© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Chapter 10 John’s Portrait of Jesus: Divine Wisdom Made Flesh

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Key Topics/Themes John as different from the Synoptics Jesus as the Word made flesh Jesus’ crucifixion as glorification Christ eternally present in the Paraclete

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Introduction John’s innovative use of Logos concept Uniqueness of Gospel of John John as theological interpretation of Jesus’ life Author’s purpose: to inspire faith in Jesus’ divinity

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Authorship Traditional view: apostle John, son of Zebedee Wrote from Ephesus Also authored Johannine letters, Revelation

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Problems with Traditional View of Authorship Differences between John and Synoptics Difficulties identifying author with Beloved Disciple Early date of apostle John’s death

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Beloved Disciple Portrayed as Gospel’s primary historical resource Portrayed as in competition with Simon Peter Represents religious community behind author of John’s Gospel

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Place and Date of Composition Deeply rooted in Palestinian tradition Similarities with Qumran writings Traditionally located in Ephesus More recent scholars: Palestine Originally dated late second century More recent scholars: ca C.E.

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Relation to Synoptic Gospels Debates about whether John used Synoptics as sources Significant differences in content and motifs Significant differences in chronology and order of events

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. John’s Purpose and Method Christians excluded from Palestinian synagogues ca C.E. Relation to Gnostic ideas John’s portrayal of Jesus’ teaching Role of the Paraclete Organization of John’s Gospel

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Hymn to the Word (Chapter 1) Greek and Jewish background Jesus and divine Wisdom Jesus and Yahweh Role of the Baptist

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Book of Signs (Chapters 2-11) Jesus’ earthly work organized around seven signs John’s use of a Signs source The miracle at Cana Assault on the Temple Dialogue with Nicodemus

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Book of Signs (continued) Conversation with the Samaritan woman The woman taken in adultery Further signs and miracles The raising of Lazarus

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Book of Glory (Chapters 12-20) May be based on earlier, primitive Passion narrative Jesus’ warning at Last Supper of his impending departure John’s Passion story as one of triumph The Last Supper and farewell discourses

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Book of Glory (continued) Sending of the Paraclete (Holy Spirit) John’s interpretation of the Passion  Differences from the Synoptics  Author’s high Christology  Jesus’ full control over his fate  Trial before Pilate  John’s version of the Passion story Postresurrection appearances in Jerusalem

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Epilogue: Postresurrection Appearances in Galilee (Chapter 21) Breakfast by the shore of the Sea of Galilee Jesus questions Peter The Johannine vision of Jesus as extended in the Johannine letters

© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Summary Significance of realized eschatology Paraclete as the eternal presence of Jesus with his followers Jesus as coequal with God