John's Apologetic Christology
Legitimation and Development in Johannine Christology

James McGrath offers a fresh approach to the question of the origins of Johannine christology.

James F. McGrath (Author)

9780521803489, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 6 September 2001

284 pages
22.5 x 14.7 x 2.1 cm, 0.458 kg

'… Dell's analysis does demonstrate that wisdom literature and thinking, however defined, is not alien to the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures but is in a clear continuity with it. The demonstration of this point is a valuable contribution …'. Perspectives in Religious Studies

The Gospel according to John presents Jesus in a unique way as compared with other New Testament writings. Scholars have long puzzled and pondered over why this should be. In this book, James McGrath offers a convincing explanation of how and why the author of the Fourth Gospel arrived at a christological portrait of Jesus that is so different from that of other New Testament authors, and yet at the same time clearly has its roots in earlier tradition. McGrath suggests that as the author of this Gospel sought to defend his beliefs about Jesus against the objections brought by opponents, he developed and drew out further implications from the beliefs he inherited. The book studies this process using insights from the field of sociology which helps to bring methodological clarity to the important issue of the development of Johannine Christology.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Introduction: the development of Johannine christology
2. A conflict setting and a distinctive christology: setting the stage
Part II. Jesus and God: 3. '... Those who say 'there are two powers in John'...'
4. God's equal or God's agent? (John 5)
5. 'I obey, therefore 'I am' ' (John 8.12-59)
6. 'You are Gods' - but who are 'you'? (John 10.22-39)
7. In the bosom of the Father (John 1.1-18)
8. Conclusion to Part II
Part III. Jesus, Moses and Torah: 9. The word and the glory (John 1.1-18)
10. Descent and ascent (John 3.1-21)
11. Bread from heaven (John 6)
12. Legitimating signs (John 9)
13. Conclusion to Part III
Part IV. Other Issues and Conclusion: 14. Other possible issues
15. Putting the pieces together
16. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Bibles [HRCF]