The Gospel of John
This is a fairly narrow study of the gospel of John. My interest is in New Testament theology; in issues like the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, and various theories of atonement such as the idea that Christ died in order to pay for our sins. The gospel of John certainly seems to speak to these issues. The very beginning, the Prologue, equates Jesus with the word of God, which is God. Later in chapter 1 John the Baptist is quoted saying, "Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Furthermore the gospel goes beyond what is offered in the other three gospels. Its Christology is much "higher" that is to say Jesus is portrayed to a greater degree with characteristics of divinity.
The gospel of John does not contain the words "Trinity" or "godhead" or the phrase "God in three persons" nor does it say the crucifixion "paid for" our sins. Nevertheless it goes far enough beyond the other three gospels that it can be considered a milestone on the church's journey to develop these doctrines.
Using the tools of modern Bible scholarship, what can we fairly say about theological truths expressed in John?