The Gospel of John

focusmagazine.org 

The Passion Narrative

Two Approach

es

Narrative-Criticism

Historical-Criticism

Historical- Criticism

Historical-criticism looks at a given text in the light

of historical evidence. It is based on the context

in which a work was written, including facts

about the author’s life and the historical and social

circumstances of the time.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/267358/historical-criticism

It considers the background of the writing ‘the world behind the text’

This method is one approach used by Catholics to understand Biblical texts.

Within this approach we find a variety of different critical methods used e.g. source criticism, tradition criticism “sometimes people refer to the historical-critical method as if it is a single thing, which is misleading” (Carvalho, 2009)

“The historical-critical method is the indispensable method for the scientific study of the meaning of ancient texts” (PBC -The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church, 1993)

According to the Jerome Biblical Commentary the use of literary criticism (a study of content of the NT) and Historical Criticism (a study of the NT as a historical document) for studying the New Testament has a history that ranges from the 2nd Century to now. P.1131

Really, it is a modern concept but from very early times scholars undertook serious study of the Bible.

H-C is one of the oldest forms of interpreting the Biblical texts.

It attempts to determine the value of the sacred text as a historical document both as to facts and teaching.

This method seeks to reconstruct the writers life, ideas and social environment p.1117,8 (JBC)

Purpose of this Approach

It helps understand ancient texts in the Biblethe historical situation of the text the historical situation of the

authorthe meaning and message in the

text and how it can be applied to the reader’s (our) life.

Gospel of John

M Fouhy - Year 12 Biblical Studies 2011

11

• P52 is the oldest known manuscript fragment of the New Testament. A Fragment of the Gospel of John. Egypt, 125-150 C.E.

“The Gospel of John represents a religious tradition that is independent of the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke).

Synoptic Gospels John’s Gospel

Descriptive of historical events Reflective of the significance of various events

Relates many of the short sayings of Jesus

Gives more of the long discourses of Jesus

Emphasis upon the Kingdom of God Emphasis upon eternal life

Emphasis on future prophecy Little about future prophecy

1)John was the last Gospel written (Written about 70 yrs after the death of Jesus).

2)John omits about 90% of the material in the other Gospels.

3)In John’s Gospel, the ministry of Jesus last 3 years; in the Synoptic Gospels it lasts for about one year.

4)In John’s Gospel, Jesus claims divinity, speaks of himself in the 1st person (using “I am” statements), and his teaching style is marked by long philosophical discourses, rather than parables and sayings

John’s Gospel is different

There is no indication that any of the four Gospel writers expected his audience to read or hear another Gospel other than what he wrote.

Thus each Gospel was looked on as local variation of one Gospel.

Pg1047 (JBC)

Outline of John1:1 1:19 12:1 20:1

Written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God...

...and that believing you may have life in His name

Prologue Period of 3 years Passion Week Epilogue

Focus upon the ministry and miracles of Jesus

Focus upon Jesus teaching his disciples and the events of the death, burial & resurrection

Public Ministry Private Ministry

Throughout Palestine Jerusalem Galilee

The Author: “John” Not Apostle John; Follower of ”Beloved Disciple”possibly a member of his Christian community.He does not mention himself by name.Begins with a reference to the Word ─ the

eternal Logos◦He was…◦He was with God◦He was Divine◦The Word became flesh◦John gives no birth or childhood narratives

When and where was the Gospel written?

M Fouhy - Year 12 Biblical Studies 2011

DATE: 90CE;

PLACE: Ephesus

Composition and Sources of John’s GospelDraws from a common oral tradition - Jesus’ life and teachingsApostolic tradition.

INTENDED COMMUNITY Jewish Christians - Jews in tension between

old faith and “The Way”. Their faith in Jesus may have been wavering? Conflict & persecution

BACKGROUND TO COMMUNITY1. Original Jews followers of J Baptist & John

Beloved Disciple2. Non-mainstream Jews - those who may not

have belonged to mainstream Judaism3. Gentiles: Greek converts

What are Passion Narratives?

•The term “passion narrative” is mainly used to refer to the accounts given in the canonical gospels of the suffering and death of Jesus.•Generally, scholars treat the passion narratives as beginning with Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion and burial.•The Passion narratives can be found in all four Gospels

Matthew 26:30–27:66

Mark 14:26–15:47

Luke 22:39–23:56

John 18:1–19:42.

Some scholars include the Last Supper and the Resurrection as part of the passion narrative.

Although the Passion Narratives of all four Gospels are similar in many ways, there are also significant differences among them.

The three Synoptics agree with each other (since Matthew and Luke are almost certainly based on Mark), while John's account is quite different, especially in matters of chronology.

http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Passion.htm

Let’s take a brief look at the different accounts of Jesus’ arrest, death and resurrection and find some similarities or differences.

Pictures from www.google.co.nz

John’s gospel is not a narration but about Jesus’ relationship with God and our relationship with Jesus

Let’s take a closer look at John’s Passion

Narrative

In John’s passion narrative Jesus is a different and dramatic character from the Jesus of the synoptic passion narrative

He is a Jesus conscious of his pre-existence. Through death, therefore returning to a state he has temporarily left during his stay in this world (17:5)

He is not a victim since he has freely chosen to lay down his life 10:17-18

Crucified Christ holy week Brown. R

John begins his passion narrative with the arrest of Jesus in the garden

Unlike the other gospels John portrays a Jesus who is eager to drink the cup 18:11

The Jewish trial is also different not a formal procedure but an interrogation to see if Jesus admits anything revolutionary in his teaching 18:19

Before Pilate Jesus is not silent as in the other gospels but is an eloquent spokesman

There is no Simon of Cyrene- Jesus carries his own cross.

Unlike the other gospels where the women watched from afar and no disciples were present. John has the women and Mary at the foot of the cross and the disciples

Jesus’ death is shown as a calm scene with Jesus declaring “It is finished”

SO...What does John want to tell us about

JesusFirstly John was writing his Gospel so

that the audience may believe in Jesus 20:31

In the whole narrative John is consistently portraying Jesus as a Sovereign king who has overcome the world (10: 17-18)

He constantly shows a Jesus who is powerful, majestic and in-control (19:8,11)

He keeps emphasising Jesus’ divinity

John’s passion narrative is not about showing historically all the events that led to the arrest, death and resurrection of Jesus but to show a Jesus who reigns victoriously from the cross and who is always in control of all that happens.

It shows that suffering and evil have no real power over God’s Son or over those that he enables to become God’s children

So how does knowing all this help the reader? – Drawing conclusions

It gives us a better insight into John’s Gospel and the passion narrative

It helps us to recognise the authenticity of the writing

It helps us look for the correct message rather than trying to make sense of individual events in the text

It shows us that God has a plan for all people and we need to be open to His ways and follow Him faithfully.

It helps us to put the text into contextIt does not view the text as a window

onto the historical world but as a mirror reflecting a world into which the reader is invited. P.1159 (JBC)

E.g. Jesus’ death in John doesn’t just show the death of a good man but Jesus, the Son of God, in control, whose death is a glorious return to the Father. Jesus’ life was not taken, it was given freely.

Break into groups

1. Explain the method being used2. Evaluate it and draw conclusions

about it. Eg is it worthwhile? 3. Does it help your understanding of

the text?4. Does it allow the text to ‘speak’ to

you?5. Back up what you say with work

from John and other sources eg Jerome Biblical Commentary

References Br. Kieran fms – Power point Brown. R – The Church the Apostles left behind Brown. R – Crucified Christ Holy Week Brown. R – The Gospel of St. John the Johannine

Epistles Brown. R, Fitzemyer J, Murphy R. The New Jerome

Biblical Commentary Carvalho. C – Primer on Biblical Methods Google pictures Bible Yr 11 text Book Oxford Bible Commentaries Pontifical Biblical Commission (1993). The

Interpretation of the Bible in the Church