Term
| The Johanine literature breakdown |
|
Definition
Gospel of John
1-3 John (Catholic Epistles)
Revelation |
|
|
Term
| Why is Revelation special? |
|
Definition
| Only one that explicitly claims authorship of John |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Organisation leads us to look at texts in terms of genre, not author
Gospel of John never calls itself a gospel
1 John misses key letter features
Revelation calls itself an apocalypse, then prophecy, then takes on characteristics of a letter |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
John and Johanine Epistles share a similar style, although they have small differences (different authors?)
Also share themes (dualisms, opposites) and key phrases
Emphasises unity between the Father and the Son
Emphasises brotherly love
Image of Jesus as a Lamb
Calling Jesus the 'Word' (although usage is different) |
|
|
Term
| What are the key differences? |
|
Definition
Stylistic (Greek)
Wording
Theological conceptions:
- Christ as sacrifice not clear in epistles
- attributing different things to God and Christ
- Gospel: eternal life is present, Epistles are awaiting Christ
- Gospel shows hostility to Jews
- Revelation: conception of love is different
- concepts absent from Revelation: eternal life, "to believe", "abiding", "darkness"
- Revelation: overwhelming focus on dramatic eschatological themes (not present in Gospel) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Matt, Mark, Luke are interrelated, John isn't.
Synoptics: advent of Kingdom of God, John: kingdom must be entered (faith in Christ -> eternal life)
Difference in portrayal of Christ |
|
|
Term
| Portrayal of Christ in John |
|
Definition
Christ as Judaic word/prologue in heaven,
speaks in discourses/no similies, only metaphors
Christ is very divine unhuman
No suffering in Gethsemane scene
Only ever weeps at death of Lazarus
Rearranging storyline
Doesn't suffer on cross
"I am" |
|
|
Term
| Reconciling John with the synoptics |
|
Definition
Different words, date of crucifixion, times
Irenaeus responsible for four gospel canon (keen to tie gospels to apostles)
Peter and Paul preach, then copy Matt's gospel. John writes later and elsewhere.
Clement of Alexandria: Matt and Luke first, then Mark. John last- a Spiritual gospel
Origen: Truth of Gospels is not in outward letter
Eusebius: tries to reconcile historically. Talking about different times: John before John the Baptist imprisoned. THIS IS UNSUCCESSFUL: the Call of the Disciples occurred after this.
John was probably written later than the others, and probably influenced by them.
A spiritual gospel - 3 great theologians: Gospel of John, Hebrews, Paul |
|
|
Term
| Options for authorship of the gospel |
|
Definition
Gospel sometimes attributed to John, son of Zebedee
John the elder (not a disciple- 2 John, 3 John)
Many Johns?
tradition calls it the apostle of Love- the beloved disciple? |
|
|
Term
| How do we determine authorship? |
|
Definition
Internal evidence
External evidence |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Calling of the disciples
- different time in Mark
- disciples named in different order
- 2 figures: one a disciple, one anonymous
13:23 "The one whom Jesus loved"
- a disciple especially close to Jesus
- internal confusion 13:26 v 28
18:15 unknown disciple close to high priest lets Peter in
- regularly in and out of temple?
19:26 close to Jesus, Peter not present
20:30 hint that author is a disciple
21:2 two unnamed disciples
- last disciples mentioned, like beginning
21:20-2 Beloved disciple known in community, not going to die
20:1-10 Unnamed disciple reaches tomb first. Peter goes in first, but unnamed disciple believes Jesus' hints at resurrection first.
- unnamed disciple as 'perfect' disciple? - embodies message of gospel (belief without proof), better than Peter |
|
|
Term
| Intellectual tradition for Apostle John as author |
|
Definition
| Irenaeus knows Polycarp and Papius, who know the apostle John, but Papius distinguishes between Apostle and the Elder. Eusebius inherits Irenaeus' attribution. |
|
|
Term
| Who is the 'Beloved Disciple' |
|
Definition
Lazarus?
- related to Mary (and thus Jesus)
- but Lazarus was an enemy of the high priest
John Mark (in Acts)
A construction by the community to teach ideals. Hence present, but not present at the last supper. BUT WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS? |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
James
1, 2 Peter
1-3 John
Jude
Collected C4 |
|
|
Term
| The Catholic Epistles in historical documents |
|
Definition
Eusebius (C4) mentions 7 Epistles, james is only one which is named (other 6 are not)
2 Peter, 3 John, Jude appeared much later, debate as to inclusion/authenticity |
|
|
Term
| why the Catholic epistles? |
|
Definition
General address (James, 1+2 Peter, Jude)
No addressee (John)
Address to the church (2 John "to the elect lady" - the church?)
Only 3 John is specific ("to beloved Gaius")
Taking in vies of wider church (not just Palestinian)
7 symbolises completeness |
|
|
Term
| Who are the authors supposedly? (cath eo) |
|
Definition
John the Evangelist
James and Jude, brothers of Jesus (only time when James is mentioned as Jude's brother is when talking about Jesus' brothers). Debated later on (doctrinal implications)
James was enormously significant in early church. v. influential |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Size, then author
Paul's index to the pillar apostles: "James, Cephas and John" - maybe influenced (Pauline literature circulated earlier, emphasis on harmony (Gal 2:9)
James and Jude seem to be meant to be read together - Jude as continuation of Jude (shared themes).
Holy family - but Jesus' brothers never portrayed as disciples before 'acts'. Tension between them and him Mark 3:21 (think he's mad)
Circulated as we have them in East, in West sometimes Peter first. |
|
|
Term
| Why cath ep at end of canon? |
|
Definition
Originally collated with Paul/Acts - interacts with them, links gospels
Acts as appendix/intro to epistles - context |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Acts 1:14 at pentecost
12:17 peter freed from prison, told to go tell James
15 presides at council of Jerusalem
21 asks paul to take vow of purity
head of church in Jerusalem
v jewish
not opposed to message to Gentiles
Pastoral, accepts Paul, doesn't require circumcision (pragmatic) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
v. Jewish (imagery, addressing tribes in diaspora)
calls the church the synagogue
OT characters to illustrate points/virtues
rarely mentions Jesus
Speaks of perousia of Lord (5:7-), then draws on Job - lord intervening on behalf of rightousness
Use of Abraham (Faith jsutified in Works)- general good works, charity
Use of images/metaphor
the enemy within - desire, sin, death |
|
|
Term
| Characteristics of Revelation |
|
Definition
Christocentric
Dramatic imagery
Clearly written at time of persecution
Messianic
Female figures
Imagery from OT
Mysterious
Cosumnation of Johanine tradition |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Revelation of God in Christ not merely judgement). Opens with symbolic depiction of christ- head of white hair like Daniel the Elder: Christ in his majesty |
|
|
Term
| Style and persecution rev |
|
Definition
Real vision? overwrought
Authorship/time unclear - v symbolic |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Juxtaposition of lamb and lion of Judah |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Woman giving birth - church, new age
Whore of Babylon - treacherous jerusalem. Seductive counter to church/new Israel woman
Woman descending with new kingdom adorned with Jewels - New Israel (Isiah) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Morning Star could also be Venus (Roman military symbol, promises victory 2:28)
Root of Jesse's stock
Lion of Judah |
|
|
Term
| Precise numeric ordering of symbols Rev |
|
Definition
7 seals
9 trumpets
4 beasts |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Authorship disputed (style differences)
John 'the Theologian' - vision of God
Unity of God shared in rev and John |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
OT imagery/symbolism
controversial (time scales) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Rev 20-21 binding up Satan for 1000 yrs, then Christ comes and reigns
expectation of 1000 yr earthly messianic rule - hint of earthly reign in 1 Cor
Messianic tradition in Judaism expected immanent arrival
responses: premillenialism, postmillenialism, amillenialism |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Awaiting Messianic 1000 yrs |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In Messianic 1000 yrs now, building up towards messianic tradition |
|
|
Term
| Eschatological approaches to rev |
|
Definition
Preterist - Revelation has already happened (fall of Roman Empire and Jerusalem)
Historicist - against broader sweep of history, mapping to historical events
Idealist - not about anything specific: a general battle between good and evil
Futurist - we are still waiting - dispensationalism: counting stages of History until end, classic premillenialism. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Apocalyptic - mediating role between heaven and earth - an insight, more profound than mere prophecy
Prophecy
Letter
Is it a climax or appendix?
Only apocalypse in NT, many others at time of writing (Shepherd of Hermas). Was it the right one> |
|
|
