THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS, THE CHRIST AND THE SON OF GOD, ACCORDING TO JOHN. Manfred Diefenbach
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Conclusion
4.1 The Evangelist – Who is “John” respectively the so-called “Beloved Disciple”?
4.2 Time Line – When was the Fourth Canonical Gospel Written?
4.3 The Audience/Receiver of John’s Gospel – Where and for Whom Did the Fourth Evangelist Write his Gospel?
5. Bibliography
5.1 Edition Translation, Concordance, Linguistic Works of Reference, Dictionary
5.2 Short-List of Commentaries
5.3 Biblical Dictionaries
5.4 Introduction
5.5 “Documents” of the Catholic Church and other Churches
5.6 Exegetical Literature
6. Appendix/Graphics
6.1 The Christian Bible
6.2 Three Stages in the Formation of the Gospels
6.3 The Babylonian and Jewish View of the World
6.4 The Structure/Conception of the Gospels – “Who (do you say) I am”?
6.5 Jesus’ Actions in Word and Deed according to John
6.6 Timetable of the Last Days of Jesus in Jerusalem
6.7 Last Days of Jesus of Nazareth in Jerusalem about 30 A.D.
6.7.1 The View of the Four Canonical Gospels
6.7.2 The View of the Fourth Gospel
6.8 Stations of the Cross
6.9 Personal Information about Jesus of Nazareth
6.10 Places of John’s Gospel
6.11 The Apostles’ Creed and some Biblical References
6.12 Liturgical Aspect of Scripture Reading
6.12.1 The Gospel of John during the Liturgical Years of the Roman Catholic Church
6.12.2 The Gospel of John during the Liturgical Years of the Anglican Church
6.12.3 The Gospel of John in the Daily Scripture Readings during the Liturgical Year of the Greek Orthodox Church
6.12.4 The Gospel of John in tqhe Daily Scripture Readings of the Coptic Orthodox Church
6.12.5 The Gospel of John in the Cycle of Reading for Sunday and Feast Day in the so-called “Perikopenordnung” of the EKD/Evangelical Church in Germany
6.13 Spiritual Aspect of Scripture Reading – “Lectio Divina”
6.13.1 “Lectio Divina” in Five Steps
6.13.2 Suggestion for Scripture Reading for Preaching/Teaching
6.14 Lexicon of Terms
Foreword
In the years 2013 and 2014, I published three commentaries on Matthew, Mark and Luke for the liturgical years A, B, C with epubli in Berlin. Now I have written my fourth commentary for you and for your liturgical, catechetical and spiritual service – the commentary on the Fourth Gospel (according to “John”) which is used during the Liturgical Years (A, B, C) of the Roman Catholic Church (cf. 6.12.1 and during the Liturgical Years (A, B, C) of the Anglican Church (cf. 6.12.2) and by the other Churches (cf. 6.12.3–6.12.6), and I hope it will be useful and helpful to you. My hope is that I have grasped John’s spirit and that this spirit can inspire us as His followers/disciples here and now.
All my commentaries are intended to provide a better, deeper and more profound understanding of biblical teachings and to help preach and teach the Good News more convincingly in word and deed, always and everywhere. Therefore it is necessary to prepare ourselves in five steps of the “Lectio Divina” according to Pope Benedict XVI1 (Verbum Domini, Rome 2010, no. 87): to read (lectio) the “Word of God”, meditate/reflect on it (mediatio), pray with it (oratio) and internalize it (contemplatio), as well as live the biblical message (actio). The aim of these more synchronic commentaries is to improve the biblical, historical, linguistical, rhetorical and etymological background of the ancient biblical texts and to help the understanding of the theological, spiritual “Word of God” today. Whether you are a priest, a deacon, a catechist, a lay minister or a seminarian, this work will have achieved its goal if it succeeds in complementing and helping you in your preaching and/or in your teaching. This e-book/these e-books can be the basis for your self-study and ongoing formation programme.
I especially want to thank the German Catholic institution missio Aachen for their “sponsoring” of my project in the context of the evangelization with my commentaries on the Gospels (Luke, Matthew and John) to bring the Good News to the people.
I would like to thank Bishop Dr Paul Hinder, OFM Cap as the initiator of this project and also Mrs Alison Müller (text) and Mrs Gisela Schardt (bibliography and appendix) for their proof-reading and their suggestions for this work.
Limburg/Germany, on 29th June 2015, Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul
Dr Manfred Diefenbach
Introduction
All Christians – both clergy and laymen – are called to be witnesses of the “Word of God” (cf. Luke 1:2) and faith. We are “ministers” of the Word of God. We should be teachers of the faith in order to open hearts to conversion, so that those whom we teach may hear and receive the “Word of God”. Let us keep in mind that we are first, receivers of the Word, and then disciples and “servants”/“co-workers” of Jesus Christ in preaching and/or teaching the message of the Good News. To be a minister of the Word of God and of His Love is to receive first, and then to “hand on” (the meaning of the Latin word “traditio”) what has been received. The truth that saves our life kindles the heart of the receiver with a neighbourly love that should motivate us to communicate our experience of faith to others.
Jesus was a teacher, preacher, catechist, biblical scholar and a storyteller. He talked about, and explained in parables, “the Kingdom of Heaven”, taking into account people’s different kinds of backgrounds and understandings. In His preaching, Jesus used parables like the parable of the sower (cf. Mark 4:3–8/Matthew 13:4–8/Luke 8:5–8) who sowed seeds in various soils. Through His interpretation (cf. Mark 4:13–20/Matthew 13:18–23/Luke 8:11–15) Jesus helped His disciples to understand, receive, believe, accept and live this parable. We, the faithful who want to spread and share the “Word of God”, must be sowers who preach and teach His Word as the message of God and His Kingdom, now, as it was then. The seed is the Word of God, His message. With His help, the Good News of God will fall on good soil, in the heart of men (cf. Matthew 13:19). In the same way, the seed that has fallen into the hearts of the disciples of Jesus – now as it was then – is fruitful, ranging up to 100 per cent depending on their disposition.
The Word of God must appear in its entire splendour, even if it is “expressed in human language” (Dei Verbum 13), that is the task of all preachers in the Church and teachers and catechists in schools. May we be guided in our preaching and teaching by Jesus Christ who opened the minds of the disciples of Emmaus (cf. Luke 24:27) and the other disciples (cf. v. 45) to the understanding of the scriptures, making their hearts burn within them (cf. v. 32) with the desire to glorify God.
- THE THREE STAGES IN THE FORMATION OF THE INSPIRED GOSPELS2
The Gospels tell us about the life of Jesus of Nazareth, who was born in Bethlehem, the town of King David in 7 or 6 B.C. (cf. Matthew 1:18–2:18; Luke 2:1–20) He healed the sick and taught people about God as “Abba, Father” (Mark 14:36). God (cf. 1:11; 9:7) proclaimed Him: the “Christ” (cf. John 1:17, 41; 4:25–26; 7:26–27, 31, 41–42; 10:24–30; 11:27; 17:3; 20:31), the “Son of God” (cf. 1:34, 49; 3:18; 5:25; 10:36; 11:4, 27; 20:31).
After His Death and