The following outline is from Father Felix Just S.J., Ph.D. Please note the material is copyrighted and is being used in accordance with his generous terms of usage.
A) 1-2: The Divine WORD was with God eternally.
B) 3: All things came into being through it/him (the Word).
C) 4-5: In him was life and light, which darkness did not overcome.
D) 6-8: [John was not the light, but came to testify about the light.]
E) 9-10: The True Light was in the world, but the world did not recognize him.
F) 11: He came into his own realm, but his own people did not accept him.
G) 12: THOSE WHO DO BELIEVE IN HIM BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD.
F’) 13: These believers are not ordinary human offspring, but are born of God.
E’) 14: The Incarnate WORD reveals God’s glory, full of grace and truth.
D’) 15: [John testified about the priority of the one coming after him.]
C’) 16: Out of his (the Word’s) fullness, we all received grace upon grace.
B’) 17: Grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ.
A’) 18: The only-begotten Son has revealed God.
Here is Father Just’s literal translation of the prologue arranged according to the above outline.
Here is a slightly different outline from Father Dom Henry Wansbrough:
A1) Origin with God (1:1-2)
B1) Creation (1:3-5)
C1) John the Baptist (1:6-8)
D1) The word gives light (1:9)
E1) Rejection (1:10-11)
F) Power to become sons of God (1:12a)
E2) acceptance (1:12b-13)
D2) We saw his glory (1:14)
C2) John the Baptist (1:15)
B2) Re-creation (1:16-17)
A2) Return to God (1:18)
You can view Father Wansbrough’s pdf booklet here. Scroll down to pages 36-37 to see what he has to say about the structure.
Finally, here is the outline I prefer:
A1) Everything came to be through the eternal Word to whom John bore witness (1:1-8)
B1) The true light was in the world and was rejected by his own (1:9-11)
C) To those who believe he gave power to become children of God (1:12-13)
B2) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory (1:14)
A2) Grace and truth came to be through Jesus Christ to whom John bore witness (1:15-18)
The parallels between the A1 and the A2 sections are obvious. The parallels between the B1 and B2 sections are partly antithetical (“rejection” contrasting with “we beheld his glory”) and partly thematic (“was in the world” paralleling “the Word became flesh”).
Here is a fine, 8 page article from THE AUSTRALIAN BIBLICAL REVIEW which looks at various proposed structures and suggests a new one. The work also contains some helpful notes. It was written by Dr. Mary Coloe of the Catholic University of Australia.
For various outlines to the entire Gospel of John go here.
