Definition

Proper noun: * The Gospel According to John: The fourth and final book of the New Testament Gospels in the Christian Bible. It is a theological account of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, traditionally attributed to John the Apostle. This Gospel is distinct for its emphasis on the divinity of Jesus, its use of symbolic "I am" statements, and its detailed narrative of the Passion.

Usage

• As a proper noun (title): The phrase is used as the formal title of the biblical book. It is often capitalized.
  • The class will begin a study of the Gospel According to John next week.
  • Her favorite passage is from the Gospel of John, chapter 3. (Note: "Gospel of John" is a common shortened variant).

Advanced Usage

• "a gospel according to [someone]": Used figuratively to describe a set of principles or beliefs that a particular person strongly advocates or lives by, treated with the authority of truth.
  • His strict investment strategy was the gospel according to Warren Buffett for his followers.
  • She preached the gospel according to minimalism, urging everyone to declutter their lives.

Variants and Related Words

• Gospel of John: The most common shortened form of the title.
• John: The most common abbreviated reference to the book itself (e.g., "the book of John," "John 3:16").
• The Fourth Gospel: A formal alternative name used in biblical scholarship.
• Johannine Gospel: A scholarly adjective form relating to this Gospel (e.g., Johannine literature, Johannine theology).

Synonyms

• The Fourth Gospel
• The Johannine Account

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Preach the gospel according to [someone/something]: To fervently promote a specific doctrine or set of ideas attributed to a particular source.
  • He was always preaching the gospel according to efficiency, looking for ways to streamline every process.

Noun

1. the last of the four Gospels in the New Testament