Module 3 H it to rj cal Backgr ov nd of John’s Go sq el
Outline for Module 3 Author Audience Text and Language
Author Who wrote St. John’s gospel? St. John?
Why is it important to know who wrote the Gospel?
Can we make a definitive claim about authorship?
What does the gospel say? " Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name." (Joh 20:30-31 NAB)
"But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may [come to] believe." (Joh 19:33-35 NAB)
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one " who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, "Master, who is the one who will betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus said to him, "What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me." So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just "What if I want him to remain until I come? [What concern is it of yours?]" It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written." (Joh 21:20-25 NAB)
No explicit author cited in the gospel.
Why do we say St. John? Ancient authors cite St. John as the Author. St. Irenaeus: connects John to the one who reclined with Jesus at the Last Supper then published gospel in Ephesus. Irenaeus supposedly got this information from St. Polycarp who heard John’s preaching. Clement of Alexandria: also cited John, son of Zebedee, one of the 12.
Modern biblical scholars doubt these claims. The main problem is one of timing. If we date the gospel to being written after the expulsion from the synagogues, then we are talking about 95ad. How old would John son of Zebedee be then?
Current theories: John, son of Zebedee and Beloved Disciple were different people Author of the Gospel is a complicated term person who literally wrote person who was responsible for the information person who may have collected and edited material
Argument against BD being literal author: Allusion to the death of the BD: 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" 22 Jesus said to him, "What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me." 23 So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just "What if I want him to remain until I come? [What concern is it of yours?]"
Some use of the third person: "And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth." (Joh 1:14 NAB) "From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace," (Joh 1:16 NAB) Some passages seem to talk about the BD in 3rd person. (19:35) 35 An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may [come to] believe."
Probably not written by an eye witness (see Brown p.195) Could have been a “school” ?
Brown’s theory: Evangelist: author for the most part. Disciple of the BD Selected parts of BD tradition to create narrative whole Relies on witnesses
Writer of epistles: Gospel was received, but not understood by all. Epistle author tries to correct some problems in the community
Redactor: completes the gospel by adding some material. Added new ending to the gospel
Place: ancient sources said Ephesus seems to be a detailed knowledge of Jerusalem and surrounding area.
Date of the gospel? Good discussion in Brown p206: 90-110AD
Audience: why is this important?
Written for believers written for both Jew and Gentile Helps Christians to appreciate what they have received: "But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God. 4 And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth" (Joh 1:12-14 NAB)
Community of the Beloved Disciple: good explanation starting in Brown p 69.
I will not take a definitive stance. What we need to know: Christians Some persecution Some Gentiles and Jewish In other words, perfect for us still today.
Text and Language It is always important to research the history of the text as we have it. Current text is a combination of ancient manuscripts We do not have the originals.
Woman caught in adultery (Jn 8: 1-11) This well-beloved story is missing from some ancient manuscripts Was it a part of the original text? What is the meaning of this text?
Text also seems to be redacted at some point. There are some repetitive parts (2 endings: 29 " Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed 30 are those who have not seen and have believed." Now Jesus did many other signs 31 in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name." (Joh 20:29-31 NAB) 23 " So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just "What if I want him to remain 24 until I come? [What concern is it of yours?]" It is this disciple who testifies to these 25 things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.” (Joh 21:23-25 NAB)
Chapter 17 seems to be a long interruption of the events of the story: When reading slowly and carefully we might find parts of the text that don’t flow that well.
What is the importance of the canon of scripture? What are the benefits and caveats for text criticism?
Language The text was written in Greek. Often quite poetic: " 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, 17 because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (Joh 1:16-17 NAB) Allusions within the text to the OT: For example: Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος , καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν π ρὸς τὸν θεόν , καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος . And from Genesis: ἐν ἀρχῇ ἐ π οίησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν (Gen 1:1 BGT)
John has been described as a pool in which a baby can splash, but also an elephant can bathe. We have to be sure that we are conscious of the plain meaning of the text, without sterilizing the deeper meaning.
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