The Spiritual Gospel Clement of Alexandria (c. 150 c. 215) wrote 190: John wrote a spiritual Gospel, divinely moved by the Holy Spirit, on observing that the things obvious to the senses had been clearly set forth in the earlier Gospels.
90% of John without parallels on the Synoptics Only 7 events from the Synoptics much attention to the teachings of Jesus, little to events in the ministry of Jesus Like Luke prominence to Women Like Luke memorable minor characters Examples of Material Unique to John 2:1-12 Miracle at Cana (water into wine) 3:1-21 Conversations with Nicodemus (born again) 4:7-26 Samaritan Woman at the Well (where to worship) 5:1-18 Healing of Man at Pool of Bethesda 7:53-8:11 Woman Caught in the Act of Adultery 9:1-41 Healing of the Man Born Blind 11:1-44 Raising of Lazarus 13:1-20 Washing the Disciples' Feet 17:1-26 The High Priestly Prayer 20:24-29 Resurrection Appearance to Doubting Thomas Examples of Material Absent from John No stories of Jesus' birth, baptism, or temptation No transfiguration No parables No exorcisms No predictions of Jerusalem's downfall (but see 2:19-22) No references to repentance No institution of the Eucharist (but see 6:51) No references to a Parousia (unless maybe 14:3; 21:22-23)
Examples of Material Unique to John Examples of Material Absent from John Examples of Material Notably Different in John from the Synoptics References to three Passovers indicates ministry lasts three years 2:13; 6:4; 11:55 Temple cleansing comes at beginning of ministry 2:13-22; Mark 11:15-19 Jesus' ministry overlaps with that of John the Baptist 3:22-24; Mark 1:14 Call of disciples includes Philip and Nathanael 1:35-51; Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-14 Feeding of five thousand features a boy with a basket 6:1-15; Mark 6:30-44 Anointing at Bethany is by Mary, sister of Martha 12:1-8; Mark 14:3-9 Crucifixion story contains three unique sayings 19:17-37; Mark 15:21-39; Luke 23:33-47 Miraculous catch of fish after Easter 21:1-8; Luke 5:4-11 A complicated case: the Passover meal or just a regular meal? John Jesus dies on the day before the Passover 13:1 Supper is served before the Passover 18:28 Early morning before the high priest, on the day before the Passover 19:14 Before Pilate it was the day of preparation for the Passover 19:31 Jesus dies on the day of preparation, while Passover lambs are being slaughtered. From the start, the gospel of John presents Jesus as the Lamb of God (exclusive title in John, 1:29, 36) Synoptics The last meal is the Passover meal (Matt. 26:17; Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7) Jesus dies the next day, i.e. on the day after the Passover Conclusion John the last supper is just a last supper (no This is my body. in ch 13, but cf. 6:51-59) Synoptics the last supper coincides with the Jewish Passover meal. Complication All 4 Gospels agree that the crucifixion happens on the eve of the Sabbath (i.e. Friday evening)
Composition Possible Sources for John's Gospel a Signs Gospel that recorded seven or eight miracle stories (2:1-12; 4:46-54; 5:1-9; 6:1-13; 9-1 -7; 11:1-44; 21:1-8; maybe 6:15-25); may have included an account of the passion and resurrection a collection of remembrances of the beloved disciple dealing mostly with the last week of Jesus life a collection of sermons of the beloved disciple underlying the great discourses of Jesus The formation of traditions such as these prior to the final editing of John's Gospel is widely accepted among scholars, but the nature and extent of these sources are greatly disputed. Editorial Glitches and Additions 8:31 8:37 The Jews believing not believing 11:12 12:3 Mary is said to have anointed the Lord before anointing him 7:53-8:11 7:36 21:25 The Adulterous Woman (manuscript variations) 14: 31 18:1 Rise, let us go ----- After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out Ch 21 Later addition (see 21:24-25), possible to debunk the rumor that the beloved disciple would not die (21:20-23), after he had actually died
Composition Possible Sources for John's Gospel Editorial Glitches A Gospel Composed in Stages A theory of composition stages of John s Gospel: First: Second: Third: Fourth: Gospel materials consist of an oral, unorganized collection of reports of Jesus words and deeds preaching and teaching over several decades shapes material into distinctive units units are organized consecutively into a first draft of a written Gospel subsequent editions are redacted to meet objections to the first Fifth: final editing and addition of chapters 15-17 and 21
Composition Authorship The Testimony of the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved? John's Gospel claims to be based on the testimony of someone called "the beloved disciple" (21:23-24). The disciple is mentioned at the following points in the narrative: Leans on Jesus' chest at last supper 13:23 Intermediary between Peter and Jesus 13:24-25 Gains admittance for Peter to Pilate's court 18:15-16 Entrusted with care of Jesus' mother 19:26-27 Outruns Peter to the tomb on Easter morning 20:4 First to believe in the resurrection 20:8 Identifies the risen Jesus for Peter 21:7 Fate should not be a matter of concern for Peter 21:21-23 Who was the beloved disciple? Probably one of three (Jesus inner circle of disciples: Mt 17:1, 26:37; and Mk 5:37) Simon Peter is ruled out because of Joh 13:23-24; maybe also 20:3,8 and 21:20 leaves James and his brother John, but James was the first of the disciples to suffer martyrdom, as recorded in Ac 12:1-2. Joh 1:14: we beheld his glory Indicates an eyewitness Detailed accounts of private conversations and thoughts Joh 3:1-21, 4:4-30, 11:1-44, 13:1-30, etc. John is never mentioned by name
Composition Authorship The Testimony of the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved? Who was the beloved disciple? Church Fathers Irenaeus (182 CE) (Irenaeus was a pupil of Polycarp who was the friend and pupil of John) the Valentinians avail themselves in the most complete manner of the Gospel according to John. "for sixty years after the Ascension preached orally, till the end of Domitian's reign; and after the death of Domitian, having returned to Ephesus, he was induced to write (his Gospel) concerning the divinity of Christ, co-eternal with the Father; in which he refutes those heretics, Cerinthus and the Nicolaitans. Tertullian (late 2 nd century) Among the apostles, John and Matthew form the faith within us; among the companions of the apostles, Luke and Mark renovate it. Clement of Alexandria (190 CE) John wrote a spiritual Gospel, divinely moved by the Holy Spirit, on observing that the things obvious to the senses had been clearly set forth in the earlier Gospels. The Muratorian Canon (170 CE) Of the fourth of the Gospels, (the author) was John, one of the disciples. Irenaeus, the pupil of Polycarp who was the friend and pupil of St. John, said that John
Composition Authorship The Testimony of the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved? Who was the beloved disciple? Church Fathers Three Persons Named John John the Apostle son of Zebedee, brother James, called to be among Jesus first disciples (Mark 1:19-20) ministered alongside Peter (Acts 3-4) pillar of the church (Gal. 2:9) may be the disciple whom Jesus loved whose testimony is incorporated into the Gospel of John (John 21:24). John the Elder John the Seer author of epistles? never mentioned in NT, but in writings from the early church, including Eusebius. probably the "elder" responsible for at least two of the Johannine epistles (2 John, 3 John) maybe responsible for 1 John and also redactor of the Gospel at a late or final stage. Visionary author of Revelation We know nothing about this person except what he tells us in Revelation wrote while in exile on the island of Patmos (Rev. 1:1,9) often confused with the two persons mentioned above, no good reason to identify him with either of them
Composition Authorship Characterization of Jesus in John s Gospel Jesus Divine Sonship 1:1-18 The Logos was God 3:16, 18 Monogenes, the only begotten (cf. 1:14, 18) 20:28 Thomas: My Lord and my God 8:58-9 Before Abraham was I am treated as blasphemy 18:5 I am soldiers fall to the ground Seven Metaphorical I Am Sayings "I am the bread of life" (6:35; see 6:51) "I am the light of the world" (8:12; 9:5) "I am the gate" (10:7,9) "I am the good shepherd" (10:11,14) "I am the resurrection and the life" (11:25) "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (14:6) "I am the vine" (15:1,5) Even these I am words may be symbolic, recalling God's self-designation in Deuteronomy 32:39 or Isaiah 46:4
Composition Authorship Characterization of Jesus in John s Gospel Jesus Divine Sonship Seven Metaphorical "I Am" Sayings Jesus other-worldly character From above, not of this world (3:13, 312; 6:33, 8:23) Sovereign, in control, always prepared At the meal with Judas (ch 13:27) After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, Do quickly what you are going to do. In the final prayer (Joh 12:27-29) Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say-- 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven, I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again. The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." At the arrest 18:2-13 On the cross 19:17-30 (esp. v. 28-30)
Composition Authorship Characterization of Jesus in John s Gospel Jesus Divine Sonship Seven Metaphorical "I Am" Sayings Jesus otherworldly character The Word made Flesh (John 1:1-18) The Gospel begins with a prologue that presents Jesus as the preexistent Word made flesh. 1:1 the word was God 1:18 the word became flesh Provide foundation for the Christian doctrine of Incarnation Two natures of Christ: fully divine and fully human The challenge to the reader of the gospel as a whole is to see the divine in and through the flesh, cf. ch 6.
Composition Authorship Characterization of Jesus in John s Gospel Jesus Divine Sonship Seven Metaphorical "I Am" Sayings Jesus otherworldly character The Word made flesh The Christological Moment What moment in Jesus' life is most significant christologically? At what point is he to be acclaimed something more than human? The Gospels (and Q) seem to answer this differently: The Q Source at his parousia (Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-30) it will be like that on the day that the son of man is revealed (Lk 17:30) Mark at his baptism (Mark 1:9-11) Matthew/Luke at his birth (Matt. 1:20-25; Luke 1:30-35) John in the beginning (John 1:1-2) The documents are listed here from earliest to latest. The theory is that as time passed what was perceived to be the essential "christological moment" moved to an earlier point in time.
Narrative Technique Double meanings, ambivalence and riddle 1. 2:19 Destroy this temple 2. 3:3 Born from above/again (ἄνωθεν) 3. 3.14; 8:28; 12:32 being lifted up /exalted 4. 4:10-15 Living water (preceded by the request for water) 5. 4:31-34 Food unknown 6. 6:33-34 Bread that comes down from heaven (preceded by the feeding miracle) 7. 9: 39-40 Seeing and blindness (preceded by the healing of a blind man) 8. 11:11-13 Fallen asleep 9. 11:23-27 will rise again etc Dramatic Irony 1. 1:46 Can anything good come out of Nazareth? 2. 8:53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? 3. 11:50 It is better for you to have one man die for the people.
Structure
Structure Movements Chs 2-4 From Kana, via Jerusalem and Samaria back to Kana Chs 5-10 Mostly Jerusalem, Ministry at festival times, unclear transitions between chs 4, 5 and 6. Chs 13-20 In Jerusalem, last meal, farewell discourses, final prayer, arrest, trial,crucifixion and resurrection Ch 21 At Lake Galilee Places Seaside place of crucial encounters with disciples (chs 6, 21) Temple place of public appearances and activities, 2.15; 7:14; no prediction of derstruction
Structure Movements Places Festivals Three visits to Jerusalem for Pesach (2:13; 6;4; 11:55)
Structure Movements Places Festivals Progressive Slowdown
Structure Progressive slowdown 2 years ½ year One week 5½ chapters 1.18 7.9 5 chapters 7.10 11.57 9 chapters 12 20 12.1: Six days before Easter, Jesus came to Bethany Festivals Pesach 1 Pesach 2 Sukkot Chanukka Pesach 3 Spring Spring Fall Winter Spring
Structure Signs Discourses I am -sayings