THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN

An Overview of the Gospel

By Mike Pascual

Basic Information

• Date Written: 80-90AD– Final version around 110AD

• Locale: Ephesus area? Asia Minor?

• Author– Traditionally, by the beloved disciple, John

the Apostle, Son of Zebedee, as testified by Bishop Irenaeus of Lyons (202 AD)

Basic Information cont.

• Author detectable from Contents

– Multiple authors. John 21 refers to Beloved Disciple’s death.

– General Scholarly acceptance that John the Apostle was not the Beloved Disciple

Audience

• Written for a “Johannine community”

– A group of house-churches originating from the various sects of Judaism in Palestine

– See later slides of “Community of the Beloved Disciple”

Sources for John

• Author may have known the Gospels

• Certainly drew upon the source traditions of Gospels

– Collection of miracle stories (Signs source)

– Collection of sayings of Jesus (different from that of Gospels)

– An earlier account of Jesus’ passions, the empty tomb, and resurrection appearance

Similarities of John and Synoptics

• A. The Generic story

– A story about Jesus, who calls the disciples, performs miracles, fights the Pharisees, was crucified and resurrected.

• B. Specific Stories (next slide)

Notable specific Stories

• Feeding of the 5,000

• Cleansing of the Temple

• Anointing at Bethany

• The “Passion” Narrative

• The Empty Tomb

• Capernaum Official (parrellel to Q)

• Calling of the Disciples

Differences

Comparison John Synoptics

Length of Ministry

2-3 Years 1 year?

Location Judea/Galilee Galilee

Day of Death “Day of Prep.” 1st Day of Passover

More ComparisonsComparisons John Synoptics

Cleansing of Temple

Very Beginning Near the End (Climax)

Relationship of Jesus to God

Bears witness to Himself

Bears witness to God

Relationship of Jesus to Jews

Clear antagonism/ demonic

Jesus is a faithful Jew, trouble w leaders

In the Synoptics, NOT John

• Birth Stories

• Casting out of demons, exorcisms

• Parables

• Eucharist Last Supper

• Kingdom of God

• Peter’s Confession

• Baptism/ Temptations

In John, not in Synoptics

• The Logos (ch 1)

• Wedding at Cana (ch 2)

• Nicodemus (ch 3)

• I AM

• Feast of Tabernacles (7,8)

• Woman in adultery (8)

More in John, not in Synoptics

• Man born blind (ch 9)

• Caiaphas (11, 18)

• Washing of the Feet (ch 13)

• Last Discourse (13-18)

• Beloved Disciple (ch 13, 19-21)

• Conversation with Pilate (19)

• Doubting Thomas (20)

• Good Shepherd: Peter (ch 21)

Point

• Everything New is virtually the whole thing.

• When comparing John with the Synoptics, it is radically different but generally the same.

The Message of John

• Jesus, the Son of God, is the source of eternal life.

– Emphasis on SON

– The pre-existent SON

– Use of “I AM”

The Plot

• Focuses on the “hour” of Jesus’ glorification, his return to the Father at the crucifixion.

– Ch 1-4: Positive reception of Jesus

– Ch 5-12: Conflict over his identity and rejection of Jesus

– Ch 13-17: Interlude

– Ch 18ff: Unfolding of Passion

– Ch 21: Addendum

Portrayal of the Jews

• Illustrates Jews as outsiders

• Sometimes used in a neutral way, others as if enemies.

• Not all Jews in narrative are described negatively, some of them do believe.

Jewish Tradition in Gospel

• As scholars discover the diversity of 1st century Judaism, the Jewish background of the Gospel comes into focus

– Doesn’t quote OT directly, but there are clear allusions

Part 2: The Johannine CommunityA guided investigation of Raymond E. Brown’s book

Look at John 20:30-31

• An Ending

• The Hermeneutic of the whole Gospel:

– The Purpose of the Signs is to Believe

• Problem: Original Greek texts show

– “Come to believe”

– “To believe”

So you may (come to) believe

• Is the Gospel for those already believing?

• Or is it for those “coming to believe”, thus to make new converts?

Notes for ourselves

• 10 % of the population can read (Greek)

• Keep in mind that this was a dynamic text, a living text. It flows with the living community who edits and adjusts. It’s a sacred story, but not a sacred text.

More Investigation

• Chapter 2: 11.

• Chapter 4:48-49

• John 2:23-24

• John 20:24-29

• John 12:36b-43

So no one is believing!

• A Clue– John 9:18-23

• At what point did Christians get expelled from the Synagogue?– During Jesus’ Ministry?

– Or After Resurrection?

– (History suggests after Resurrection)

Another Note

• The Gospels are like Windows, narrating what took place.

• BUT, the Gospels are also like mirrors

– Not just what’s going on with Jesus

– BUT what’s going on w/ the Writer.

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We’ll see some of the story of Jesus

But we’ll also see their community

At different points of time

And the influence of our interpretation

What did we get out of this?

• The Gospel is a “Signs” Book that was ORIGINALLY intended to convert other Jews. But it did not happen. In fact, the text gives evidence of an expulsion (84 AD).

• So the Christians (who were still Jews) are no longer accepted as Jews.

• EDITS were made to critique “Signs Faith.”

Evidence of Redaction• First way, read near end of Chapter 4

and beginning of Chapter 5.

First way

Evidence of Redaction• Other way, read near end of Chapter 4.

Then the beginning of Chapter 6.

Other way

Another Investigation

• John 14:28- John 15:5.

– Note: Jesus gets up to leave, then speaks again.

– Other way, end of chapter 14, skip to Chapter 17.

– Why included? Chapter 16:1-4

LAST INVESTIGATION

• End of John 20

• AND CHAPTER 21.

• Didn’t the Gospel just end?

Beloved Disciple?

• Chapter 13:21-25

– What’s happening with the characters?

• Chapter 19:25-27

– Who’s there and who isn’t?

• Chapter 20:1-10

Beloved Disciple and Peter

• In Christian tradition, Peter is first and foremost of the Apostles.

• Note that in John, the term Apostles is ignored.

• Whenever Beloved Disciple and Peter are together, the Beloved Disciple is illustrated as the Ideal Disciple.

– While Peter looks inferior (to say the least)

Chapter 21

• Verse 20-23

• What happened?

– This is evidence that clearly, the Beloved Disciple is dead. ANOTHER Crisis. Persecution(?), and the death of the beloved disciple who is the strong leader of the Johannine community.

Note

• Raymond Brown argues that while the Johannine community was a sectarian group in Christianity, the death of the Beloved Disciple posed a problem for the community.

Note cont.

• Chapter 21 illustrates that struggle which alludes to the legitimate authority of Peter (a joining with the universal Church?)

• Especially note Peter before Ch 21, and Peter in Ch 21.

Academic Note

• “We should remember that Raymond Brown, while he is the forefront leader of the study of Johannine community, his presentation is still an academic theory…

• “but it’s a theory that is still the most convincing today.”—Dr. Jeff Siker, My Biblical professor for the course on John

Sources Cited Book

• Brown, Raymond E., An Introduction to the New Testament (New York: Doubleday, 1997).

• Brown, R., eds, The New Jerome Bible Handbook (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1992).

• Brown, R. The Community of the Beloved Disciple (New York: Paulist Press, 1979).