The Last Verse of the Book of John

[newton3005]

The last Verse in the Book of John, John 21:25, says “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” It’s an intriguing Verse. After all, there’s a lot of area in the world. And it’s been determined that the population of the entire world could fit in the state of Texas with 1,000 square feet per person to spare!

What would be the basis for such a statement? This is the same John who baptized Jesus, as referred to in Matthew 3:13-15 and John 1:24-28. It is apparent that John was close enough to Jesus, that he would be justified in what he said in the above quote; and those of us who have faith in God would determine it to be feasible, since it is mentioned in the Bible which is the Breath of God and is therefore the truth.

And one may wonder, Who, other than God, who has seen the world from its creation to the present and has performed miracles during all that time, could fill enough books that the world wouldn’t contain them all? John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The last Verse of John suggests that there may be some flexibility outside the Verses in the Bible, for us to apply our reasoning of the things that are in the Bible. In that sense, it might be ironic that the Bible warns us in Deuteronomy 4:2 not to add to the words of the Law, and it warns us in Revelation 22:18 not to add to “the words of the prophecy of this book.” And we are told in Galatians 1:7 to beware of those who “want to distort the gospel of Christ.” The irony is that what God may have said and done, which isn’t found in the Bible, are things that might enhance what is in the Bible, or themselves could add to the Bible; only thing is, we don’t know for sure.

If we can reason with God as the Bible lets us do in Isaiah 1:18, albeit tempered by Proverbs 3:5, would God allow us some flexibility to speculate what God’s Intentions are, that are not found in the Bible? At the very least, John 21:25 may tempt us to wonder what other books God would have made, aside from what is in the Bible.

 

[Trivalee]

The last Verse in the Book of John, John 21:25, says “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” It’s an intriguing Verse. After all, there’s a lot of area in the world. And it’s been determined that the population of the entire world could fit in the state of Texas with 1,000 square feet per person to spare!

What would be the basis for such a statement? This is the same John who baptized Jesus, as referred to in Matthew 3:13-15 and John 1:24-28. It is apparent that John was close enough to Jesus, that he would be justified in what he said in the above quote; and those of us who have faith in God would determine it to be feasible, since it is mentioned in the Bible which is the Breath of God and is therefore the truth.

And one may wonder, Who, other than God, who has seen the world from its creation to the present and has performed miracles during all that time, could fill enough books that the world wouldn’t contain them all? John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The last Verse of John suggests that there may be some flexibility outside the Verses in the Bible, for us to apply our reasoning of the things that are in the Bible. In that sense, it might be ironic that the Bible warns us in Deuteronomy 4:2 not to add to the words of the Law, and it warns us in Revelation 22:18 not to add to “the words of the prophecy of this book.” And we are told in Galatians 1:7 to beware of those who “want to distort the gospel of Christ.” The irony is that what God may have said and done, which isn’t found in the Bible, are things that might enhance what is in the Bible, or themselves could add to the Bible; only thing is, we don’t know for sure.

If we can reason with God as the Bible lets us do in Isaiah 1:18, albeit tempered by Proverbs 3:5, would God allow us some flexibility to speculate what God’s Intentions are, that are not found in the Bible? At the very least, John 21:25 may tempt us to wonder what other books God would have made, aside from what is in the Bible.

John the Baptist who baptised Jesus Christ was beheaded while Jesus Christ was still alive, so he couldn't have written the Book of John.

Matt 14:10 And he sent and beheaded John in the prison.
11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

John, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus wrote the passages you quoted.

If you interpret "the world will not contain the books should every word spoken by the Lord were to be written" in a literal sense, you'll run into a lot of trouble because it is a metaphor that explains that Jesus said so many things that could not be written down.

You were right in pointing out the passages that warn the reader not to add or subtract anything from the bible. The only 'flexibility or reasoning' allowed is to let the context explain the meaning of a specific text. Anything outside that becomes conjecture and innuendo, I'm afraid.

Finally, God does not speculate, nor would he want us to speculate or second guess his intentions.

 

[newton3005]

John, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus wrote the passages you quoted. Finally, God does not speculate, nor would he want us to speculate or second guess his intentions.

I agree that there were two Johns...the one that Baptized Jesus and the one who was one of Jesus' 12 disciples.

As for who actually wrote the book of John, upon further research there is a belief in some quarters that nobody actually knows who wrote that book. The Encyclopedia Britannica at

Gospel According to John | Description, Authorship, & Facts

says the following:

"Although the Gospel is ostensibly written by St. John the Apostle, 'the beloved disciple' of Jesus, there has been considerable discussion of the actual identity of the author. The language of the Gospel and its well-developed theology suggest that the author may have lived later than John and based his writing on John’s teachings and testimonies. Moreover, the facts that several episodes in the life of Jesus are recounted out of sequence with the Synoptics and that the final chapter appears to be a later addition suggest that the text may be a composite. The Gospel’s place and date of composition are also uncertain; many scholars suggest that it was written at Ephesus, in Asia Minor, about 100 CE for the purpose of communicating the truths about Christ to Christians of Hellenistic background."

As for God speculating, I did not write that.

As far as God allowing us to speculate goes, inasmuch as it may lead us to "second guess his intentions," what would you call it when, for instance, Moses convinces God to change His mind about killing the Hebrews in Exodus 32:11-14 for being a "stiff-necked people," and God "relented," that is, He changed His Mind after Moses spoke to him?

 

[Trivalee]

I agree that there were two Johns...the one that Baptized Jesus and the one who was one of Jesus' 12 disciples.

As for who actually wrote the book of John, upon further research there is a belief in some quarters that nobody actually knows who wrote that book. The Encyclopedia Britannica at

Gospel According to John | Description, Authorship, & Facts

says the following:

"Although the Gospel is ostensibly written by St. John the Apostle, 'the beloved disciple' of Jesus, there has been considerable discussion of the actual identity of the author. The language of the Gospel and its well-developed theology suggest that the author may have lived later than John and based his writing on John’s teachings and testimonies. Moreover, the facts that several episodes in the life of Jesus are recounted out of sequence with the Synoptics and that the final chapter appears to be a later addition suggest that the text may be a composite. The Gospel’s place and date of composition are also uncertain; many scholars suggest that it was written at Ephesus, in Asia Minor, about 100 CE for the purpose of communicating the truths about Christ to Christians of Hellenistic background."

As for God speculating, I did not write that.

As far as God allowing us to speculate goes, inasmuch as it may lead us to "second guess his intentions," what would you call it when, for instance, Moses convinces God to change His mind about killing the Hebrews in Exodus 32:11-14 for being a "stiff-necked people," and God "relented," that is, He changed His Mind after Moses spoke to him?

Thanks for the citation from the Encyclopedia Britannica. Personally, I believe the author is John the Apostle, but if they say it is another John, so be it. I am more interested in the gospel than the identity of the author.

Your reference to the exchange between God and Moses is rather interesting. Moses directly implored God to reconsider his intention to destroy the children of Israel, pointing out what the nations would say. I don't see any speculation there, but if I missed it, kindly point it out.

 

[newton3005]

Moses directly implored God to reconsider his intention to destroy the children of Israel, pointing out what the nations would say. I don't see any speculation there, but if I missed it, kindly point it out.

In a sense, God's reconsidering what He wanted to do, could be seen as a speculation since He must have thought how other nations would respond if He went ahead. Why he would be concerned what other nations would say, *I* can only speculate.

 

[Trivalee]

In a sense, God's reconsidering what He wanted to do, could be seen as a speculation since He must have thought how other nations would respond if He went ahead. Why he would be concerned what other nations would say, *I* can only speculate.

God changing his mind is not speculaton.

 

[Richard.20.12]

It actually can be taken literally. Have you ever started a discussion with someone, face to face, and have the conversation go from one area to a million more? How about over the course of a long friendship? Have you ever noticed that when you read a passage of scripture it affects you in a very specific way that moment but you can also recall reading it before and it having a very different affect on you? In life, one thing leads to another. Our brains are so complex and our world is so complex that when you combine the two you have an almost inexhaustible number of things to "figure out". So when Jesus says or does something it can help us in an uncountable number of ways. Basically He offers us limitless help. How do you put down in paper anything limitless? Well, you keep on writing, don't you?

That's why this seemingly impossible statement can be taken literally. Because the Author is limitless. And it also encourages us to pour ourselves into the Word ceaselessly. One of the greatest miracles to me as a believer is to read the same passage so many times over a period of many years and constantly extract new guidance and wisdom out of it. This is where God rewards us who "study to show thyself approved". I believe this is not approval from other people as we are inclined to interpret it when we first read it in Proverbs. That's a superficial and temporal interpretation. Rather God wants us to live on Earth in a more spiritual mentality where Heavenly priorities guide us instead of Earthly priorities. Not easy, to be sure as we are surrounded by distractions tugging at our mind for attention. Fear of missing out is one of our biggest problems today with so many things to choose from. I don't know about you but looking back I see so many things I wished I'd missed out on that I committed so much time to. But at the time they grip us with conviction and the need to "get er done!". And does anything ever not take longer than we expected?