Compare and contrast the beginning of John’s gospel (1:1-18) with that of Matthew (1:1-17). What does this comparison say about the goal of each gospel’s author?

Research the debates on the authorship and date of composition of the Gospel of John. Do you find the traditional attribution compelling? Why or why not? Make an argument for the who and when of the gospel’s composition.

John shares some stories with the other gospels, but in certain cases he arranges them differently. Consider John’s portrayal of Jesus’s act of clearing the temple (2:13-17), and compare it to the same story in Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-19, and Luke 19:45-46. What is different about the setting of John’s story in the overall context of Jesus’s ministry, and why do you think John arranges it this way?