John

John's Gospel stands apart from the other three, a profound theological portrait of Jesus as the eternal Word made flesh: 'In the beginning was the Word... and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us' (1:1, 14). Its purpose is stated plainly — that readers 'may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name' (20:31).

Structured around seven signs and seven 'I am' sayings — the bread of life, the light of the world, the resurrection and the life — John dwells on long discourses and intimate scenes. It is at once the simplest and the deepest of the Gospels.