New Testament
The Gospel of John
The Gospel of John is the fourth of the 27 books of the New Testament: 21 chapters and 879 verses.
About John
About John · Gospel
John is the last and deepest of the Gospels, opening not in Bethlehem but before creation: the Word was God, and the Word became flesh. The Church received it from the tradition of the beloved disciple, John, and it differs from the other three by design — long discourses instead of parables, seven great signs, and an unmatched intimacy in the upper room. It was written, as it says plainly, so that readers may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and believing may have life in his name.
| Testament | New Testament — book 4 of 27, 50 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 21 |
| Verses | 879, as Bless numbers them |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, 20 of 21 chapters |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 21 chapters · 32 notes |
| Catechism | 305 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 21 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
John 1
51 versesThe divinity and incarnation of Christ. John bears witness of him. He begins to call his disciples.
John 2
25 versesChrist changes water into wine. He casts the sellers out of the temple.
John 3
36 versesChrist's discourse with Nicodemus. John's testimony.
John 4
54 versesChrist talks with the Samaritan woman. He heals the ruler's son.
John 5
47 versesChrist heals on the sabbath the man languishing thirty-eight years. His discourse upon this occasion.
John 6
72 versesChrist feeds five thousand with five loaves. He walks upon the sea and discourses of the bread of life.
John 7
53 versesChrist goes up to the feast of the tabernacles. He teaches in the temple.
John 8
59 versesThe woman taken in adultery. Christ justifies his doctrine.
John 9
41 versesHe gives sight to the man born blind.
John 10
42 versesChrist is the door and the good shepherd. He and his Father are one.
John 11
57 versesChrist raises Lazarus to life. The rulers resolve to put him to death.
John 12
50 versesThe anointing of Christ's feet. His riding into Jerusalem upon an ass. A voice from heaven.
John 13
38 versesChrist washes his disciples' feet. The treason of Judas. The new commandment of love.
John 14
31 versesChrist's discourse after his last supper.
John 15
27 versesA continuation of Christ's discourse to his disciples.
John 16
33 versesThe conclusion of Christ's last discourse to his disciples.
John 17
26 versesChrist's prayer for his disciples.
John 18
40 versesThe history of the passion of Christ.
John 19
42 versesThe continuation of the history of the Passion of Christ.
John 20
31 versesChrist's resurrection and manifestation to his disciples.
John 21
25 versesChrist manifests himself to his disciples by the sea side and gives Peter the charge of his sheep.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
In the comments
What the saints said.
36 quotations from 24 saints linked to passages of John in Bless. Each names the work it comes from.
St. Jerome · on John 5:39
On this verse
Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.
Commentary on Isaiah, prologue, c. 408
St. Ambrose · on John 1:3
On this theme
The Word of Christ made out of nothing what was not; can it not change the things that are into what they were not?
On the Mysteries, 9, c. 390
St. Irenaeus · on John 1:14
On this theme
The Word of God became what we are, that He might make us what He Himself is.
Against Heresies, III.19.1, c. 180
St. Athanasius · on John 1:14
On this theme
He became man that we might become divine.
On the Incarnation, 54, c. 318
St. Thomas Aquinas · on John 1:16
On this theme
Grace does not destroy nature but perfects it.
Summa Theologiae, I q.1 a.8, c. 1265
St. John the Baptist · on John 1:29
On this theme
Behold, the Lamb of God. Behold, he who takes away the sin of the world.
John 1:29 (CPDV), c. 30
30 more, on the chapter pages
- John 2:3St. Alphonsus Liguori
- John 2:5St. Louis de Montfort
- John 3:30St. John the Baptist
- John 4:14St. Ignatius of Antioch
- John 4:34St. Alphonsus Liguori
- John 4:34St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- John 5:39St. Gregory the Great
- John 6:51St. Ignatius of Antioch
- John 6:51St. Pius X · attributed
- John 6:54St. Irenaeus
- John 6:55St. Thomas Aquinas
- John 6:56St. Alphonsus Liguori
- John 6:56St. Leo the Great
- John 10:10St. Irenaeus
- John 10:11St. Thomas Becket
- John 12:24St. Ignatius of Antioch
- John 13:1St. Thomas Aquinas
- John 13:34St. Francis de Sales · attributed
- John 13:35St. John Bosco
- John 14:6St. Catherine of Siena · attributed
- John 15:5St. Augustine of Hippo
- John 15:5St. Catherine of Siena
- John 15:13St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
- John 15:15St. Teresa of Ávila
- John 15:15St. Thomas Aquinas
- John 16:8St. John Vianney
- John 17:9St. Francis of Assisi
- John 17:23St. Catherine of Genoa · attributed
- John 19:27St. Bernard of Clairvaux
- John 20:29St. Thomas Aquinas · attributed
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, John is read at the principal Mass on 136 days in the US calendar. The next 8 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | John 10:27 | |
| The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed | Gospel | John 6:37-40 | |
| Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome | Gospel | John 2:13-22 | |
| St. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church | Alleluia | John 14:23 | |
| St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr | Alleluia | John 15:5 | |
| Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | John 15:4a, 5b | |
| Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | John 8:12 | |
| Wednesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | See John 15:16 | |
| Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | John 10:27 | |
| Third Sunday of Advent | Gospel | John 1:6-8, 19-28 | |
| The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) | Gospel | John 1:1-18 | |
| The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas | Alleluia | John 1:14a, 12a | |
| The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas | Gospel | John 1:1-18 | |
| Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church | Gospel | John 1:19-28 | |
| Saturday after Epiphany | Gospel | John 3:22-30 | |
| Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | John 10:27 | |
| Second Sunday in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | John 1:41, 17b | |
| Second Sunday in Ordinary Time | Gospel | John 1:35-42 | |
| Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle | Alleluia | John 15:16 | |
| Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | John 3:16 | |
| Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | John 10:27 | |
| St. Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs | Alleluia | John 10:27 | |
| Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent | Verse before the Gospel | John 8:12 | |
| Friday of the Second Week of Lent | Verse before the Gospel | John 3:16 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.