Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - John 7

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Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - John 7


Verse Commentaries:



Chapter Level Commentary:
John 7

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

UBS4 NKJV NRSV TEV NJB
The Unbelief of Jesus' Brothers Jesus' Brothers Disbelieve Jesus, the Water of Life Jesus and His Brothers Jesus Goes Up to Jerusalem for the Feast and Teaches There Joh_7:1-9 Joh_7:1-9 Joh_7:1-9 Joh_7:1-9 Joh_7:1 Jesus At the Feast of Tabernacle The Heavenly Scholar Jesus At the Festival of Shelters Joh_7:2-9 Joh_7:10-13 Joh_7:10-24 Joh_7:10-13 Joh_7:10-11 Joh_7:10-13 Joh_7:12-13 Joh_7:14-24 Joh_7:14-18 Joh_7:14-15 Joh_7:14-24 Joh_7:16-19 Joh_7:19-24 Joh_7:20 Joh_7:21-24 Is This The Christ? Could This Be The Christ? Is He The Messiah? The People Discuss the Origin of the Messiah Joh_7:25-31 Joh_7:25-31 Joh_7:25-31 Joh_7:25-27 Joh_7:25-27 Joh_7:28-29 Joh_7:28-29 Joh_7:30-31 Joh_7:30 Officers Sent to Arrest Jesus Jesus and the Religious Leaders Guards are Sent to Arrest Jesus Jesus Foretells His Approaching Departure Joh_7:31-34 Joh_7:32-36 Joh_7:32-36 Joh_7:32-36 Joh_7:32-34 Joh_7:35-36 Joh_7:35-36 Rivers of Living Water The Promise of the Holy Spirit Streams of Life-Giving Water The Promise of Living Water Joh_7:37-39 Joh_7:37-39 Joh_7:37-39 Joh_7:37-39 Joh_7:37-38 Joh_7:39 Divisions Among the People Who is He? Division Among the People Fresh Discoveries on the Origin of the Messiah Joh_7:40-44 Joh_7:40-44 Joh_7:40-44 Joh_7:40-44 Joh_7:40-44 The Unbelief of Those in Authority Rejected by the Authorities The Unbelief of the Jewish Authorities Joh_7:45-52 Joh_7:45-52 Joh_7:45-52 Joh_7:45 Joh_7:45-52 Joh_7:46 Joh_7:47-49 Joh_7:50-51 Joh_7:52 READING CYCLE THREE

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five modern translations. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.



CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO Joh_7:1-52

A. The setting of chapters 5 and 6 is the Passover Feast. The setting of Joh_7:1 through Joh_10:21 is the Feast of Tabernacles (Joh_7:2 ff).



B. The Feast of Tabernacles was primarily a thanksgiving for the harvest (called Feast of Ingathering, cf. Exo_23:16; Exo_34:22). It was also a time of remembering the Exodus experience (called Feast of the Booths, cf. Lev_23:29-44 and Deu_16:13-15). It occurred on the 15th of Tishri, which corresponds to our late September or early October.



C. Chapters 7 and 8 show the hostility of the Jewish establishment against Jesus' Sabbath-breaking (Joh_5:16) and His claim to be one with YHWH (Joh_5:18). Notice the number of times the texts mention their attempts to

1. arrest Him, Joh_7:30; Joh_7:32; Joh_7:44; Joh_10:39

2. kill Him, Joh_7:1; Joh_7:19; Joh_7:25; Joh_8:37; Joh_8:40 (also Joh_11:53)



DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. What is the festival background to Jesus' words in chapter 7?

2. Describe and explain the purpose of the "Feast of the Tabernacle."

3. Why were the religious leaders so hostile to Jesus?

4. List the different groups that comment about Jesus in this chapter.