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Nijmegen

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Gebed in het
Afscheidsdiscours: Een exegetisch
onderzoek

Proefschrift

ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor
aan de Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen
op gezag van de rector magnificus prof. dr. J.H.J.M. van Krieken
volgens besluit van het college van decanen
te verdedigen op donderdag 15 maart 2018
om 12.30 uur precies

door

Scott Adams
geboren op 20 januari 1978
te Nashville, Tennessee, Verenigde Staten

1
Promotor:
prof. dr. Jan G. van der Watt

Manuscriptcommissie:
prof. dr. Jacobus (Kobus) Kok, Evangelische Theologische Faculteit, België
prof. dr. R. Alan Culpepper, Mercer University, Verenigde Staten
prof. dr. Christoph H. Hübenthal
prof. dr. Christos Karakolis, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens,
Griekenland
prof. dr. Francois D. Tolmie, Universiteit van de Vrystaat, Zuid-Afrika

2
Prayer in the
Farewell Discourse: An Exegetical
Investigation

Doctoral Dissertation

to obtain the degree of doctor
from Radboud University Nijmegen
on the authority of the Rector Magnificus prof. dr. J.H.J.M. van Krieken
according to the decision of the Council of Deans
to be defended on Thursday, March 15, 2018
at 12.30 hours

by

Scott Adams
Born on 20 January 1978
in Nashville, Tennessee, United States

3
Supervisor:
Prof. Dr. Jan G. van der Watt

Doctoral Thesis Committee:
Prof. Dr. Jacobus (Kobus) Kok, Evangelical Theological Faculty, Belgium
Prof. Dr. R. Alan Culpepper, Mercer University, United States
Prof. Dr. Christoph H. Hübenthal
Prof. Dr. Christos Karakolis, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Prof. Dr. Francois D. Tolmie, University of the Free State, South Africa

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Contents
Contents (Detailed) ........................................................................................................... 6
Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... 11
Abbreviations .................................................................................................................. 12
Chapter 1. Introduction.................................................................................................. 17
Chapter 2. Jewish, Greco-Roman, and Christian Prayer ........................................... 42
Chapter 3. A Theology of “Prayer” from the Farewell Discourse:
Analysis of John 14 .................................................................................... 136
Chapter 4. A Theology of “Prayer” from the Farewell Discourse:
Analysis of John 15-16:4a ......................................................................... 211
Chapter 5. A Theology of “Prayer” from the Farewell Discourse:
Exegesis of John 16:4b-33 ......................................................................... 282
Chapter 6. Prayers of Jesus: Exegesis of John 6:11; 11:41b-42; 12:27-28;
and 19:28, 30 .............................................................................................. 339
Chapter 7. Concluding Synthesis and Systematic Description of Prayer ................ 381
Bibliography .................................................................................................................. 402
Summary ..................................................................................................................... 438
Samenvatting ................................................................................................................. 440

5
Contents (Detailed)
Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... 11
Abbreviations .................................................................................................................. 12
Chapter 1. Introduction.................................................................................................. 17
Rationale for Research and Writing ......................................................................................................... 17
Overview of the Research.......................................................................................................................... 20
Research Questions .............................................................................................................................. 27
Interpretive Method(s) .......................................................................................................................... 28
The Background of the Fourth Gospel ................................................................................................. 30
Definition of Social/Religious Terms ........................................................................................................ 32
The Jews and Judaism .......................................................................................................................... 33
Hellenism.............................................................................................................................................. 35
Christianity ........................................................................................................................................... 36
Toward a Working Definition of Prayer .............................................................................................. 37
Overview of the Present Work ............................................................................................................. 39
Chapter 2. Jewish, Greco-Roman, and Christian Prayer ........................................... 42
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 42
Jewish Prayer ............................................................................................................................................ 42
An Overview of Old Testament Prayer ..................................................................................................... 44
The Posture of Prayer ............................................................................................................................... 47
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 49
The Space of Prayer .................................................................................................................................. 49
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 53
Prayer of Petition ...................................................................................................................................... 53
Prayer of Lament....................................................................................................................................... 56
Prayer as Praise ........................................................................................................................................ 59
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 60
Questions .............................................................................................................................................. 61
Prayer, Sacrifice, and the Temple ............................................................................................................. 62
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 70
Questions .............................................................................................................................................. 70
Prayer in the Synagogue ........................................................................................................................... 71
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 75
Questions .............................................................................................................................................. 75
The Shema and the Tefillah ....................................................................................................................... 76
The Tefillah ............................................................................................................................................... 82
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 86
Questions .............................................................................................................................................. 87
Prayers from Qumran ............................................................................................................................... 87
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 92
Questions .............................................................................................................................................. 93
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Greco-Roman Prayer ................................................................................................................................ 93
The Practice of Greco-Roman Prayer ...................................................................................................... 96
The Space of Greco-Roman Prayer .......................................................................................................... 97
The Precision of Prayer .......................................................................................................................... 100
Prayer and Magic ................................................................................................................................... 102
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 107
Questions ............................................................................................................................................ 108
New Testament Prayer ............................................................................................................................ 109
Prayer in the Gospels .............................................................................................................................. 109
The Posture of Prayer ............................................................................................................................. 110
The Timing and Place of Prayer ............................................................................................................. 111
Prayer as Petition ................................................................................................................................... 114
A Model Prayer ....................................................................................................................................... 116
Implications ............................................................................................................................................. 122
Prayer in Acts .......................................................................................................................................... 123
Parallels of Prayer .................................................................................................................................. 123
The Posture of Prayer ............................................................................................................................. 124
The Place of Prayer ................................................................................................................................ 124
Categories of Prayer ............................................................................................................................... 128
Another Model Prayer?........................................................................................................................... 129
Prayer and the Holy Spirit ...................................................................................................................... 131
Excursus: Prayer in the Pauline, General Epistles, and Revelation .......................................... 133
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 134
Questions ............................................................................................................................................ 135
Chapter 3. A Theology of “Prayer” from the Farewell Discourse:
Analysis of John 14 .................................................................................... 136
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 136
The Beginning of the End: John 13:31-14 .............................................................................................. 136
The Prerequisites to Prayer: John 14:1 .................................................................................................. 139
A House Prepared for Prayer: John 14:2-11 ......................................................................................... 145
Believing for Greater Works: John 14:12 ............................................................................................... 153
Excursus: Imitating Jesus (Mimesis) ........................................................................................ 161
How Prayer “Works” in the Context of John 14:13-14 ......................................................................... 162
A Demarcation of Prayer? .................................................................................................................. 164
Praying in Jesus’ Name .......................................................................................................................... 166
The Name and Place of Prayer ........................................................................................................... 171
Prayer According to Jesus’ Merit ........................................................................................................... 173
Excursus on the Use of the Concept of “Name” in Greek Prayer ............................................ 175
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 176
Prayer for the Father’s Honor/Glory ..................................................................................................... 177
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The Paraclete and Prayer ....................................................................................................................... 184
The Paraclete and Symposium ................................................................................................................ 191
The Paraclete as Educator and Prophet ................................................................................................. 191
Excursus on “the Disciples” and Education ............................................................................. 192
The Paraclete as Mediator and Broker ................................................................................................... 199
Closure and Peace .................................................................................................................................. 205
Final Summary ................................................................................................................................... 206
1. What are the prerequisites to answered prayer? ........................................................................ 207
2. By what means may the disciples perform “greater works”? .................................................... 207
3. What is the significance of prayer in Jesus’ name? ................................................................... 208
4. How does the Father/Son family dynamic contribute to Johannine prayer? ............................. 208
5. What are the roles of the Paraclete, and how do these roles relate to prayer? .......................... 209
Chapter 4. A Theology of “Prayer” from the Farewell Discourse:
Analysis of John 15-16:4a ......................................................................... 211
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 211
Structure of John Chapter 15 .................................................................................................................. 211
The Prerequisites to Prayer .................................................................................................................... 213
The True Vine: John 15:1a ..................................................................................................................... 214
Excursus on Viticulture ............................................................................................................ 216
The Gardener’s Identity: John 15:1b ...................................................................................................... 222
The Gardener’s Work: John 15:2 ........................................................................................................... 223
The Prerequisites to Answered Prayer: John 15:7 ................................................................................. 231
Excursus on the “Word” ........................................................................................................... 236
Excursus: Comparing the Conditions of John 14:13-15 and 15:7 ............................................ 239
The Consequence of Remaining: John 15:6-8 ........................................................................................ 241
Excursus on “Fruit” .................................................................................................................. 242
Chosen for Fruitfulness ........................................................................................................................... 246
Another Prerequisite to Prayer? ............................................................................................................. 247
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 248
Prayer, Love, and Friendship: John 15:13-15........................................................................................ 249
The Consequence of Friendship .............................................................................................................. 255
Friendship as Frankness and Boldness ............................................................................................... 260
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 264
Prayer and Persecution: John 15:18-16:4a ........................................................................................... 265
The Promise of Persecution .................................................................................................................... 266
The Paraclete and Persecution ............................................................................................................... 271
Excursus: Jesus and the Paraclete in Relationship to Angels ................................................... 274
Final Summary ................................................................................................................................... 278
1. How does the viticultural imagery of John 15 contribute to the topic of prayer? ..................... 278
2. Why is remaining in the vine the prerequisite to answered prayer?.......................................... 278
3. What is the nature of friendship with Jesus, and how does it relate to prayer?......................... 279
4. How does the concept of παρρησία relate to Johannine prayer? .............................................. 280
5. How does the Paraclete contribute to prayer in the face of persecution? .................................. 280
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Chapter 5. A Theology of “Prayer” from the Farewell Discourse:
Exegesis of John 16:4b-33 ......................................................................... 282
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 282
Structure of John 16:4b-33 ..................................................................................................................... 285
Prayer and the Mission of the Spirit-Paraclete: John 16:4b-15............................................................. 287
Excursus: The Tradition of Truth in 1 John.............................................................................. 298
Implications for Prayer ........................................................................................................................... 308
From Sorrow to Joy: John 16:16-24 ....................................................................................................... 311
The Timing of Answered Prayer ............................................................................................................. 321
Implications for Prayer ........................................................................................................................... 326
Plain Speech and Prayer: John 16:25-33 ............................................................................................... 327
Excursus: Παρρησία and Prayer in 1 John ............................................................................... 328
Final Summary ................................................................................................................................... 335
1. How does the spiraling of topics through the Farewell Discourse serve to elucidate the
Evangelist’s view of prayer? ...................................................................................................... 335
2. What is the relationship between prayer and the work of the Paraclete? .................................. 336
3. What is the nature of the temporal duration that may exist between the disciples’ asking in
prayer and their receiving from God in prayer?......................................................................... 337
Chapter 6. Prayers of Jesus: Exegesis of John 6:11; 11:41b-42; 12:27-28;
and 19:28, 30 .............................................................................................. 339
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 339
The Uniqueness of Jesus’ Prayers in the Fourth Gospel ........................................................................ 339
A Prayer of Thanksgiving: John 6:11 ..................................................................................................... 340
The Setting ......................................................................................................................................... 340
Jesus’ Prayer ........................................................................................................................................... 343
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 346
A Prayer for Lazarus: John 11:41b-42 ................................................................................................... 347
The Setting ......................................................................................................................................... 347
Jesus’ Prayer ........................................................................................................................................... 351
The Genre ................................................................................................................................................ 353
Excursus: Healing through Prayer? .......................................................................................... 357
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 359
A Prayer for the Father’s Glory: John 12:27-28 .................................................................................... 361
The Setting ......................................................................................................................................... 361
Jesus’ Prayer ........................................................................................................................................... 362
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 367
A Prayer from the Cross? John 19:28, 30 .............................................................................................. 368
The Setting ......................................................................................................................................... 368
Jesus’ Final Words/Prayers .................................................................................................................... 369
Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 376
Jesus’ Prayer: John 17............................................................................................................................ 377
The Setting ......................................................................................................................................... 377
The Structure ...................................................................................................................................... 378
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