 12:44–50
Part 3 · The book of glory: the hour 13:1–20:31
In the hour of His glory Jesus loves His own to the end, prays for them, dies as the Lamb and King, and rises on the first day.
The upper room 13:1–17:26
He washes their feet, promises the Advocate, calls them to remain in Him and love, and prays for all the Father gave Him.
- 13John 13: He loved them to the end
Jesus washes His disciples' feet, sends out the betrayer, and gives the new commandment to love one another.
Unless I wash you 13:1–11 · I have set you an example 13:12–20 · One of you will betray Me 13:21–30 · A new commandment 13:31–35 · You will follow later 13:36–38
- 14John 14: I am the way and the truth and the life
Jesus comforts His disciples: He is the way to the Father, goes to prepare a place, and will send the Advocate.
In My Father’s house are many rooms 14:1–4 · I am the way 14:5–7 · Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father 14:8–14 · Another Advocate 14:15–24 · Peace I leave with you 14:25–31
- 15John 15: I am the true vine
Jesus is the true vine: abide in Him and bear fruit, love one another, and bear witness though the world hates you.
Remain in Me 15:1–8 · You are My friends 15:9–17 · It hated Me first 15:18–25 · He will testify about Me 15:26–27
- 16John 16: It is for your benefit that I am going away
Jesus warns of persecution and promises the Spirit, who will guide them into all truth; He has overcome the world.
They will put you out of the synagogues 16:1–4 · He will guide you into all truth 16:5–15 · Your grief will turn to joy 16:16–24 · I have overcome the world 16:25–33
- 17John 17: Father, the hour has come
Jesus prays for His glory, for the disciples given Him to be kept and sanctified, and for all who will believe.
Glorify Your Son 17:1–5 · Those You have given Me 17:6–12 · Sanctify them by the truth 17:13–19 · That all of them may be one 17:20–26
Arrest, trial and cross 18:1–19:42
The I AM gives Himself up, is condemned as King of the Jews, finishes His work on the cross, and is buried.
- 18John 18: My kingdom is not of this world
Jesus gives Himself up, Peter denies Him, and before Pilate He says His kingdom is not of this world.
I am He 18:1–9 · Put your sword back in its sheath 18:10–11 · Led away to Annas first 18:12–14 · I am not 18:15–18 · I have spoken openly to the world 18:19–24 · Immediately a rooster crowed 18:25–27 · To avoid being defiled 18:28–32 · My kingdom is not of this world 18:33–38 · Not this man, but Barabbas 18:39–40
- 19John 19: It is finished
Pilate hands over the King of the Jews; Jesus is crucified, finishes His work, and is buried in a new tomb.
Hail, King of the Jews 19:1–3 · Here is the man! 19:4–7 · Power from above 19:8–11 · Here is your King! 19:12–16 · The King of the Jews 19:17–22 · They divided My garments 19:23–24 · Here is your mother 19:25–27 · It is finished 19:28–30 · Him whom they pierced 19:31–37 · A new tomb 19:38–42
The first day 20:1–31
He rises, sends His disciples with the Spirit, is confessed Lord and God, and John states why he wrote.
- 20John 20: My Lord and my God
On the first day Jesus rises, sends His disciples with the Spirit, and Thomas confesses Him Lord and God.
He saw, and believed 20:1–10 · I have seen the Lord 20:11–18 · As the Father has sent Me 20:19–23 · My Lord and my God 20:24–29 · So that you may believe 20:30–31
Part 4 · Epilogue: by the sea 21:1–25
The risen Lord gives a great catch, restores Peter to feed His sheep, and the beloved disciple's witness is affirmed as true.
- 21John 21: Do you love Me? Feed my sheep
By the sea the risen Jesus gives a great catch, restores Peter to feed His sheep, and John's witness is affirmed.
It is the Lord 21:1–14 · Feed my sheep 21:15–17 · Follow me 21:18–19 · What is that to you? 21:20–23 · His testimony is true 21:24–25
Plus What TheoMaps holds for the outline of John
- The 130 section notes, one for every section of John
- How each of its 7 movements leads into the next, in its own words
- The shape of John: 7 repeated words and phrases and 7 literary patterns
TheoMaps Plus opens the Outline of every book the way Genesis is open, on the map.