"Signs" in the Fourth Gospel

by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

I) Terminology

There is no single Greek word for "miracle" (despite KJV and some other translations!):

*Greek term*	*English transl.*	*Mark*	*Matt*	*Luke*	*John*	*Acts*	*rest of NT*
δύναμις (dynamis)	"power; mighty deed"	10	12	15	0	10	72
σημείον (sēmeion)	"sign"	7	13	11	17	13	16
τέρας (teras)	"wonder" [always "signs and wonders"]	1	1	0	1	9	5
ἔργον (ergon)	"work" or "deed"	2	6	2	27	10	122

II) "Miracles" in the Synoptic Gospels vs. "Signs" in the Fourth Gospel

.	Synoptics	John
*Number & Type:*	dozens of specific narratives and general summaries; exorcisms, nature miracles, healing miracles, restoration miracles	only few individual events; no summaries or exorcisms; only a few "nature" and "healing" miracles and one "raising dead"
*Character of the Narratives:*	emphasize extraordinary elements of the actions; people often praise God afterward	downplays "miraculous" aspects; but followed by controversy dialogues
*Function of Jesus' Actions:*	powerful deeds related to the Kingdom of God and the authority of Jesus, esp. over Satan	symbolic actions that reveal Jesus' origin, identity, and relationship with God
*Role of Faith / Believing:*	faith is usually a prerequisite for Jesus being able to perform miracles	people (should) come to believe as a result of seeing the "signs" Jesus performed

III) Function or Purpose of the Johannine Signs

In the Synoptic Gospels, people test Jesus by asking him to perform “signs” or “signs and wonders”; but he refuses (cf. John 4:48).
- In John, “signs” are the “works” which Jesus willingly performs in order to bring people to believe in him.
- If people do not come to believe, despite having seen the signs, then the signs did not fulfill their intended purpose!
- See also the page on "Believing in the Fourth Gospel
Related questions:
- How are the “Johannine signs” similar to modern “traffic signs”? What are they designed to DO?
- In John’s Gospel, how is “believing” related to “seeing” or “hearing? …to “knowing” or “abiding”?
- What is the result of “believing” (see 20:31; cf. 1:12)? What are the consequences of “not believing”?
- How does “believing” in Jesus come about for anyone after the first century? …for Christians today?

IV) Number of Signs in the Fourth Gospel?

The traditional list of seven (or eight?) signs:

a) 2:1-11 Water into Wine at Cana - "Jesus did this, the first of his signs... and manifested his glory" (2:11)

b) 4:46-54 Official's son near death at Capernaum - "the second sign that Jesus did" (4:54)

c?) 5:1-9ff Healing of a sick man at Pool of Bethesda - called a "work," not a "sign" (7:21; cf. 5:17)

d) 6:1-14ff Feeding of the 5000 - "When the people saw the sign which he had done..." (6:14)

e?) 6:16-21 Walking on water (never called a "sign", nor does it function as one!)

f) 9:1-7ff Healing of a man born blind - "How can a sinner do such signs?" (9:16)

g) 11:1-45 Lazarus raised from the dead - "they heard he had done this sign" (12:18)

h?) 21:1-14 Resurrection Appearance at Sea of Tiberias (not called a "sign", but closely related)

"Many other signs" are mentioned, but not narrated: 2:23; 3:2; 6:2; 7:31; 9:16; 11:47; 12:37; 20:30-31; cf. 4:45

V) The Main Texts of the Fourth Gospel mentioning "Signs," "Works," etc.

2:1-11	5:2-18	6:25-33	10:25	Ch. 13-20??
2:13-16	5:19-21	7:1-9	10:31-38	14:10-13
3:19-20	6:2	7:25-31	10:40-42	15:24
4:34	6:3-14	8:39-41	11:1-44	17:1-5
4:46-54	6:16-20	9:1-40	12:37,42	20:30-31

See also "work," "glory/glorify," "the hour," "will of God"

VI) The Last and Greatest "Sign" is the Cross!

a) The last mention of "signs" comes after the passion narrative (20:30-31)
b) "Sign" refers to the death and resurrection of Jesus in 2:18-22
c) So does the related verb "to indicate, signify, to show by sign" in 12:31-33; 18:32 (cf. Exod 4:8-9; Num 14:11, 22)
d) Verb "lifted up" implies crucifixion in 3:13-15; 8:28-30 (cf. Num 21:8-9; Isa 43:10-13; etc.)
e) In the passion narrative, the cross functions to bring people to believe (19:35-37; cf. Zech 12:10 - 13:1)
f) The death of Jesus is the "completion" of his "work" (cf. 4:34; 5:36; 17:4, 23; and 19:28, 30)

Return to the Introductory Materials for the Fourth Gospel

Return to the Johannine Literature Homepage

a)	2:1-11	Water into Wine at Cana - "Jesus did this, the first of his signs... and manifested his glory" (2:11)
b)	4:46-54	Official's son near death at Capernaum - "*the second sign* that Jesus did" (4:54)
c?)	5:1-9ff	Healing of a sick man at Pool of Bethesda - called a "work," not a "sign" (7:21; cf. 5:17)
d)	6:1-14ff	Feeding of the 5000 - "When the people saw *the sign* which he had done..." (6:14)
e?)	6:16-21	Walking on water (never called a "sign", nor does it function as one!)
f)	9:1-7ff	Healing of a man born blind - "How can a sinner do such signs?" (9:16)
g)	11:1-45	Lazarus raised from the dead - "they heard he had done this sign" (12:18)
h?)	21:1-14	Resurrection Appearance at Sea of Tiberias (not called a "sign", but closely related)