The Quest for the Origin of John's Gospel A Source-Oriented Approach

by Brodie, Thomas L.

• ISBN13: 9780195075885
• ISBN10: 0195075889
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1993-01-14
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Drawing on the insights of ancient literary theory and practice, this book seeks to unlock the age-old puzzle of the relationship of John's gospel to the other gospels and to the early Christian church. Applying a new method to an old problem, Brodie uses a form of source analysis that takes account of the practices of ancient writers to reveal John as someone who deliberately rendered the earlier gospels into a new language. The deeply theological, and at the same time more down-to-earth voice characteristic of John is revealed to be not that of a marginal community ("the Johannine community") but of an independent prophetic presence within the mainstream church.

Author Biography

Thomas L. Brodie, an Irish Dominican (Crusheen, County Clare), has taught scripture in the West Indies and the United States. He is now doing research in Ireland and South Africa

Table of Contents

General Introduction: The Uncertain Quest and the Need for a Firmer Foundation	p. 3
The Uncertain Quest
The Move from Specifics to a Broad Three-Part Inquiry	p. 5
The Quest for the Religious Background	p. 7
The Quest for the Purpose/Life-Situation	p. 10
The Quest for the History of a Johannine Community	p. 15
Towards Establishing a Partial Guide to History: John's Composition (Use of Sources)
Composition as a Basis for History	p. 23
The Quest for Sources: The Central Problem	p. 25
The Thesis	p. 30
The Ancient Context: A World of Literary Transformation	p. 34
A Test Case: John 9 as a Dramatization of the Vision Theme in Mark 8:11-9:8	p. 48
John's Systematic Use of All of Mark	p. 67
John's Systematic Use of Matthew	p. 101
John's Systematic Use of Part of Luke-Acts	p. 116
John's Systematic Use of the Pentateuch	p. 121
John's Systematic Use of Ephesians	p. 128
The Quest Resumed: Initial Conclusions
The Religious Background	p. 137
The Purpose/Life-Situation	p. 142
Questions About the Reality of the Johannine Community: Towards Seeing the Evangelist as Primarily an Integrated Member of the Larger World-Oriented Christian Community or Church	p. 144
General Conclusion: From History to Spirit	p. 153
The Story of the Adulteress and the Accusers (John 7:53-8:11)	p. 157
John's Use of Names	p. 160
John's Use of the Pentateuch: A Tentative Outline of One Dimension	p. 162
John's Use of Part of Luke-Acts: A Tentative Outline of One Dimension	p. 168
John's Main Sources: An Approximate Summary	p. 175
Bibliography	p. 177
Index	p. 187
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