A structure of the Gospel according to John

It is not easy to find structure in it. Someone like R.E. Brown (The Gospel According to John. New York: Doubleday (Anchor Bible, 29), 1966-1970, 2 v.) divides the gospel thus: Prologue (1:1-18), the book of signs (1:19 - 12:50), the book of glory (13:1 - 20:31) which includes the last supper, the passion narrative, the risen Lord which ends with a conclusion (20:30-31), and an epilogue (21:1-25: the miraculous catch). For his part, Boismard (M. E. Boismard, A. Lamouille, Synopse des quatre évangiles, T. III - L'évangile de Jean: Paris, Cerf, 1977, p. 80) proposes a division into eight units (1, 19 - 20, 1-31), preceded by the Prologue and ending with a conclusion (21: 1-14). We propose an integration of these two structures.

Prologue: 1: 1-18

Book of the signs of Jesus (1: 19 - 12: 50) "What sign are you showing us for doing this?"

  1. The Openiing Days of the Revelation of Jesus (1: 19-51)

    • The Testimony of John the Baptist - Concerning His Role (1: 19-28)
    • The Testimony of John the Baptist - Concerning Jesus (1: 29-34)
    • The Baptist's Disciples come to Jesus - The First Two Disciples and Simon Peter (1: 35-42)
    • The Baptist's Disciples come to Jesus - Philip and Nathanael (1: 43-51)

  2. From Cana To Cana (2: 1 - 4: 54)

    • Sign 1 : Changing of Water to Wine (2: 1-11)
    • Jesus Goes to Capernaum (2: 12)
    • The Cleansing of the Temple of Jerusalem (2: 13-22)
    • Reaction to Jesus in Jerusalem (2: 23-25)
    • Discourse with Nicodemus in Jerusalem (3: 1-21)
    • The Baptist's final Witness (3: 22-30)
    • The Discourse Concludd (3: 31-36)
    • Jesus leaves Judea (4: 1-3)
    • Discourse with the Samaritain Woman at Jacob's Well (4: 4-42)
    • Sign 2 : Healing the Official's Son (4: 46-54)

  3. Jesus and the Principal Feasts of the Jews

    1. Jesus on the Sabbath
      • Sign 3 : The Healing at Bethesda (5: 1-15)
      • Discourse of His Sabbath Work (5: 16-30)
      • Discourse of His Sabbath Work (continued) (5: 31-47)
    2. Jesus at Passover
      • Sign 4 : The Multiplication of the Loaves (6: 1-15)
      • Walking on the Sea of Galilee (6: 16-21)
      • The Crowd Comes to Jesus (6: 22-24)
      • Preface to the Discourse on the Bread of Life (6: 25-34)
      • Discourse on the Bread of Life (6: 35-50)
      • Discourse on the Bread of Life (continued) (6: 51-59)
      • Reactions to Discourse on the Bread of Life (6: 60-71)
    3. Jesus at Tabernacles
      • Introduction: Will Jesus go to the feast? (7: 1-13)
      • Scene 1: in the middle of the feast, in the temple "My teaching does not come from me..." (7: 14-36)
      • Scene 2: end of the feast "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me..." (7: 37-52)
      • [interpolation] The story of the adulterous woman (7: 53 - 8: 11)
      • Scene 3: various speeches "I am the light of the world...". (8: 12-20)
      • Scene 3 (continued): various speeches "Where I go, you cannot come..." (8: 21-30)
      • Scene 3 (concluded): various speeches "If you remain in my word, you are truly my disciples..." (8: 31-59)
      • Sign 5 The Healing of a Blind Man (9: 1-41)
      • Jesus as Sheepgate and Shepherd (10: 1-11)
    4. Jesus at Dedication
      • Jesus as Messiah and Son of God (10: 22-39)
    5. Apparent Conclusion to the Public Ministry "What John the Baptist said about this man is true..." (10: 40-42)

  4. Jesus Moves Toward the Hour of Death and Glory (11: 1 - 12: 36)

    • Sign 6 Jesus Gives Men Life - The Story of Lazarus (11: 1-44)
    • Men Condemn Jesus to Death - The Sanhedrin (11: 45-54)
    • Will Come Jesus to Jerusalem for Passover? (11: 55-57)
    • Scenes Preparatory to Passover and Death - The Anointing at Bethany (12: 1-8)
    • Scenes Preparatory to Passover and Death - The Entry into Jerusalem (12: 9-19)
    • Scenes Preparatory to Passover and Death - The Coming of the Hour (12: 20-36)

  5. Conclusion to the Book of Signs (12: 37-50)

    • An Evaluation of Jesus' Ministry to His Own People (12: 37-43)
    • An Unattached Discourse of Jesus Used as a Summary Proclamation (12: 44-50)

The Book of Glory "Before Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come..."

  1. The Last Supper (13: 1 - 17: 26)

    1. The Meal (13: 1-30)
      • The Footwashing (13: 1-20)
      • Prediction of the Betrayal (13: 21-30)
    2. The Last discourse (13: 31 - 17: 20-26)
      • Division 1, Introduction (13: 31-38)
      • Division 1, Unit 1 (14: 1-14)
      • Division 1, Unit 2 (14: 15-24)
      • Division 1, Unit 3 (14: 25-31)
      • Division 1, Subdivision 1 (15: 1-17)
      • Division 2, Subdivision 2 (15: 18 - 16: 4a)
      • Division 2, Subdivision 3, Unit 1 (16: 4b-15)
      • Division 2, Subdivision 3, Unit 2 (16: 16-33)
      • Division 3, Unit 1 (17: 1-8)
      • Division 3, Unit 2 (17: 9-19)
      • Division 3, Unit 3 (17: 20-26)

  2. The Passion narrative (18: 1 - 19: 42)

    • Division 1, Unit 1 - The Arrest of Jesus (18: 1-12)
    • Division 1, Unit 2 - The Interrogation of Jesus (18: 13-27)
    • Division 2, Episodes 1-3 - The Trial of Jesus Before Pilate (18: 28-40)
    • Division 2, Episodes 4-7 - The Trial of Jesus Before (continued) (19: 1-16a)
    • Division 3, Introduction, Episodes 1-4 - The Execution of Jesus on the Cross (19: 16b-30)
    • Division 3, Episode 5, Conclusion - The Removal and Burial of Jesus' Body (19: 41-42)

  3. The Risen Jesus or Sign 7 (20: 1-29)

    • Scene 1 - At the Tomb (20: 1-18)
    • Scene 2 - Where the Disciples Are Gathered (20: 19-29)

  4. Conclusion to the Book of Glory
    • A Statement of the Author's Purpose (20: 30-31)

The Epilogue (21: 1- 25)

  • The Risen Jesus Appears to the Disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (21: 1-14)
  • The Risen Jesus Speaks to Peter (21: 15-23)
  • The (Second) Conclusion (21: 24-25)