The Gospel of John has been the subject of intense scrutiny for centuries. It has profoundly shaped Christian doctrine and inspired artists, musicians, theoligans and ordinary Christians. Despite the Gospel's ability to communicate the good news to the simple believer while plumbing the depths of Christian faith for the sophisticated, it has been sharply criticised as 'world-denying', 'androcentric' and 'anti-Jewish'. What should we make of a Gospel that provokes such diverse reactions? Does John still have meaning for the Church and contemporary society? Does it need to be reinterpreted for today's world? Is it anti-Semitic? In this masterly study, Ruth Edwards seeks to help those interested in this provocative Gospel decide for themselves the answers to these and other questions. "Ruth Edwards has written a lucid and concise introduction to the Gospel of John. Her book manages to condense a generation of scholarship into a highly readable account which will be a great boon to all students of this profound if enigmatic book." Christopher Rowland, Professor of the Exegesis of Holy Scripture, University of Oxford.

Ruth Edwards

Cover

Author information

Discovering Biblical Texts

Title page

Imprint

Dedication

Preface to the second edition

Preface to the first edition

Abbreviations

1. Introduction

2. Interpreting John: strategies for reading

3. The question of authorship

4. Traditions, sources and relation to the ‘historical Jesus’

5. Purpose, audience, place and date of composition

6. Jesus’ miracles as narrative theology

7. Christological confessions and titles for Jesus

8. Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection

9. Jesus: Word incarnate and Father’s Son

10. Characters in John’s story

11. ‘Anti-Semitism’/‘Anti-Judaism’ in John’s Gospel?

12. ‘Replacement theology’ and Jewish monotheism

13. Conclusions: the value of John’s Gospel today

Table 1 The structure of John’s Gospel

Table 2 Jesus’ burial and Resurrection in the Gospels

Excursus 1 The text of John

Excursus 2 The problem of ‘eyewitness’ testimony

Notes

Bibliography

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Comprehensive, up-to-date and student-friendly introduction to John's Gospel: its structure, content, theological concerns, key interpretative debates and historical reception. Special sections on the reception of John and its distinctive influence on Christian history.

Completely revised and expanded edition of the first volume in the 'Discovering' series. Takes full account of all the major contributions to Johannine scholarship over the past ten years. Comprehensive, up-to-date and student-friendly introduction to John's Gospel: its structure, content, theological concerns, key interpretative debates and historical reception. Special sections on the reception of John and its distinctive influence on Christian history.

'Discovering John has rightly earned its place as one of the most reliable and insightful guides to the text, interpretation and reception of John's Gospel. In this second edition, Ruth Edwards is not content with reproducing the same guide with a new introduction, but offers a completely updated version which carefully assesses many of the landmarks in recent Johannine scholarship. This is a splendid book that will undoubtedly continue to be appreciated for many years to come.' Catrin H. Williams, Senior Lecturer in New Testament Studies, University of Wales, Trinity Saint David 'The publication of a second edition of Ruth Edwards' Discovering John is a precious gift to all who are interested in the Gospel of John. With clarity, lightness of touch and scholarly balance, she engages with the complex debates generated by this enigmatic story of Jesus. No issue is sidestepped. She works comfortably with classical and contemporary historical, literary and theological interpretations of the Gospel. All significant literature is discussed with fairness and objectivity. This new edition will continue to be a treasure for both scholar and student.' Francis J. Moloney, SDB, Senior Professorial Fellow, Australian Catholic University 'Edwards rightly notes that it is no longer possible for any individual scholar to master all of the burgeoning secondary literature in Johannine studies. Nevertheless, her work is extremely useful, precisely because of how masterfully she does survey this literature, concisely yet with remarkable thoroughness. She includes all major methodological approaches, a broad range of views and a number of important topics. Readers from a range of perspectives will be impressed with her command of Johannine scholarship and will find this work one of the most helpful resources of its kind.' Craig Keener, Professor of New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary 'The first edition of Ruth Edwards' Discovering John has long been my first choice as recommended or required reading for students needing an orientation to serious study of the Fourth Gospel. It is wonderful, then, to read her thoroughly updated and expanded new edition, and to know that her accessible discussion of key issues and her judicious interaction with the main scholarly literature will continue to be a key resource for years to come.' Andrew T. Lincoln, Professor of New Testament, University of Gloucestershire

The Revd Canon Dr Ruth B. Edwards is Assistant Priest at St James' Episcopal Church, Aberdeen. She was formerly Senior Lecturer in New Testament at Aberdeen University. Her previous publications include The Case for Women's Ministry (SPCK 1989) and The Johannine Epistles (Sheffield Academic Press 1996).

Discovering John

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