Literary Analyses of Johannine Characters
by Randy Lopez

Table of Characters by Episodes

I. The Prologue
 

Chapter 1
Prologue (1:1-18)
"Prologue" characters in reference: God, John, Moses, Jesus Christ, World

The Witness of John (the Baptist) (1:19-34)
NAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
John Jews
Jesus Priests 
  Levites
"The Witness of John (the Baptist)" characters in reference:Elijah, Isaiah, Spirit

The First Disciples of Jesus (1:35-51)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
John John’s two disciples
Jesus  
Andrew  
Simon Peter  
Philip  
Nathanael  
"The First Disciples of Jesus" characters in reference: John (Peter’s Father)
 


II. The Book of Signs
 
Chapter 2
The Wedding Feast at Cana (2:1-12)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Mother of Jesus Disciples
  Chief Steward Servants of the Feast
  Bridegroom  

Jesus’ First Passover in Jerusalem: The Cleansing of the Temple (2:13-23)
NAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Merchants in the Temple
  Jews
  Disciples

Chapter 3
Jesus’ Conversation with Nicodemus; (2:24-3:21)
NAMED CHARACTERS
Jesus
Nicodemus
"Jesus’ Conversation with Nicodemus" characters in reference: God , Moses, People who Love Darkness, People who Come to the Light,     World

John (Baptist's) Testimony (3:22-35)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus A Jew Disciples
John   John’s Disciples
"John (Baptist’s) Testimony" characters in reference: God, Spirit
 

Chapter 4
The Samaritan Woman at the Well (4:1-42)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Samaritan Woman Pharisees
John   Disciples
    People of Sychar
"The Samaritan Woman at the Well" characters in reference: God, Jacob (son of Isaac), Joseph (son of Jacob), Samaritan Woman’s Husbands

Healing of a Royal Official’s Son (4:43-54)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Royal Official Royal Official’s Slaves
"Healing of a Royal Official’s Son" characters in reference: Royal Official’s Son
 
 

Chapter 5
The Sabbath Healing of a Sick Man at the Bethzatha Pool in Jerusalem (5:1-18)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus The Ill Man A Group of Invalids
God   Jews

Ensuing Controversy (5:19-47)
NAMED CHARACTERS
Jesus
John
Moses
"Ensuing Controversy" characters in reference: Father, Dead, Messengers sent to John
 

Chapter 6
Jesus’ Second Passover: Feeding of 5000 (6:1-15)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Boy with Bread and Fish Crowd
Philip   Disciples
Andrew    
"Jesus’ Second Passover: Feeding of 5000" characters in reference: Sick

Walking on Water (6:16-20)
NAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Disciples

Bread of Life Discourse (6:21-71)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Ancestors of the Crowd Crowd
Simon Peter   Disciples
Judas   Twelve
"Bread of Life Discourse" characters in reference: Father, God, Jews Joseph ("Father" of Jesus Moses), Mother of Jesus, Prophets Simon Iscariot (Father to Judas) Spirit
 

Chapter7
The Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem
NAMED INDIVIDUALS
UNNAMED INDIVIDUALS
GROUPS
Jesus Jesus’ Brothers Jews
Nicodemus   Crowd
    Chief Priests
    Pharisees
    Temple Police
"The Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem" characters in reference: David, Greeks, God, Moses, World,Spirit
 

Chapter 8
[Adulterous Woman (7:53-8:11)]
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Woman Caught in Adultery People
    Scribes
    Pharisees
    Elders
"Adulterous Woman" characters in reference: Moses

Jesus as "Light of the World" and the Origin & Identity of Jesus (8:12-20)
NAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Pharisees
  Jews
"Jesus as ‘Light of the World’ and the Origin & Identity of Jesus" characters in reference: Abraham, Abraham’s Children, Father, Prophets, Slaves
 

Chapter 9
The Man Born Blind (9:1-41)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Man Blind from Birth Disciples
    Neighbors
    Pharisees
    Jews
    Parents
"The Man Born Blind" characters in reference:God
 

Chapter 10
The Good Shepherd Discourse (10: 1-21)
NAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Jews 
"The Good Shepherd Discourse" characters in reference: Father, Hired Hand, Man Blind from Birth, Other Sheep, Sheep, Shepherd, Stranger, Thief and a Bandit, Wolf

Feast of Dedication and Retreat across the Jordan (10:22-42)
NAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Jews
  Those who Went to Jesus 
"Feast of Dedication and Retreat across the Jordan" characters in reference: Father, Sheep
 

Chapter 11
The Raising of Lazarus at Bethany (11:1-44)
NAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Lazarus Disciples
Mary of Bethany Jews
Martha   
Jesus  
Thomas  
"The Raising of Lazarus at Bethany" characters in reference: God

Final Plot against Jesus and Retreat to Ephraim (11:45-57)
NAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Caiaphas Jews
  Chief Priests
  Council
  Disciples
"Final Plot against Jesus and Retreat to Ephraim" characters in refernce: Mary of Bethany, Jesus, Romans
 

Chapter 12
The Third Passover in Judea and Anointing at Bethany (12:1-11)
NAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Jews
Lazarus  
Martha  
Mary of Bethany  
Judas Iscariot  
"The Third Passover in Judea and Anointing at Bethany" characters in reference: Poor

Final Entry into Jerusalem and "the Hour" (12:12-50)
NAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Crowd
Philip Disciples
Andrew Pharisees
  Greeks
"Final Entry into Jerusalem and ‘the Hour’" characters in reference: Father, Isaiah, Lazarus
 


III. The Book of Glory
 
Chapter 13
The Last Supper: Washing of Disciples’ Feet and the Foretelling of Judas’ Betrayal & Peter’s Denial
NAMED INDIVIDUALS
UNNAMED INDIVIDUALS
GROUPS
Jesus Disciple whom Jesus Loved Disciples
The Devil    
Judas    
Simon Peter    
Chapter13 characters in reference: Father, Simon Iscariot
 

Chapter 14, 15 & 16
Farewell Discourse
NAMED INDIVIDUALS
GROUPS
Jesus Disciples
Thomas  
Philip  
Judas (not Iscariot)  
"Farewell Discourse" characters in reference: Advocate (Holy Spirit), Father, God, World
 

Chapter 17
The Great Prayer of Jesus
NAMED INDIVIDUALS
GROUPS
Jesus Disciples
"The Great Prayer of Jesus" characters in reference: Evil One, Father, World
 

Chapter 18 & 19
The Arrest in Garden (18:1-11)
NAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Disciples
Judas Iscariot Soldiers
Simon Peter Police
Malchus, the High Priest’s Slave Chief Priests
  Pharisees
"The Arrest in Garden" characters in reference: Father

Meeting in Annas’ House (18:12-14, 19-24)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Officer Soldiers
Annas Police who struck Jesus Jewish Police
"Meeting in Annas’ House" characters in reference: Caiaphas, Jews

Peter’s Denial (18:15-18, 25-27)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
Simon Peter Another Disciple with Peter
Jesus Woman Who Guarded the Gate
  Relative of Malchus
"Peter’s Denial" characters in reference: Police, Slaves

Jesus’ Trial before Pilate (18:28-40; 19:1-16)
NAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Soldiers
Caiaphas  
Pilate  
Barabbas  
"Jesus’ Trial before Pilate" characters in reference: Chief Priests, Emperor, Jesus’ Followers"Jesus’" Nation, Jews

Crucifixion / Glorification (19:17-30)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Two Crucified Bandits "They"
Pilate Mother of Jesus Jews
Mary, the Wife of Clopas Mother of Jesus’ Sister Chief Priests
Mary Magdalene Disciple whom Jesus Loved Soldiers

Death (19:31-37)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Pilate Two Crucified Bandits Jews
Jesus One of the Soldiers with a Spear Soldiers

Burial (19:38-42)
NAMED CHARACTERS
Jesus
Joseph of Arimathea
Pilate
Nicodemus

Chapter 20
The Empty Tomb (20:1-10)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UuNNAMED CHARACTERS
Mary Magdalene Disciple whom Jesus Loved
Simon Peter  
"The Empty Tomb" characters in reference: Jesus

The Risen Lord appears to Mary Magdalene (20:11-18)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Mary Magdalene Two Angels Disciples
Jesus    
"The Risen Lord appears to Mary Magdalene" characters in reference: Father

The Risen Lord appears to the Disciples and to Thomas & the First Conclusion (20:19-31)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Holy Spirit Disciples
Thomas   Twelve
"The Risen Lord appears to the Disciples and to Thomas & the First Conclusion" characters in reference: Father, Jews
 
 

III. Epilogue

Chapter 21
Breakfast Appearance by Sea of Tiberias (21:1-14)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Sons of Zebedee Disciples
Simon Peter Two Other Disciples  
Thomas    
Nathanael    

Jesus’ Instructions to Peter (21:15-19)
NAMED CHARACTERS
GROUPS
Jesus Lambs
Simon Peter Sheep
"Jesus’ Instructions to Peter" characters in reference: John (Father of Simon Peter)

The Beloved Disciple and Second Conclusion (21:20-25)
NAMED CHARACTERS
UNNAMED CHARACTERS
Peter The Disciple whom Jesus Loved
Jesus  

 

*This outline of chapter divisions of the Gospel according to John is adapted from the outline created by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D..

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Characters by Episodes

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This page was last updated on 09/27/01