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Chapter 10
John’s Portrait of Jesus:
Divine Wisdom Made Flesh
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Key Topics/Themes
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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. 90-100 C.E.
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.
Relation to Synoptic Gospels
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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
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Christians excluded from Palestinian
synagogues ca. 80-90 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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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Sending of the Paraclete (Holy Spirit)
John’s interpretation of the Passion
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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)
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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
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Significance of realized eschatology
Paraclete as the eternal presence of Jesus
with his followers
Jesus as coequal with God
© 2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.