John 6: A Review and Discussion

Paper Summary:

The New Testament contains many witnesses to Jesus Christ, but the testimonies of John in the Fourth Gospel have been among the most influential in the history of Christian theology. In the more than eighteen centuries since its compilation, the Fourth Gospel has been the source of intense interest on the part of those who would better understand how the followers of Jesus came to believe that he was the true Son of God and how and why Jesus accomplished his mission on earth. This study provides a review of the peer-reviewed and scholarly literature concerning the gospel of John, including a survey of the academic literature on the subject since 1948, a description of emerging themes and an assessment of how John 6 is situated within the Gospel. A discussion of Chapter 6 within the Book of Signs and the literary structure of John 6 is followed by a structural analysis of John 6 as a general unit and an analysis of John 6:69 in particular. Finally, a discussion of the context of John 6:69 within the Bread of Life Discourse is followed by a grammatical analysis, a colometric presentation and an interpretation of John 6:69 in the concluding chapter.

Outline:
"The Holy One of God" (John 6:69)
A Survey of the Academic Literature since 1948
Emerging Themes
Situating John 6 within the Gospel
Chapter 6 within the Book of Signs
Literary Structure of John 6
Structural Analysis of John 6 as a Unit
Analysis of John 6:69
John 6:69 Context within the Bread of Life Discourse
John 6:69 Grammatical Analysis Colometric Presentation and Interpretation

From the Paper:

"Conversely, those who believe in Jesus believe in the one who sent him (12:44). The christological claim of the Fourth Gospel, then, has become so identified with its theological claim that it is no longer possible to speak of Jesus apart from the one who sent him, and it is no longer possible to speak of God apart from the Son whom the Father sent into the world. In a footnote, Matera also notes that, "This establishment of Jesus as Son of God does not mean that he became the Son of God at the Resurrection. Rather, it signifies his messianic enthronement as the Son of God, as the phrase en dynamei ("in power") indicates. Previous to his resurrection, Jesus was, as the Markan Gospel insists, the hidden Messiah. But once raised from the dead, he is enthroned as God's royal Messiah, the Son of God, so that who he was is now apparent."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ashton, John. (1993). Understanding the Fourth Gospel. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
• Ball, Milner S. (2000). Called by Stories: Biblical Sagas and Their Challenge for Law. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
• Barrett, C. K. (1978). The Gospel According to St. John: An Introduction with Commentary and Notes on the Greek Text. Philadelphia: Westminster Press.
• Bishop, Saint Augustine. (1988). Tractates on the Gospel of John, Vol. 2. Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press.
• Bondi, Richard A. (1997). John 8: 39-47 Children of Abraham or of the Devil? Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 34(4), 473.

More papers on John 6: A Review and Discussion:

• Book Review # 105424 : "The "Secret Six"
• Book Review # 86083 : "'Profiles in Courage'"
• Book Review # 87967 : "The Dropping of the Bomb"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: