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John 6:56-69
With thanks to page sponso Greg Wooley:
in memory of friend and colleague, Rev. Ron Jeffrey

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
  • "Supper & Eucharist," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
  • XIX.49-54; XX.1-9; Tatian's Diatessaron (c. 150-160).
  • III.XI.6, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter III, The Prescription of Heretics, Tertullian (c. 200)
  • Chapter XXXVII, Chapter L, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,  Tertullian (c. 211)
  • Chapter XXI, Against Praxeas,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • XII.17, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)
  • On the Lord's Prayer -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
  • Epistle LXVIII -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 254)
  • Epistle LXXII -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 256)
  • From Augustine's Tractates on John: Tractate XXVI (6:41-59); Tractate XXVII (6:60-72).
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "If Christ is present, life is present, but when Christ is absent, then death is present."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "The Messiah's kingdom was not of this world; and they were to understand by faith, what he had said of a spiritual living upon him, and his fulness."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "Not that His ascension itself would stumble them more than His death, but that after recoiling from the mention of the one, they would not be in a state of mind to take in the other."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "I shall ascend to heaven so that my body cannot be literally eaten; the flesh literally profits nothing. It is the spirit that makes alive. The spirits of men must feed upon me by faith, that they may be made alive. My words are spirit and life. He who feeds upon them will be made alive."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, John 6:56-69, Susan Hylen, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2015.
    • "Although Jesus' words 'I am the bread of life' are familiar to many Christians, in this passage the disciples declare this to be a 'hard saying.'"
  • "Looking for God," David Lose, ...in the Meantime, 2015.
    • "...the picture St. John draws for us in today's reading may not a pretty one, but it is a rather realistic one. It is, in other words, a fairly accurate portrait of disbelief, with Jesus surrounded by folks who wanted to believe, who used to believe, who have been trying to believe, but have gone through the motions too long and have finally given up."
  • "Not Just Bread Anymore," Karoline Lewis, Dear Working Preacher, 2015.
    • "Much more than bread. And as it turns out, much more life than we could have ever imagined -- or even that we want."
  • The Center for Excellence in Preaching, Scott Hoezee, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, illustration ideas, 2015.
    • "...for Jesus to say, "I am the bread of life," wasn't too scandalous. Jesus was known as a great teacher and so here appears to be comparing his words to bread, to a kind of spiritual cuisine that could feed your soul."
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2015.
  • "Gristle," Andrew Prior, One Man's Web, 2015. Podcast.
    • "For Jewish ears there is a pun here which is disgusting. To drink human blood is to drink life. Blood is reserved only for the altar. To drink it is indeed to have life within oneself, but in the most sacrilegious fashion possible. It is to pretend to be like God."
  • "Offended by the Bread of Life," Glenn Monson, Law and Gospel Everywhere, 2015.
    • "Given Jesus' statement regarding the spirit giving life, it might be interesting to the play with flesh/spirit, death/life, or non-faith/faith."
  • "Do I Choose or Am I Chosen?" Janet H. Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2015.
    • "Do we choose or are we chosen? What do you think? What stories from your own experience shape your thinking on this?"
  • "You Have the Words of Eternal Life!" Peter Lockhart, A Different Heresy, 2015.
  • "Body and Soul," Nancy Rockwell, The Bite in the Apple, 2015.
    • "Majestic and abundant words, and more than a little creepy. Perhaps my own resistance to Jesus being associated with creepy things is part of my own idolatry."
  • "A Stumblilng Faith," Howie Adan, Just off the Map, 2015.
  • "Las palabras escandalosas de Jesus," Manuel Villalobos Mendoza, 2015.
  • Commentary, John 6:56-69, Jamie Clark-Soles, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2012.
    • "This climatic passage, with its rich metaphor and intense interaction, aims to move us finally to a confession, a claiming, a proclaiming."
  • "The Politics of Betrayal," Karoline Lewis, ON Scripture, Odyssey Networks, 2012.
    • "But, what if betrayal is far more complex than going back on a promise? The story of Judas narrates one such complication."
  • More about the Bread of Life, audio telling, story in episodes, graphic, audio and written commentaries. Go Tell Communications, Biblical Storytelling for the Global Village, 2012.
  • "The Bloody Truth," Rick Morley, 2012.
    • "So, when Jesus says that his followers are to drink his blood, what he’s saying in the ancient biblical language of Leviticus is: take my life, and pour it into your bodies, your lives, your souls."
  • "You Have the Words of Eternal Life," Janet Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2012.
    • "When did you last speak these words, 'Lord to whom can we go?' with a heart full of yearning and hope? How was your yearning answered?"
  • "Scandalizing Words Are Life-Giving Words,'" D Mark Davis, raw translation and exegesis/questions, Left Behind and Loving It, 2012.
    • " 'Gnaws': Last week I pointed out that the verb 'gnaws' (τρώγω) is different than the verb 'eat' (ἐσθίω). I do not want to make too much of the difference, but I am using ‘gnaws’ (one possible translation of τρώγω) in order to show that there is a difference. This word change generated some insightful remarks from others last week."
  • "Jesus' Journey and Ours," Alyce McKenzie, Edgy Exegesis, Patheos, 2012.
    • "The question arises that if we are no longer going about with him, then where are we going?"
  • "If Only We Had Better Options," Michael Coffey, 2012.
  • Lectionary Blogging, John Petty, Progressive Involvement, 2012.
    • "Verse 63 is puzzling because of the tenses of the verbs. I've translated it as: 'The words which I have spoken to you are spirit and life.' The problem is that the verb is the third person singular form of the verb 'to be.' The word to which it refers--'words'--is plural. The subject and verb do not agree in number."
  • "The Lullaby Gospel," Peter Woods, I Am Listening, 2012.
    • "'Words of eternal life' are of course hard to define, and challenging preaching can be as much of an ego trip for masochistic martyrs as the comfortable gospel."
  • "Lord to Whom Shall We Go? The Politics of John 6:56-69," Ann Allen, Political Theology, 2012.
    • "How often do we cling to Jesus as our hope–hard words or not? Or, how often, do we turn to and away from Christ and his gospel as it is politically expedient to do? How often do we try with the masses to find an easier lord to serve?"
  • Radical Gratitude, lectionary-based stewardship, Northwest United Methodist Foundation. (.pdf)
  • "Life Outside the Lines," Melissa Bane Servier, Contemplative Viewfinder, 2012.
    • "For Christians, there is something about the Word that we cannot seem to find anywhere else. The gospel words of eternal life go straight to the soul. The words don’t straighten the maze, really. But when we are winding our way around it, retracing our steps, losing our way at times, stumbling around outside the lines, we try not to feel utterly lost."
  • Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, John 6:56-69, David Ewart, 2012.
    • "John wants us to hear the word, 'abide,' as being as viscerally real as 'flesh' and 'blood.' And to hear the words, 'flesh' and 'blood,' as dynamically real as 'abide.'"
  • "Fleshy Life," Nanette Sawyer, The Hardest Question, 2012.
    • "It is through our bodies that we encounter God’s creation. It is with our bodies that we can stand for justice, as Jesus did."
  • "Turning Back," Reflection and original poem by Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, 2012.
  • "A Cafe at the Gate of Salvation," Andrew Prior, 2012.
    • "What we have is as profound as all the wisdom of science and arts. It fills us. As soon as we seek to explain it, it falls apart in our hands."
  • Comentario del Evangelio por Marisa Strizzi, Juan 6:56-69, Working Preacher, 2012.
    • "El texto para este domingo nos permite reflexionar sobre la insospechada y escandalosa cercanía de Dios en la cotidianidad de la vida y las limitaciones humanas para reconocerlo."
  • Commentary, John 6:56-69, Brian Peterson, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "Here, as elsewhere in this chapter, the paradox remains: faith only comes as the Father draws us, and yet Peter and the others (and we too) are asked for our response."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "First Thoughts on Year B Gospel Passages in the Lectionary," Pentecost 13, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Jesus is the major image or icon in whom we see God?s light and life."
  • Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen, CrossMarks Christian Resources.
    • "Proper belief is not just believing what Jesus has said (even if it is a "hard word"), but believing Jesus -- who he is, where he came from."
  • "The Words of Eternal Life," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "The Audacity of Faith," Steven C. Kuhl, Sabbatheology, The Crossings Community, 2009.
    • "The good news is that Jesus is not merely a disinterested teacher or an expert debater about what is. Far better, he comes as an active agent who is sent into the world by the Father to bring about for us God-forsaken people a new world, a new reality, a new relationship before God and others, called 'eternal life.'"
  • 14th Sunday after Pentecost, John 6:1-71 -- The Bread Which Gives Life to the World, Paul S. Berge, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1985.
  • "A Hard Saying," Gospel Analysis, Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
  • "Resistance," Ordinary 21B, Fr. Gerry Pierse, C.Ss.R., from Sundays Into Silence: Reflections on the Sunday Gospels in the Light of Christian Meditation. Claretian Publications.
    • "The work of meditation can be painful and frustrating. There are two possible responses: abandon in anger or persevere in patience. In the latter is the secret of life, here and hereafter."
  • Marginally Mark, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia.
  • Wellspring of the Gospel, Ordinary 21B, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner, Weekly Wellsprings.
  • "Reasons for Leaving, Reasons for Staying," Ordinary 21B, Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
    • "Why do you like to go to Church? What holds you in weekly worship when there are so many other things to do on Sunday?"
  • Commentary by Hall Harris at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
  • "Food For Thought: The Bread of Life Discourse (John 6:25-71) in Johannine Legitimation," by James F. McGrath, from Theological Gathering 2 (Winter 1997).
    • "...the bread of life discourse represents a christological exposition of the Old Testament manna tradition. Eucharistic language is thus probably used not as an end in itself, but because it enables faith in Jesus to be expounded in a way that is relevant to the Johannine community's legitimation of its beliefs and practices in the context of its conflict with the synagogue."
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Ashton, John, "The Identity and Function of the Ioudaioi in the Fourth Gospel," Novum Testamentum, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Berge, Paul S., "The Bread Which Gives Life to the World," Word & World, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Braaten, Jason M., "Barley, flesh and life: the bread of life discourse and the Lord's Supper," Concordia Theological Quarterly, 2014.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Bracken, Joseph A., "The challenge of self-giving love," Theological Studies, 2013.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Campbell, Cynthia M., "Essential Question," The Christian Century, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Crossan, John Dominic, "It Is Written: A Structuralist Analysis of John 6," Semeia, 1983.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Domeris, William, "The Confession of Peter according to John 6:69," Tyndale Bulletin, 1993.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Fredrickson, David E., "Eucharistic Symbolism in the Gospel of John," Word & World, 1997.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Hanna, Eleanor B., "Biblical Interpretation and Sacramental Practice: John Calvin's Interpretation of John 6:51-58," Worship, 1999.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Harrill, J. Albert, "Cannibalistic Language in the Fourth Gospel and Greco Roman Politics of Factionalism," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Husted, Heidi, "Decisions," The Christian Century, 2000.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Kilmartin, S.J., "Liturgical Influence on John 6," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1960.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Koester, Craig R., "John Six and the Lord's Supper," Lutheran Quarterly, 1990.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Krodel, Gerhard, "John 6:63 - Expository Article," Interpretation, 1983.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lilly, Joseph L., "The Eucharistic Discourse of John 6," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1950.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Ortberg, John, "Roll Call," The Christian Century, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Phillips, Gary A., "'This Is A Hard Saying. Who Can Be Listener To It?': Creating a Reader in John 6," Semeia, 1983.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Pryor, John W., "The Johannine Son of Man and the Descent-Ascent Motif," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1991.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Ross, J.M., "Some Unnoticed Points in the Text of the New Testament," Novum Testamentum, 1983. (Section on John 6:56 begins on page 66.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Ruland, S.J., Vernon, "Sign and Sacrament: John's Bread of Life Discourse," Interpretation, 1964.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Rusch, Frederick A., "The Signs and the Discourse - The Rich Theology of John 6," Currents in Theology and Mission, 1978.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Tatarnic, Martha Smith, "Whoever comes to me: open table, missional church, and the body of Christ," Anglical Theological Review, 2014.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Temple, Patrick J., "The Eucharist in St John 6," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1947.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Voelz, James W., "The Discourse on the Bread of Life in John 6: Is It Eucharistic?" Concordia Journal, 1989.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Wright, William M., IV, "Greco-Roman Character Typing and the Presentation of Judas in the Fourth Gospel," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2009.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Yeago, David S., "The Bread of Life: Patristic Christology and Evangelical Soteriology in Martin Luther's Sermons on John 6," St Vladimir's Theological Quarterly, 1995.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "Following Jesus will always be a minority enterprise," Gary R. Hall, Faith and Leadership, 2015.
  • "Eating Jesus," the Rev. Martin Copenhaver, Day 1, 2012.
  • "Words of Eternal Life," the Rev. Dr. David Lose, Day 1, 2009.
  • "Lord, To Whom Shall We Go?" Pentecost 12, 27 August 2006, Hubert Beck, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
  • "Stumbling Blocks," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
  • "A Discipleship Dropout," Peter K. Perry, narrative sermon at Kir-Shalom.
  • "Faith and Knowledge," the Rev. Gemechis Desta Buba, Day 1, 2003.
  • "The Prodigal," the Rev. Grace Imathiu, Day 1, 2000.
  • Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily:
    • Ordinary 21, 2012
    • Ordinary 21, 2009
    • Ordinary 21, 2008
    • Ordinary 21, 2006
    • Ordinary 21, 2000
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Proper 16B, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2012.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," 2015, Union Presbyterian Seminary.
  • John 5 & 6 Word Search, Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
• Drama:
  • "In Front of the Synagogue of Capernaum," from A Certain Jesus by Jose Ignacio and Maria Lopez Vigil. Ideal for catechetical and liturgical dramatization of today's gospel. Claretian Publications.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art Images: John 6:60-69, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
  • John 6:56-69 at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
  • John 6:60-69, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
  • Commercial Site: "Bread of Life,", Visual Liturgy/Film, The Work of the People.
  • Bulletin Cover/Art, John 6:57, John 6:68, John Stuart, Knoxville, TN. (Free use by churches.)
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: John 6:56, 57, 58, 62, 68. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • "Break Thou the Bread of Life"
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of John

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