Johannine Theology: The Gospel, the Epistles and the Apocalypse

537 Pages·2014·3.76 MB·English

by  Paul A. Rainbow

JOHANNINE THEOLOGY
The Gospel, the Epistles and the
Apocalypse
Paul A. Rainbow
www.IVPress.com/academic
InterVarsity Press
P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426, USA
www.ivpress.com
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©2014 by Paul A. Rainbow
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Cover design: David Fassett
Images: St. John the Evangelist: St. John the Evangelist at Patmos, from the Mystic Marriage of St.
Catherine Triptych by Hans Memling, at the Memling Museum, Bruges, Belgium. The Bridgeman Art
Library
cross illustration: © FONG_KWONG_CHO/iStockphoto ISBN 978-0-8308-9650-9 (digital) ISBN 978-0-
8308-4056-4 (print)
Mentoris acris J. V. Dahms memor
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
1 Introduction
2 The Revelation of God (The Father)
3 The World
4 God’s Self-Revelation in Christ’s Person
5 God’s Self-Revelation in Christ’s Work
6 The Revelation of the Father in the Son by the Spirit-Paraclete
7 The Believer and the True God: Coming to Christ
8 The Believer and the True God: Abiding in Christ
9 Disciples of Christ in Community
10 The Community of Christ’s Disciples in the World
Bibliography
Index of Authors
Index of Subjects
Index of Principal Scripture Passages
Notes
About the Author
More Titles from InterVarsity Press
Preface
A
s far as I am aware, this volume is the only English-language textbook on
John’s theology that aims to be both critical and comprehensive. It is critical in
that I have tried to be aware of the basis and extent of our knowledge, given the
problems inherent in the use of ancient human documents. It is comprehensive in
that it includes all the books of the New Testament ascribed to John: the Gospel,
the three Epistles and the Apocalypse (the book of Revelation).
By no means are Johannine specialists in agreement that sound criticism
allows a comprehensive approach in that sense. Not all believe that John wrote
even one of these books. In mainline scholarship the number of hypothetical
hands that shaped the Gospel alone keeps growing. Some suppose that each of
the three Epistles had a different author, and that the John who wrote the
Apocalypse was a fifth (at least!). Even conservative scholars nowadays are less
strident in defending the apostolic authorship of the Apocalypse than were their
predecessors of a previous generation, and some have gone mute. In harking
back to the old solution, I claim no more than to testify to what I myself see—
come what may in reviews.
About the steady, mighty river of learned publications on the Johannine
literature C. K. Barrett spoke with candor for many when he wrote, “Probably no
one has read it all; I know I have not.”1 That was back in 1975, before annual
output more than doubled to what it is today. Selection is imperative. I have
concentrated on works that have proved seminal, become classic or been
especially influential and on journal articles and serial monographs since the turn
of the third millennium.
Anyone who delves into the theology of John finds the subject inexhaustible.
No matter how one shapes the material, the result is but a sketch that captures
certain aspects. I have done my best, through prayer and thoughtful labor, to
capture some key aspects. Whether the result is serviceable to those seeking
further insight into John’s writings is for them to judge.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A
ll scripture quotations are initially based on The Holy Bible: Revised
Standard Version (second edition; copyright 1972 by the Division of Christian
Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States
of America), even in cases where the author has taken it upon himself to alter
one or more words to bring out nuances of the original Hebrew or Greek text. So
numerous are these cases that it would have been pedantic and burdensome to
indicate every one. But the author wishes to acknowledge his debt in the
preponderance of cases where the wording is identical to the RSV.
Abbreviations
GENERAL
// parallel text(s)
§ section
ca. circa
cf. compare
chap(s). chapter(s)
e.g. for example
esp. especially
etc. and the rest
ET English translation
fol. folio
Gk. Greek
Heb. Hebrew
ibid. in the same source
idem by the same author(s)
i.e. that is
Lat. Latin
lit. literally
MS(S) manuscript(s)
no(s). number(s)
par(s). parallel(s)
p(p). page(s)
v(v). verse(s)
ANCIENT TEXTS, TYPES AND VERSION
LXX Septuagint
MT Masoretic Text
MODERN EDITIONS
UBS4 The Greek New Testament, United Bible Societies, 4th edition
MODERN VERSIONS
NAB New American Bible
RSV Revised Standard Version
APOCRYPHA AND SEPTUAGINT
1-4 Kgdms 1-4 Kingdoms
1-4 Macc 1-4 Maccabees
Sir Sirach
Tob Tobit
Wis Wisdom of Solomon