EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN. THIS Gospel was probably written at Ephesus, between the years A.D. 70 and 80. It was the last of the four Gospels, and was composed before the Epistles of John, probably. The Gospel of Matthew was, while Jerusalem was standing, especially designed for the Jews, and written in order to prove that Jesus is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. But John's Gospel was designed, as is apparent upon an analysis of it, to counteract the false speculations of Gentiles, concerning the person of Christ, and the Godhead. The danger to the Church of Christ, which arose from Judaism, and was very threatening in Paul's day, was now past. But a new peril had arisen out of the philosophic theorizing of certain unrenewed men concerning Jesus. They called themselves Gnostics, or Men of Intelligence,' and put forth their vain theories on subjects beyond the compass of man's understanding. 'Who was this Christ, of whom they heard so much? And how did he stand related to the Godhead?' Here they branched off into various conclusions. For the truth concerning our Lord came into collision with their most cherished opinions. What, then, was to be done? They refused to receive in their integrity the truths concerning Jesus; because these overthrew their principles of error. To them generally-Matter was the cause of sin.' And the confusion and evil visible around them were due, as they supposed, not to the fall of the creature, after having been |