The Testimony of the Beloved Disciple: Narrative, History, and Theology in the Gospel of John
Overview
How do historical and literary details contribute to a coherent theological witness to Jesus in the Gospel of John? A leading British evangelical New Testament scholar answers that question with studies on themes from messianism to monotheism, symbolic actions from foot-washing to fish-catching, literary contexts from Qumran to the Hellenistic historians, and figures from Nicodemus to ‘the beloved disciple’ to Papias. Originally published in various journals and collections, these essays are now available for the first time in one affordable volume with a substantial new introduction that ties them all together. A must-have for serious students of the Fourth Gospel.
Key Features
- Explores issues of authorship, genre, theology, and audience
- Examines current trends in the study of John
- Provides a helpful introduction to key interpretive issues
Contents
- Papias and Polycrates on the Origin of the Gospel of John
- The Beloved Disciple as Ideal Author
- Historiographical Characteristics of the Gospel of John
- The Audience of the Gospel of John
- The Qumran Community and the Gospel of John
- Nicodemus and the Gurion Family
- The Bethany Family in John 11–12: History or Fiction?
- Did Jesus Wash His Disciples’ Feet?
- Jewish Messianism according to the Gospel of John
- Monotheism and Christology in the Gospel of John
- The Holiness of Jesus and His Disciples in the Gospel of John
- The 153 Fish and the Unity of the Fourth Gospel
Top Highlights
“In the end, the historical problem of John’s Gospel is: how can its differences from the Synoptics be explained” (Page 27)
“The Fourth Gospel leaves us to infer that Nicodemus became a Christian.” (Page 163)
“more like historiography than the Synoptics would have done” (Page 19)
“Nicodemus was a very unusual name among Jews. Besides Naqdimon ben Gurion, only three Palestinian Jews by the name of Nicodemus are known: two in Josephus (BJ 2.451; Ant. 14.37) and one in the Gospel of John. We shall argue below that all these belonged to the same family as Naqdimon ben Gurion.” (Page 152)
“Nicodemus and Gurion were not common Palestinian Jewish names. If they are found among other members of the Jerusalem lay aristocracy, it is probable that they were characteristic of the family to which Naqdimon ben Gurion and others who bore these names belonged.” (Page 153)
This collection of twelve essays on historical and theological Johannine problems, written between 1993 and 2007, is preluded by a comprehensive introduction containing a scholarly program for Johannine research in the future. These studies will give us quite new stimuli for our understanding of the Gospel of John, for Professor Bauckham illuminates neglected historical and theological features of this unique text, which Clement of Alexandria rightly called the ‘spiritual Gospel.’ The author demonstrates that in our exegesis of John, philological accuracy, profound historical knowledge, and genuine theological understanding must work together to gain new insights.
—Martin Hengel, University of Tübingen
As always, Bauckham is brilliant, providing a fresh rethinking of issues based on his breadth of knowledge of early Judaism and Christianity. While well conversant with current scholarly discussions, he marshals new data and new ideas in ways that invite new perspectives. This work offers insights on various Johannine topics and merits center stage in any new discussions of history in John’s Gospel.
—Craig S. Keener, professor of New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary
Provides a unified, integrated, and convincing portrait of the Gospel of John that diverges in numerous ways from recent prevailing trends. . . . The collective force of these thirteen studies paves a way forward in Johannine scholarship.
—Dane Ortlund, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
- Title: The Testimony of the Beloved Disciple: Narrative, History, and Theology in the Gospel of John
- Author: Richard Bauckham
- Publisher: Baker Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2007
- Logos Release Date: 2019
- Pages: 314
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible. N.T. John › Criticism, interpretation, etc
- ISBNs: 9781493420957, 9780801034855, 080103485, 149342095X, 080103485X
- Resource ID: LLS:TSTMNYBLVDGSJHN
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T03:32:09Z
Richard Bauckham (1946– ) was professor of New Testament studies at St Mary's College, University of St Andrews. He retired in 2007 from this position in order to concentrate on research and writing. He currently is the senior scholar at Ridley Hall in Cambridge and visiting professor at St. Mellitus College.
Bauckham earned a PhD at the University of Cambridge and was a fellow of St John's College. He taught theology for one year at the University of Leeds and for 15 years at the University of Manchester before teaching at the University of St Andrews. He is a fellow of the British Academy and a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Bauckham is known for his commentary on Jude and 2 Peter in the Word Biblical Commentary and his book Jude and the Relatives of Jesus in the Early Church.