Glossary

The terms below reveal Jesus’ identity and mission. Studying them clarifies John’s themes, deepens understanding, and guides reflections. The numbers in brackets are the approximate frequencies of these Greek words found in the Gospel of John.

Abide (meno; 40x)

To remain or dwell in close fellowship with Jesus (central in John 15). To abide means to remain in an intimate, ongoing relationship with Jesus. It implies trust, obedience, and dependence, resulting in spiritual fruit, love, and eternal life. Abiding is both a present experience and a continuous practice, rooted in Christ, through whom believers receive guidance, strength, and communion with the Father.

Above/below (anō/katō; 7x/1x)

The contrast between “above” and “below” serves as a vivid expression of dualism in the Gospel of John. Although “above” appears only seven times in the Gospel, and “below” only once, these terms express a view of ultimate reality that is fundamental to John’s Gospel. Heaven is a synonym for the realm above, from which Jesus came, to which He returned, and in which anyone who believes in Him enjoys union with God now and forever.

Ask (aiteō; 7x)

Ask means to request or seek from God in faith, trusting His provision and timing. Jesus teaches that asking in His name aligns our desires with God’s will, results in answered prayer, and deepens our relationship with the Father, expressing dependence, belief, and obedience in the believer’s life.

Believe (pisteuō; 98x)

To believe is a major theme of the Gospel of John, from the Prologue (v. 12) to Thomas’s confession (vv. 26–29). John exclusively uses the verb “believe” and never uses the noun “belief” or “faith” (pistis). This stylistic choice emphasises active, ongoing trust and personal relationship with Jesus rather than a static possession of doctrine, focusing on the action of believing.

Darkness/dark (skotia/skotos; 8x/6x)

Darkness symbolises sin, unbelief, and separation from God. It represents a world resistant to truth and divine life. Jesus, the true Light, enters the darkness to expose evil, reveal God’s love, and offer salvation. Rejecting Him leaves people in spiritual blindness and alienation. In John 13:30, when Judas left Jesus and went out, John adds, “And it was night.”

Father (patēr; 137x)

John uses “Father” as a reference to God 137 times. This phenomenon, peculiar to John, is not intended to affirm that God is male or to reinforce patterns of male domination, as the prominent role of women in this Gospel demonstrates. “Father” in John’s Gospel is not about paternity, which designates a physical relationship, but about fatherhood, which describes an intimate, loving, spiritual relationship.

Glory (doxa/doxazō; 19x/23x)

Glory is the hidden but radiant splendour of God’s inner nature, and to glorify is to reveal that inner nature in a way that honours God’s true nature; through this, Jesus and God are glorified. Jesus’ great prayer brings together the glory He had with the Father before the world existed, the glory of His exaltation on the cross, and the glory He bequeaths to His disciples (17:1–5, 22–24).

God (theos; 83x)

In John’s Gospel, God is revealed primarily through Jesus Christ, who is explicitly identified as the divine, pre-existent Word made flesh. John presents a high Christology, showing Jesus and the Father as one in essence, divine nature, and mission, with Jesus acting as the full revelation of God’s glory, love, and light.

Judge/judgment (krino/krisis; 19x/11x)

Judge and judgment refer to God’s righteous evaluation of humanity based on their response to Jesus. Belief in Christ brings life, while rejection results in condemnation. Jesus’ mission reveals God’s justice and mercy, offering salvation to those who trust Him and exposing unbelief and sin in the world.

Know (ginōskō/oida; 57x/84x)

To know goes beyond intellectual awareness to personal, relational understanding. To know God or Jesus is to experience, trust, and abide in Him. This knowledge brings intimacy, transformation, and eternal life, linking belief, obedience, and love as the believer grows in a living relationship with Christ.

Life (zōē; 36x)

Life is more than physical existence; it is eternal, abundant, and God-given, flowing from the Father through the Son. True life begins in a relationship with Jesus, overcomes death and sin, and continues beyond the present, offering fullness, joy, and communion with God for all who believe. The term “eternal life” refers to life in union with Christ.

Light/darkness (phōs; 23x/skotia; 8x)

In John’s Gospel, light and darkness represent a profound cosmic dualism, where Jesus is the divine light shining into a world darkened by sin and unbelief. Light symbolises truth, life, and divine revelation, while darkness represents evil, ignorance, and opposition to God. This light cannot be overcome. Notably, “Light” does not appear after John 12:46. This marks the end of Jesus’ public ministry. The nation of Israel had an opportunity to receive the Light, but for the most part refused it, and it was removed.

Love (agapaō/agapē; 37x/7x)

God’s motivation for sending Christ and the defining characteristic of disciples. Love is self-giving, sacrificial, and rooted in God’s nature. Jesus models this love by laying down His life for others. True love involves obedience, care, and relationship, calling believers to love God, one another, and even enemies, reflecting God’s redemptive and unconditional love.

Name (onoma; 25x)

“Name” represents Jesus’ identity, authority, and character. To believe in His name is to trust Him fully and submit to His lordship. Jesus’ name reveals God’s presence, power, and salvation, calling believers into relationship, obedience, and the experience of eternal life through faith in Him.

Son (huios; 55x)

The term “the Son” (referring to Jesus) appears 18 times in the Gospel of John, while “Son of God” appears 9 times and “Son of Man” 11 times, with most references clustered in John 3, 5, and 17. John refers to Jesus Christ as the eternal, divine Son of God in perfect unity with the Father. Key themes include the Son revealing the Father, bringing eternal life to believers, and the “only begotten Son” who was sent to save the world, as stated in John 3:16.

Truth/true (alētheia/alēthinos; 25x/9x)

This term emphasises Jesus as the ultimate reality and God’s revelation. Truth is God’s revealed reality made known in Jesus. Truth is not merely correct teaching but a person. Jesus embodies, speaks, and accomplishes truth, revealing the Father and bringing genuine life, freedom, and salvation to those who believe.

Witness (martyreō/martyria; 47x)

Those who testify to Jesus’ identity, for example, John the Baptist. Witness refers to testifying to the truth of Jesus as the Son of God. To be a witness is to proclaim, demonstrate, and live out God’s revelation through words and deeds. True witnessing calls others to faith, revealing Jesus’ identity, mission, and the salvation He offers.

Word (logos; 40x)

Identifies Jesus as the eternal, divine reason and agent of creation. The Word refers to Jesus as the pre-existent, divine, creative, and revealing agent of God. The Word is God’s self-expression, through whom all things were made. In becoming flesh, the Word reveals God’s nature, brings life and light, and invites humanity into relationship, faith, and salvation.

World (kosmos; 78x)

Humanity is in rebellion, yet also the object of God’s love. The world refers to humanity and the fallen system opposed to God. It encompasses both creation and human society alienated from Him. Though loved by God, the world often resists truth and salvation. Jesus enters it to reveal God’s love, offer redemption, and call people to faith.