The Johannine Tradition

1
The Johannine Tradition

• The Gospel of John

2
Comparison to Synoptics

• 90 unique material
• major passages with verbal similarities
• the story of John
• call of the disciples
• feeding of the 5000
• Peter's confession
• triumphal entry
• last meal

3
Comparison to Synoptics

• Unique material in John
• early Judean ministry
• sign of water to wine
• conversation with Nicodemus
• raising of Lazarus
• Johannine prologue
• Jesus' lengthy monologues

4
Comparison to Synoptics

• Elements NOT recorded in John
• virgin birth
• baptism of Jesus (not described)
• the temptation
• the transfiguration
• parables and exorcisms
• Gethsemane
• ascension

5
Comparison to Synoptics

• Major Chronological variations Compare
  Synoptics and John
• cleansing of the Temple (213ff Mt 2110ff)
• day of the last supper (1828 Mk 1412f)
• time of the crucifixion (1914 Mk 1525)

6
Day of the Last Supper

• John 1828
• They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into
  the Praetorium, and it was early and they
  themselves did not enter into the Praetorium in
  order that they might not be defiled, but might
  eat the Passover.

• Mark 1412f
• And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when
  the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His
  disciples said to Him, "Where do You want us to
  go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?"

7
Time of the Crucifixion

• John 1914, 16
• 14 Now it was the day of preparation for the
  Passover it was about the sixth hour . 16 then
  delivered Him to them to be crucified.

• Mark 1525
• And they crucified Him, and divided up His
  garments among themselves, casting lots for them,
  to decide what each should take. 25 And it
  was the third hour when they crucified Him

8
Date of John

• Theologically advanced
• Seems anti-gnostic
• Seems familiar with Luke
• Anonymous, but attributed to John the Apostle (or
  John the Elder)
• Related to letters and Revelation
• Discovery of P52

9
General Character of John

• More written of Spirit than in Synoptics
• Use of symbolism and abstract concepts
• Contains more discourse than synoptics
• Reflections of Hellenistic thought
• More explicit theological reflection
• Realized vs. futurist eschatology
• Ontological vs. temporal dualism

10
Outline of Major Features

• Prologue (11-18)
• Beginnings and Judea (119-547)
• Galilean Ministry (61-71)
• Jerusalem Ministry (71-1039)
• Trans-Jordan Phase (1040-1250)
• Final Preparations (131-1726)
• Passion and Resurrection (181-2031)
• Epilogue (211-25)

11
Stated Purpose of John

• 2030-31 - Many other signs therefore Jesus also
  performed in the presence of the disciples, which
  are not written in this book but these have been
  written that you may believe that Jesus is the
  Christ, the Son of God and that believing you
  may have life in His name.

12
Purpose of John - Signs

• "sign" -- shmeivon
• John's word for "miracle"
• A "sign" points beyond itself to a more important
  reality
• Jesus' words regarding faith and signs
• 223-24
• 62
• 2029

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Purpose of John - Signs

• John 1-12 The Book of Signs
• Changing water to wine at Cana (21-11)
• Curing the royal official's son at Cana (446-54)
• Curing the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda
  (51-15)

14
Purpose of John - Signs

• John 1-12 The Book of Signs
• Multiplication of the loaves in Galilee (61-15)
• Walking upon the Sea of Galilee (616-21)
• Curing a blind man in Jerusalem (91-7)
• Raising Lazarus from the dead at Bethany
  (1138-44)

15
Purpose of John - Belief

• "to believe" - pistevw (pivsti"/pistov")
• In secular Greek assenting to the truth of
  something
• pistevw used in John (98) Mark (14) Matt (11)
  Luke (9)
• In John is directed to God or Jesus

16
Purpose of John - Belief

• "believing" in John
• affirming who Jesus is (Christ, Son of God,
  lovgo" , etc.)
• avenue to "knowing" God (expressing a
  relationship)
• pisteuvein eij" trust in and commitment to Jesus

17
Purpose of John - Life

• John's "Life" "true life" "eternal life"
• Used in John (35) Matt (7) Luke (5) Mark (4)
• Acquiring "life" in John entering the "kingdom
  of God" in synoptics
• Having "Life" receiving salvation (from God
  through Jesus to believers)
• "Life" a present reality in John

18
Purpose of John - Jesus

• Read the passages provided
• Organize the concepts into several logical
  categories
• Express each in language understandable to a
  typical congregation
• Write a summary statement of who Jesus is
  according to John