Experiencing God in the Gospel of John

by Kelly, Anthony J.

• ISBN13: 9780809141401
• ISBN10: 080914140X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-06-01
• Publisher: Paulist Pr

Summary

Well-respected scripture scholar Francis Moloney and systematic theologian Anthony Kelly have collaborated here on a theological reflection on the Gospel of John that is strongly determined by contemporary biblical scholarship.

They write with the hope, they explain, "of not only underscoring the fundamental God-ward dimension intrinsic to the Johannine texts, but of reinvigorating theology with that deeply spiritual or experiential sense inherent in this remarkable part of the New Testament."

Their joint effort will offer insight and food for thought to:

-- scholars and students of theology and scripture.

-- persons desiring more in-depth knowledge of this Gospel.

Author Biography

Anthony J. Kelly is professor of theology at Australian Catholic University.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
The Experience of ``God''	1	(28)
Accenting Experience	2	(2)
Different Approaches to Experience	4	(5)
Dimensions of Experience: Drama and Glory	9	(5)
The Singularity of the Johannine Experience	14	(4)
Focus on God	18	(4)
The Gospel and the ``Theology'' of the Letters	22	(7)
The God of ``The Prologue'': A Theological Reading (1:1--18)	29	(32)
What Kind of Beginning?	30	(4)
The Word and Creation	34	(8)
The Witness of John the Baptist	42	(1)
The Word Within a World of Conflict	43	(5)
The All-Fulfilling Gift	48	(2)
John and the ``Time'' of the Word	50	(1)
The Gift in Place of All Gifts	51	(1)
Making Known the Invisible Giver	52	(3)
Four Dimensions of Meaning	55	(6)
God in Love with the World (1:19---3:36)	61	(36)
Setting the Stage: John the Baptist	61	(5)
The Path of the Disciples	66	(3)
Cana: The Faith of the Mother of Jesus	69	(2)
The Cleansing of the Temple	71	(2)
Nicodemus: Coming in from the Dark	73	(6)
The Extent of God's Love for the World	79	(5)
Love and Judgment	84	(3)
Jesus and John	87	(2)
The Gift Beyond Measure	89	(3)
The Meaning of the Experience	92	(5)
The God of the Wider World (4:1--54)	97	(18)
The Gift of God	97	(3)
The Father Seeks True Worshipers	100	(5)
``I Am He''	105	(1)
Completing God's Work	106	(7)
An Expanding Experience of God	113	(2)
The God of the Sabbath (5:1--47)	115	(26)
The Son Heals on the Sabbath	115	(4)
On Trial for the Father	119	(2)
Witness to the Father's Love	121	(4)
The Father ``Resting'' from the Work of Judgment	125	(1)
The Giving of Life	126	(5)
Judgment on the Judges	131	(5)
The Sabbath Experience and the Meaning of God	136	(5)
The Bread of God in the New Passover (6:1--71)	141	(28)
The Prodigality of the Gift	141	(3)
A Divine Intervention	144	(1)
Greater Gifts in Store	145	(3)
The Bread of God	148	(4)
The Father at Work	152	(5)
Disturbing Possibilities	157	(3)
The Crisis of Faith	160	(6)
The Ongoing Experience of God	166	(3)
Between Different Paternities: Making the Choice (7:1---8:59)	169	(36)
The Father's Will, and Right Judgment	170	(4)
God---or Religion?	174	(4)
The Living Water of the Spirit	178	(1)
God's Subversive Paternity	179	(3)
The Light of the Darkening World	182	(4)
Which Paternity?	186	(12)
The Experience of God?	198	(7)
New Sight for the Man Born Blind (9:1--38)	205	(10)
God Works	205	(2)
The Cost of the Cure	207	(1)
Witnessing to God	208	(3)
True Worship	211	(1)
The Experience of God?	212	(3)
The Father's Enfolding Love, and the Good Shepherd (9:39---10:21)	215	(11)
The Shepherd of Israel	215	(1)
Enfolding Love	216	(4)
The Divided Flock	220	(2)
What Kind of God?	222	(4)
The Father's Hand (10:22--42)	226	(12)
The Father: Greater Than All	226	(3)
``The Father Is in Me...''	229	(5)
The Experience of God	234	(4)
The God of Life in the World of Death (11:1--57)	238	(13)
A Love Stronger Than Death	238	(3)
The Word of Life	241	(3)
Death Transformed through His Death	244	(2)
Death and the God of Life	246	(5)
The Voice from the Open Heaven (12:1--50)	251	(19)
A Moment of Communion	251	(2)
The Coming of the Crowds	253	(1)
The Hour Has Come	254	(3)
The Voice of the Father	257	(7)
Faith or Human Glory	264	(2)
Not Judgment, but Eternal Life	266	(2)
Children of Light	268	(2)
The Way to the Father (13:1--38)	270	(17)
The Way to the Father	271	(4)
The ``Example'' of Love	275	(4)
Light in Darkness	279	(4)
The New Commandment	283	(2)
God and Others	285	(2)
To Live in the House of the Father (14:1--31)	287	(20)
The Paternal Host	287	(2)
Questions from ``Troubled Hearts''	289	(4)
Greater Works	293	(2)
Another Paraclete	295	(2)
A Departure and a Coming	297	(2)
``...We Will Come''	299	(2)
Gifts in the Meantime	301	(6)
The Father: Source of Life and Fruitfulness (15:1---16:3)	307	(10)
The Heavenly Vine-Dresser	307	(3)
Loved by the Father	310	(2)
The World and Its Plight	312	(1)
Witnesses to the Truth	313	(2)
Contrasting Forms of Existence	315	(2)
The Peace of God (16:4--33)	317	(16)
The Spirit in a Dispirited World	317	(2)
Exposing the World	319	(2)
Toward ``All Truth''	321	(4)
The Joy of New Life	325	(3)
Speaking Plainly of the Father	328	(5)
The Realm of the Father: Expanding Life (17:1--26)	333	(19)
This Is Eternal Life	333	(4)
The Disciples' Mission	337	(2)
In the Father's Keeping	339	(4)
Life in the World	343	(2)
The Glory of Love	345	(5)
The Open Invitation	350	(2)
The Father's Cup (18:1---19:42)	352	(20)
Confrontation	352	(3)
Judgement	355	(2)
The Realm of Truth	357	(2)
Terminal Conflict	359	(5)
The New Community	364	(4)
The Flow of Gifts	368	(2)
Silence and Anticipation	370	(2)
My Father and Your Father (20:1--31)	372	(16)
Three Journeys to the Tomb	372	(3)
The Witness of Magdalene	375	(4)
The Disciples' House Transformed	379	(4)
True Faith	383	(3)
The Gospel's Purpose	386	(2)
Conclusion: God is Love	388	(22)
Seven Features of the Johannine God Experience	389	(6)
Dimensions of Meaning	395	(1)
Effective Meaning: Knowing God in Action	395	(2)
Constitutive Meaning: Godly Identity	397	(1)
Communicative Meaning: Living Communion	398	(3)
Cognitive Meaning: The Truth of God Revealed	401	(5)
Conclusion	406	(4)
References	410	(7)
Indexes	417