Gospel of John

PDF File: http://sites.google.com/site/johnandjudygrasham/Home/GospelofJohn.pdf?attredirects=0

Written by whom?
Almost certainly the Apostle John, though the writer never identifies himself. We know the writer was Jewish (he knows all the Jewish customs and the layout of Jerusalem prior to it’s destruction), he was a disciple, a member of Jesus’ inner circle, was present at the last supper and was entrusted to care for Christ’s mother Mary - and was not Peter. Every early Christian writer says it was written by John the Disciple.

Written when and where?
85-90 AD – when John was very old but still active - the last of the original twelve still alive.

Written to whom?
To Non-Jewish (Gentile) Christians

What form?
A narrative about certain extremely significant times with Jesus – but not meant to be a complete biography. It is a very structured book designed to engender belief in the reader. Seven miracles are listed specifically to illustrate attributes of Christ. Seven “I Am” statements are listed to illustrate that Jesus is God.

What’s it about?
Belief in Jesus who was the Son of God - the “Word”

Written for what purpose?
“These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (20:31)

1st and 2nd Timothy

PDF File:
http://sites.google.com/site/johnandjudygrasham/Home/TimothyI,II-2007.pdf?attredirects=0

1.Written by whom?

The Apostle Paul. Early tradition says so as well as the letteritself in verse one of chapter one

2.Written when and where?

Probably between 63-65 AD, before his final imprisonment in Rome

3.Written to whom?

To his protégé, a young pastor named Timothy who Paul had left in charge of the church in Ephesus.

4.What form?

A letter to a friend and student.

5.What’s it about?

Encouragement for Timothy, giving him advice on how to care for the Ephesian church.

6.Written for what purpose?

To spur Timothy on to develop his abilities, to fight against false teachings, to give advice on how to appoint qualified church leaders. Timothy had a big problem in his church –there were competing philosophies creeping into his church -a three-way combination heresy that was equal parts of:
Gnosticism: Spirit = Good, Matter = Evil, Christ was a spirit (not human). Escape from the body (evil) is what saves, not Christ. Since the body is bad, immoral behavior doesn’t make it any worse
Decadent Judaism: ignorant teaching of Jewish laws, mythology, genealogies
Asceticism: the body is bad and must be neglected or mistreated to elevate the spirit