Fifteen years ago I read the Old Testament (King James Version) and blogged it as I went. I always meant to keep on trucking, but, well, I didn’t.
Now, in January and February of 2026 I am going to read all 27 books of the New Testament (I have a passing familiarity with the Gospels, thanks to secondary school, and I did read the Book of Revelations at some point (fever dream, innit?)
The plan is to read at most ten pages a day, with rest days more frequent than old “1-in-7” for the Gospels through Romans, but then, because it all gets somewhat shorter, one a day for most of February.
Crucially, am blogging as I go.
Oh, and I am going to read Gore Vidal’s 1992 “Live from Golgotha” as soon as I am done with John…
Summary:
This one is very very different in tone and narrative structure (doesn’t start with begatting or Virgin Births)
Historical – when written, by whom
The Gospel of John[a] is the fourth of the New Testament‘s four canonical Gospels. It contains a schematic account of the ministry of Jesus, with seven “signs” culminating in the raising of Lazarus (foreshadowing the resurrection of Jesus) and seven “I am” discourses culminating in Thomas‘s proclamation of the risen Jesus as “my Lord and my God”.[4] The penultimate chapter’s concluding verse set out its purpose, “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.”[5][6]
John was written between AD 90–100.[7][8] The gospel is anonymous, although it identifies a “disciple whom Jesus loved” as the source of its traditions and perhaps author.[9][10][11] Twentieth-century scholarship interpreted the gospel within the paradigm of a “Johannine community“,[12][13][14] but this has been increasingly challenged in the 21st century,[15] and there is currently considerable debate over the gospel’s historical context.[16] As it is closely related in style and content to the Johannine epistles, most scholars treat the four books, along with the Book of Revelation, as a single corpus of Johannine literature, albeit not by the same author.[17]
Most poetic bits (ymmv)
John 1: 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Most quotable bits
Staffing issues in the security state…
John 7: 45-6 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? 46The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
The end of the spasms, along comes abeyance…
John 7: 53 And every man went unto his own house.
Most “wtaf” bit(s)
Where to begin?
What it reminds me of (books/plays/jokes etc)
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Further reading
Oh, crikey, so much. But life is short, despite the promises of an Afterlife…
Chapter 1
Different tone at the outset, and throughout
John the Baptist as the fluffer
John 1: 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1: 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
John 1: 23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
Jesus’ crew begins to form
Chapter 2
Wedding at Cana (where people get caned?)
Throws out the money changers
John 2: 17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
Chapter 3
The whole “born again” stuff
John 3: 2-5 the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
It’s like the Mafia – you’re in or you’re out. No shades of gray.
John 3: 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Chapter 4
Jesus at a well, actually
John 4: 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
John 4: 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Nice and poetic. Marx and labour theory of value it’s not…
John 4: 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
Signs and wonders – see also Douglas Adams on faith/proof, zebra crossings…
John 4: 48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
Chapter 5
Generally “eh??”
See also the Miracles being performed on the Sabbath conflict, as per Synoptics.
Chapter 6
Feeding the 5k
Walking on water
John 6: 27 – Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
Eh? (in general)
Then, he knows who the narc is…
John 6: 64 – But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him
Problems of decruitment
John 6: 66 – From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Chapter 7
Hmm, how does Gore Vidal deal with this?!
John 7: 8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come
The word – sorry, The Word – has got out.
John 7: 31-2 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?
32The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.
Staffing issues in the security state…
John 7: 45-6 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? 46The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
Indeed they are…
John 7: 49 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
The end of the spasms, along comes abeyance…
John 7: 53 And every man went unto his own house.
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