Frequency of Life in Gospel of John
The concept of "life" is a central theme in the Gospel of John. The evangelist introduces this theme in the opening verses, stating that "in [Jesus] was life, and that life was the light of men" (John 1:4) [1]. This life is not just physical existence but a spiritual reality that emanates from Jesus.
John's Gospel presents Jesus as the source of eternal life. According to Calvin, Jesus declared that his flesh is "meat indeed, and that his blood is drink indeed" because believers are reared to eternal life through this spiritual nourishment [2]. The purpose of John's Gospel, as stated by the evangelist himself, is "that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:31) [3].
The frequency of the concept of "life" in John's Gospel is evident in various passages. Jesus is portrayed as having life in himself (John 5:26; 6:57), and he gives this life to believers (John 10:10; 17:2-3). The evangelist emphasizes that Jesus' mission is to bring life to humanity, and this life is a gift that comes through faith in him.
The early Christian tradition, as represented by Augustine, understood Jesus' statement about the hour "when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God" (John 5:25) to refer to both a spiritual resurrection in the present and a future bodily resurrection [4]. This interpretation highlights the multifaceted nature of "life" in John's Gospel, encompassing both present spiritual reality and future eschatological hope.
The Reformed tradition, as seen in Calvin's commentary, emphasizes the connection between Jesus as the source of life and the believer's union with him. Calvin notes that Jesus' flesh is "life-giving" because it is united to his divine nature [2]. This understanding underscores the christological basis of the concept of life in John's Gospel.
The theme of life in John's Gospel is thus deeply intertwined with its Christology and soteriology. Jesus is presented as the embodiment of life, and faith in him is the means by which believers receive this life. The frequency of this theme throughout the Gospel underscores its significance for John's theological vision.
Sources
- John “John 1:4 (Geneva1599) — In it was life, and that life was the light of men.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 99: “And the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” ( John 6:48 , 51 ). By these words he declares, not only that he is life, inasmuch as he is the eternal Word of God who came down to us from heaven, but, by coming down, gave vigour to the flesh which he assumed, that a communication of life to us might thence emanate. Hence, too, he adds, that his flesh is meat indeed, and that his blood is drink indeed: by this food believers are reared to eternal life. The pious, therefore, have admirable c”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 20:31: That ye might believe - What is here recorded is to give a full proof of the Divinity of Christ; that he is the promised Messiah; that he really suffered and rose again from the dead; and that through him every believer might have eternal life. Life - Several MSS., versions, and fathers read eternal life, and this is undoubtedly the meaning of the word, whether the various reading be admitted or not. Grotius has conjectured that the Gospel, as written by St. John, ended with this chapter, and that the following chapter was added by the Church of Ephesus. This conject”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — ON THE WORDS OF THE GOSPEL, JOHN V. 25, (part 8): life; whoso riseth not again in soul, riseth again in body unto punishment. Seeing then that the Lord hath impressed upon us this resurrection of souls, unto which we ought all to hasten, and to labour that we may live therein, and living persevere even unto the end, it remained for Him to impress upon us the resurrection of bodies also, which is to be at the end of the world. Now hear bow He hath impressed this too. 9. When He had said, "Verily I say unto you, The hour shall come, and now is, ”