John, Gospel of

The Gospel of John, the fourth canonical Gospel, differs markedly in structure and emphasis from the Synoptics, beginning with a prologue identifying Jesus as the eternal Logos who was with God in the beginning and through whom all things were made. The Gospel is organized around seven signs — miraculous works that reveal Jesus's glory — and seven great "I am" discourses that identify Jesus with the divine name. Its stated purpose is that readers might believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through believing they might have life in his name.

Traditionally attributed to the apostle John, son of Zebedee, and composed toward the end of the first century, the Gospel's theological depth and Christological precision have made it foundational for the church's understanding of the incarnation and eternal life.