HOW TO READ JOHN’S GOSPEL

A Summary of the Lennox Method

INTRODUCTION

The Bible is not a collection of isolated verses. It is a unified library of books, each with its own message, structure, and intent. To understand Scripture deeply, we must learn to read books as books—not as scattered fragments.

The Gospel of John exemplifies this principle perfectly. When read as a complete literary work, with attention to its markers and purpose, John’s Gospel reveals a sophisticated theological argument about who Jesus is and why belief in Him brings eternal life.

This guide presents a practical method for reading biblical books carefully and faithfully, using John’s Gospel as the primary example.

PART ONE: FOUNDATION

The Problem with Fragmented Bible Reading

Most people encounter Scripture in fragments:

A verse read at church
A passage quoted in a debate
A devotional selection
An isolated word study

This fragmentation costs us. We lose the author’s argument. We miss how individual stories build on each other. We fail to see the unity of design.

Imagine reading a novel by selecting random paragraphs. You’d never grasp the plot or character development. Similarly, reading Scripture in isolation obscures the full message.

The Bible as a Library of Different Books

Understanding Scripture begins with recognizing what it is: a library of different kinds of books.

The Bible contains:

History: Narrative accounts of real events (Genesis, Exodus, Kings)
Law: Legal codes and regulations (Leviticus, Deuteronomy)
Poetry: Emotional and aesthetic expression (Psalms, Song of Songs)
Prophecy: God’s word for specific situations and future events (Isaiah, Jeremiah)
Wisdom: Reflection on life and truth (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes)
Gospel: Historical biography with theological interpretation (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
Epistle: Letters to specific churches (Romans, 1 Corinthians, 1 Peter)
Apocalyptic: Symbolic visions of cosmic reality (Revelation, parts of Daniel)

Each genre has its own logic, conventions, and expectations. Reading poetry as law creates confusion. Interpreting prophecy as science produces frustration. Understanding the genre is the first step toward understanding the message.

PART TWO: THE METHOD

Overview: Five Steps to Reading a Book Well

The Lennox method for reading biblical books involves five sequential steps:

Read the entire book multiple times
Identify the author’s structural markers
Determine the author’s stated purpose
Map the major movements and sections
Study individual passages in their context

Each step builds on the previous one. Don’t skip ahead. The foundation supports everything that follows.

STEP 1: MULTIPLE READINGS

Why Read the Whole Book First?

Begin by reading the entire book without stopping to analyze. Then read it again. If possible, read it a third time.

What this accomplishes:

Creates familiarity with the narrative flow
Allows repeated themes to surface naturally
Shows where the text pauses and where it accelerates
Builds intuition about the author’s emphasis
Reveals the “shape” of the argument

Practical tip: Read aloud. This engages different cognitive pathways. You’ll notice where sentences flow together, where pauses occur, where language shifts. These physical markers signal the author’s structure.

What to Notice (Without Taking Notes Yet)

On your first reading, simply notice:

Where is the energy? Where does the text linger?
What is repeated? What themes recur?
Where are the major turning points?
How does the tone change?
Which characters or ideas dominate?

You’re absorbing, not analyzing. Let the book’s internal logic become visible through familiarity.

STEP 2: IDENTIFY THE AUTHOR’S MARKERS

What Are Structural Markers?

Ancient authors signaled divisions explicitly. These are not hidden codes—they are the author telling you where major sections begin and end.

Common markers include:

Repeated formulas: “When Jesus had finished…” (Matthew); “After this…” (John)
Location changes: Moving from Galilee to Jerusalem signals a new section
Time markers: “The feast was near”; “It was the Sabbath”
Changes in speaker: From Jesus teaching to Jesus praying to Jesus questioning
Repeated phrases: The author’s use of the same language at key points

Example: Matthew’s Gospel

Matthew uses a distinctive formula repeatedly: “When Jesus had finished saying these things, he went on to do X.” This phrase appears five times and divides Matthew’s Gospel into five major sections. Matthew is telling you where his divisions are.

Example: John’s Gospel

John uses geographical and festival markers:

Location changes: From Galilee (1:19-4:54) to Jerusalem (5:1-12:50)
Festival references: “The Passover was near”; “The feast of Tabernacles”
Structural statements: “After this, Jesus went to…” signals new scenes
Time markers: “It was night”; “Early in the morning”

These are not random details. They are the author’s roadmap.

STEP 3: IDENTIFY THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE

What Is the Author Trying to Accomplish?

Ask this directly: Why did the author write this book? What is he trying to accomplish in his readers?

Sometimes the author states this explicitly.

John 20:30-31 provides John’s purpose statement: “Jesus performed many other signs… These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

John is telling you his purpose: to present selected signs as evidence that will lead readers to believe in Jesus and receive eternal life.

When Purpose Isn’t Stated Explicitly

If the author doesn’t state his purpose directly, infer it from:

What receives emphasis? What events get detailed narration? What is treated briefly?
What is repeated? What themes, words, or ideas recur?
What is the intended outcome? What are readers called to believe or do?
Who is the intended audience? (Sometimes introductions indicate this)

Why this matters: The purpose governs interpretation. If John’s purpose is to build faith through signs, then each story is selected deliberately for that purpose. John has chosen which signs to include and which to leave out. Understanding this changes how you read every passage.

STEP 4: MAP THE MAJOR MOVEMENTS

Create a Structural Outline

Once you understand the author’s markers and purpose, create a simple outline of major sections.

For the Gospel of John:

Section	Chapters	Focus
Prologue	1:1-18	Identity of the Word
First Signs in Galilee	1:19-4:54	Jesus’ authority revealed
Controversy in Jerusalem	5:1-12:50	Signs increase; opposition hardens
Private Teaching	13:1-17:26	Intimate instruction; farewell discourse
Passion and Resurrection	18:1-20:31	Death and victory
Epilogue	21:1-25	Restoration and commissioning

Identify Sub-Movements Within Sections

Each major section contains smaller movements:

Within “First Signs in Galilee” (1:19-4:54):

Calling of disciples (1:35-51)
First sign: water into wine (2:1-11)
Cleansing of temple (2:12-25)
Nicodemus conversation (3:1-21)
John’s testimony (3:22-36)
Samaritan woman (4:1-42)
Second sign: healing of nobleman’s son (4:43-54)

Within these subsections, notice patterns:

Which signs are included and in what order?
How do responses to Jesus escalate or change?
What parallels emerge? (Nicodemus/Samaritan woman; signs about belief)
How does John build his argument?

This is where the method becomes powerful. You’re not studying isolated verses. You’re seeing how the author constructs an argument through careful selection and arrangement of material.

STEP 5: STUDY PASSAGES IN CONTEXT

Only Now Study Individual Passages

After completing steps 1-4, you’re ready to examine specific passages.

But now you read them differently. You know:

Why the author included this story (because it fits the overall purpose)
How it relates to surrounding passages (because you’ve mapped the structure)
What kind of response it’s designed to generate (because you understand the author’s intent)

Now detailed study becomes truly useful:

Word studies: What does a key word mean in Greek/Hebrew?
Cultural context: What customs or expectations does the passage assume?
Cross-references: How do other passages address the same idea?
Commentary: What do faithful scholars say about this passage?

These tools deepen understanding of what you’ve already grasped at the structural level.

Example: John 3 (Nicodemus)

After reading all of John and mapping its structure, you study John 3. Now you understand:

Why it’s placed here: Immediately after the temple cleansing (showing religious corruption) and after the first signs (drawing belief). Nicodemus comes as an educated religious leader who has seen the signs.

How it functions: Demonstrates that even a privileged, educated insider cannot enter God’s kingdom through birthright or learning. He must be “born again”—transformed by the Spirit.

What John is arguing: The passage illustrates John’s theme throughout: belief is not intellectual assent or cultural identity. It is a relationship with Jesus requiring spiritual transformation.

How it relates to surrounding material: The temple cleansing (2:13-25) showed religious corruption. John now explains why through Nicodemus’s confusion. The Samaritan woman (4:1-42) will illustrate the same point from a different angle—an outsider who believes deeply.

This illuminates the passage in ways isolated study cannot achieve.

PART THREE: DEMONSTRATING THE METHOD

A Case Study: Reading John’s Gospel Completely

Let’s walk through all five steps using John’s Gospel:

Step 1: Multiple Readings

Read all 21 chapters straight through.

On this first reading, notice:

The text keeps returning to Jerusalem
Repeated references to Jewish festivals
Questions about Jesus’ identity appear throughout
Signs are presented deliberately, with commentary

After reading, you have a general sense: This is a carefully structured argument about who Jesus is, using signs and testimony to build toward belief.

Step 2: Identify Markers

Notice John’s markers:

Geographic shifts: “After this, Jesus went…” marks new scenes
Festival references: Passover (2:13); Tabernacles (7:2); Dedication (10:22); Passover again (13:1)
Time of day: “It was night” (3:2); “early in the morning” (8:2)
Location significance: Galilee (north, distance from power) vs. Jerusalem (center of religious authority)

Step 3: Identify Purpose

John 20:30-31 is clear: “Jesus performed many other signs… These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

John’s purpose: to foster belief in Jesus as Messiah and Son of God through selected signs.

This controls everything. John is not giving a complete chronology. He is presenting curated evidence.

Step 4: Map Major Movements

John 1:19-51 introduces themes and calls disciples John 2-4 presents first signs in Galilee (water into wine; healing of nobleman’s son) John 5-12 presents signs in Jerusalem with increasing controversy John 13-17 provides private teaching and farewell John 18-20 narrates passion and resurrection John 21 epilogue restores Peter

Key observation: The signs become more dramatic and Jesus’ opposition intensifies. Yet faith deepens in individuals even as institutional rejection hardens.

Step 5: Study Passages in Context

Now study John 3 (Nicodemus), knowing:

It follows the temple cleansing (religious corruption exposed)
It follows the first signs (drawing belief)
It introduces the theme: belief requires spiritual rebirth
The Samaritan woman passage (John 4) will echo and deepen this theme

Understanding these connections transforms your reading.

PART FOUR: KEY INSIGHTS FROM JOHN’S GOSPEL

What John Reveals Through Structure

Insight 1: The Movement from Public to Private

Chapters 1-12 focus on public signs and teaching. Chapters 13-17 shift to private teaching with the disciples.

John is showing: authentic faith develops through intimate relationship, not through public spectacle.

Insight 2: The Progression of Belief

Belief doesn’t happen all at once. Responses to Jesus escalate:

Curiosity: “Come and see” (1:46)
Initial belief: disciples believe after signs (2:11)
Deepening belief: the Samaritan woman believes despite cultural barriers (4:39-42)
Rejection: Jewish leaders increasingly hostile despite signs (8:59; 10:31)

The same signs produce different responses depending on the hearer’s openness.

Insight 3: The Festival Pattern

John mentions festivals repeatedly. This is intentional. Jesus goes to Jerusalem for festivals (Passover, Tabernacles, Dedication) and performs signs there.

Why? John is showing that Jesus fulfills and redefines the meaning of Israel’s festivals. The old festivals pointed forward. Jesus is their fulfillment. He is the Passover lamb, the living water (replacing Tabernacles celebration), the light (Dedication theme).

Insight 4: The Significance of Geography

Movement between Galilee and Jerusalem structures the narrative:

Galilee: place of signs, belief, distance from power
Jerusalem: place of confrontation, institutional opposition, religious authority

This movement is not random. John is showing that faith develops away from institutional pressure, but ultimately must confront and be tested by opposition.

Why Understanding Structure Prevents Misinterpretation

Without understanding John’s structure, you might:

Read John 3:16 as an isolated promise disconnected from the Nicodemus conversation
Miss how the Nicodemus and Samaritan woman passages mirror each other
Treat the seven signs as random miracles rather than deliberate theological argument
Fail to see that John’s purpose is faith formation, not chronological narration

With structural understanding, each passage gains depth and coherence.

PART FIVE: WHY THIS METHOD MATTERS FOR FAITH

For Academic Integrity

This method prevents you from:

Reading your own ideas into Scripture
Using isolated verses to prove any doctrine you want
Missing the author’s actual intent
Treating Scripture carelessly

It’s a discipline that respects the text.

For Spiritual Formation

This method enables you to:

Encounter Scripture as a coherent whole, not scattered fragments
Understand how the author intends to shape your faith
See how individual stories contribute to larger theological arguments
Recognize the author’s purpose and respond to his invitation

It’s an encounter, not just information.

For Protection Against Misuse

When someone uses Scripture to manipulate or control you, this method provides protection:

Does this verse fit the author’s actual argument? Often misused verses are isolated from context.
What is the author’s stated purpose? Does the person’s use align with it?
How does the broader passage understand this verse? Context reveals misuse.

It’s a safeguard against abuse.

PRACTICAL NEXT STEPS

Begin with John’s Gospel

John is an excellent place to practice this method:

It’s relatively short (21 chapters)
It has clear structural markers
It states its purpose explicitly
It rewards careful attention to structure

A Simple Three-Week Study Plan

Week 1: Read and Observe

Day 1-2: Read John straight through
Day 3-4: Read John again, noting repeated words and themes
Day 5-7: Read John a third time, noting where you see major divisions

Week 2: Structure and Purpose

Day 1-2: Map the major sections (using the outline provided)
Day 3-4: Identify John’s markers (geographic, temporal, textual)
Day 5-7: Write out John’s purpose in your own words

Week 3: Detailed Study

Day 1-2: Study John 1 with full attention (observation, interpretation, application)
Day 3-4: Study John 3 (Nicodemus), understanding its place in the larger argument
Day 5-7: Study John 20:30-31, then reflect on how structure illuminated your understanding

Advanced Practice

Once you’ve practiced with John:

Apply the method to other Gospels (Mark is particularly rewarding)
Try it with epistles (Romans is well-structured)
Experiment with Old Testament books (Exodus, 1 Samuel)

Each book rewards careful attention to structure.

CONCLUSION

The Gospel of John is not a collection of random sayings and miracles. It is a carefully constructed theological argument, designed to bring readers to faith in Jesus as Messiah and Son of God.

When you read John as a complete book, attending to the author’s markers and purpose, the Gospel comes alive. Individual passages gain depth. Themes cohere. The overall message becomes clear.

This is how Scripture is meant to be read: as the word of God delivered through human authors who have carefully shaped their material to accomplish specific purposes.

Take time. Read carefully. Notice structure. Listen to the author’s intent.

The reward is understanding Scripture not as a collection of isolated truths, but as a unified, coherent, and transformative testimony to Jesus Christ.

For more on this method, see John Lennox’s works on reading Scripture, or consult the practical guides in How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart.