The Adaptable Jesus of the Fourth Gospel: The Pedagogy of the Logos

271 Pages·2015·1.17 MB·English

by  Jason S Sturdevant

The Adaptable Jesus of the Fourth Gospel
Supplements
to
Novum Testamentum
Executive Editors
M.M. Mitchell (Chicago)
D.P. Moessner (Fort Worth)
Editorial Board
H.W. Attridge (New Haven) – C. Breytenbach (Berlin)
C. Gerber (Hamburg) – J.K. Elliott (Leeds)
C.R. Holladay (Atlanta) – D. Marguerat (Lausanne)
M.J.J. Menken (Tilburg) – J.C. Thom (Stellenbosch)
P. Trebilco (Dunedin) – C.M. Tuckett (Oxford)
Volume 162
The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/nts
The Adaptable Jesus of
the Fourth Gospel
The Pedagogy of the Logos
By
Jason S. Sturdevant
LEIDEN | BOSTON
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sturdevant, Jason S.
 The adaptable Jesus of the fourth gospel : the pedagogy of the logos / by Jason S. Sturdevant.
  pages cm. — (Supplements to Novum Testamentum, ISSN 0167-9732 ; volume 162)
 Includes bibliographical references and index.
 ISBN 978-90-04-30250-1 (hardback : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-90-04-30423-9 (e-book)
 1. Bible. John—Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2. Jesus Christ—Teaching methods—Biblical
teaching. I. Title.
 BS2615.52.S785 2015
 226.5’06—dc23
2015028928
This publication has been typeset in the multilingual “Brill” typeface. With over 5,100 characters covering
Latin, IPA, Greek, and Cyrillic, this typeface is especially suitable for use in the humanities.
For more information, please see www.brill.com/brill-typeface.
issn 0167-9732
isbn 978-90-04-30250-1 (hardback)
isbn 978-90-04-30423-9 (e-book)
Copyright 2015 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Koninklijke Brill NV incorporates the imprints Brill, Brill Hes & De Graaf, Brill Nijhoff, Brill Rodopi and
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For Jamie
∵

Contents
Acknowledgements xi
Abbreviations xiii
Introduction: Adaptability and the Fourth Gospel 1
Who is the Johannine Jesus? 1
Adaptability: A Brief Overview 3
The Problem: The Paired Characters in the Gospel 6
Adaptability and John’s Jesus 8
A Note on Method 10
1 Adaptability in the World of the Fourth Gospel: Presuppositions
and Principles 13
Adaptability Defined 13
Presuppositions of Adaptability 18
The Character of the Adaptable Guide 18
The Aims of Adaptability 27
Practices of Adaptability 30
The Principle of Expedience 31
Initiating the Journey 32
Accommodating the Form of Communication 34
Variation 37
Progression 41
Summary 44
2 Descent and Adaptability: The Pedagogy of the Logos in Philo and the
Fourth Gospel 47
Philo and John: Two Portraits of an Adaptable Logos 47
The Descent of the Logos: Philo 50
Philonic Terminology for Adaptability 51
Features of the Logos’ Adaptability 53
The Pedagogical Techniques of Philo’s Logos 59
Summary: The Pedagogy of the Philonic Logos 64
The Descent of the Son: The Fourth Gospel 65
Adaptability in John: Terminology and Presuppositions 66
Kinds of Adaptability in the Fourth Gospel 72
Pedagogical Methods of the Johannine Jesus 77
Windows into Johannine Adaptability 87
Looking Ahead 93
viii contents
3 Adapting to Extremes: Variation and Progression in John (3–4) 94
Characters in Contrast 96
Assertion and Invitation: The Opening Exchanges 101
“We Know that You Are a Teacher . . .” (3:1–3) 101
“Woman, Give Me a Drink” (4:4–9) 107
Misunderstanding as a Doorway: Obscure Symbols 109
The Problem of Perspective (3:4–8) 110
The Offer of Living Water (4:10–15) 113
The Pivotal Statements: Incredulity and Dawning Recognition 117
Stupor and the Spur (3:9–12) 117
Adapting the Approach (4:16–19) 120
The Discourses: Jesus’ Origins and True Worship 123
The Nature of Jesus’ Testimony and Mission (3:13–21) 123
Telling Her All Things (4:20–26) 125
What Then? The Responses of the Dialogue Partners 129
Nicodemus’ Response (?) 129
The Samaritan’s Invitation (4:29–30, 40–42) 130
Conclusion 131
4 With Words and Tears: The Sisters of Bethany in John 11:1–12:8 133
The Raising of Lazarus: A Narrative in Baroque? 133
A Timely Delay (11:1–16) 136
“Do You Believe This?” (11:17–27) 138
“See How He Loved Him!” (11:28–37) 143
“For the Sake of the Crowd” (11:38–44) 147
Celebrating “The Resurrection” by Preparing for Death (12:1–8) 150
Conclusion 154
5 Receiving the Resurrected Jesus: Mary Magdalene and
Thomas (John 20) 156
The Gardener’s Work (20:1–2, 11–20) 157
Lost at the Tomb 157
The Shepherd Speaks 161
Passing Through Locked Doors (20:24–29) 164
Thomas: Doubting or Misunderstanding? 164
An Appeal to Understand and Believe 167
Conclusion: Witnessing and Interpreting the Resurrection 171
Contents ix
6 The Shepherd and the Witness: Jesus with Peter and the Beloved
Disciple 172
Peter and the Beloved Disciple: Competing or Complementary? 173
Peter’s Early Appearances: Passive and Active 176
The Naming of Simon Peter (1:41–42) 177
Excursus: The “Other Disciple” in 1:35–40 178
“You are the Holy One of God” (6:68–69) 180
Two Portraits of Peter 183
Misunderstanding, Mystery, and Misguided Promises: John 13 183
Misunderstanding: The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet (13:1–18) 184
Mystery: The Betrayal Prediction (13:18–30) 186
Misguided Promises: Peter’s Avowal of Love (13:31–38) 189
Peter’s Double Betrayal: John 18 192
In the Garden (18:1–11) 193
In the Courtyard (18:18–27) 195
Observing and Witnessing: John 19–20 199
At the Cross: John 19 199
At the Empty Tomb: John 20 202
The Commission of the Shepherd and the Witness: John 21 204
Excursus: John 21 in Relation to the Gospel 204
The Commissioning of the Shepherd and the Witness 206
Summary and Conclusion 211
Conclusion 213
Bibliography 219
Index of Modern Authors 237
Index of Ancient Sources 240
Index of Subjects 250