Jesus giving the Farewell Discourse to his 11 remaining disciples, from the Maestà of Duccio, 1308–1311.

Further information: Prologue to John, Book of Signs, and John 21

The majority of scholars see four sections in John's gospel: a prologue (1:1–18); an

account of the ministry, often called the "Book of Signs" (1:19–12:50); the account of
Jesus' final night with his disciples and the passion and resurrection, sometimes
called the "book of glory" (13:1–20:31); and a conclusion (20:30–31); to these is
added an epilogue which most scholars believe did not form part of the original text
(Chapter 21).[29][30]
 The prologue informs readers of the true identity of Jesus, the Word of God through whom
the world was created and who took on human form; [31] he came to the Jews and the Jews
rejected him, but "to all who received him (the circle of Christian believers), who believed in
his name, he gave power to become children of God." [32]
 Book of Signs (ministry of Jesus): Jesus is baptized, calls his disciples, and begins his earthly
ministry.[33] He travels from place to place informing his hearers about God the Father in
long discourses, offering eternal life to all who will believe, and performing miracles which
are signs of the authenticity of his teachings, but this creates tensions with the religious
authorities (manifested as early as 5:17–18), who decide that he must be eliminated. [33][34]
 The Book of Glory tells of Jesus's return to his heavenly father: it tells how he prepares his
disciples for their coming lives without his physical presence and his prayer for himself and
for them, followed by his betrayal, arrest, trial, crucifixion and post-resurrection appearances.
[34]
 The conclusion sets out the purpose of the gospel, which is "that you may believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name." [2]
 Chapter 21, the addendum, tells of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances in Galilee,
the miraculous catch of fish, the prophecy of the crucifixion of Peter, and the fate of
the Beloved Disciple.[2]

The structure is highly schematic: there are seven "signs" culminating in the raising of
Lazarus (foreshadowing the resurrection of Jesus), and seven "I am" sayings and
discourses, culminating in Thomas's proclamation of the risen Jesus as "my Lord and
my God" (the same title, dominus et deus, claimed by the Emperor Domitian, an
indication of the date of composition).[1