In the New Testament, chapters 14–17 of the Gospel of John are known as the Farewell Discourse given by Jesus to eleven of his disciples immediately after the conclusion of the Last Supper in Jerusalem, the night before his crucifixion.
Jesus saying farewell to his eleven remaining disciples, from the Maesta by Duccio, 1308–1311
Papyrus 108 (second or third century) containing John 17:23–24 from the end of the Farewell Discourse
Statue of Jesus giving his blessing, Notre-Dame Cathedral
Christ the True Vine, 16th century Greek icon
The Gospel of John is the fourth of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament. It contains a highly schematic account of the ministry of Jesus, with seven "signs" culminating in the raising of Lazarus and seven "I am" discourses culminating in Thomas' proclamation of the risen Jesus as "my Lord and my God". The gospel's concluding verses 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."
John 18:31–33 on Papyrus 52 (recto; c. AD 150).
Jesus giving the Farewell Discourse to his 11 remaining disciples, from the Maestà of Duccio, 1308–1311
The Rylands Papyrus is the oldest known New Testament fragment, dated to about 125–175 AD.
Bede translating the Gospel of John on his deathbed, by James Doyle Penrose, 1902