Although an abundance of literature is available regarding the glory of Christ in the Fourth Gospel, relatively little has been written on the glory of Christ’s followers in this Gospel. John 17.21-23 is frequently cited to promote various causes with the assumption that this text refers to church unity, but the theme of the glory that Christ has given to his people to enable their unity has scarcely been noted, and there are many diverse understandings of the nature of the oneness for which the Johannine Jesus prayed. What is the glory that Christ has given to believers? Diverse theories have been proposed, but no clear, convincing answers have been offered by contemporary interpreters. In this thesis, answers to the questions regarding the nature of the δόξα in 17.22-23 are found primarily in Chapter 17 and in the Farewell Discourse(s), but contributions are garnered from relevant passages in other sections of the Gospel as well. This is also true of the question regarding the nature of oneness in 17.22-23. The following questions are addressed: (1) Who are the people to whom Jesus has given δόξα in John 17.20-23? (2) What is the δόξα that Jesus has given to his followers? (3) What is meant by oneness of the believers in vv. 20-23? A survey of the lexicographical background of δόξα is focused on the use of δόξα in the LXX, since NT usage usually follows that of the LXX. The meaning of do,xa in the LXX, however, is partly dependent on its meaning in nonbiblical Greek and partly on the meanings of the Hebrew words that δόξα renders in the LXX. A consideration of the meanings of δόξα in the Greek OT is supplemented by an inquiry into the δόξα of the Messiah and of God's People in the LXX. Δόξα in the Apocrypha, glory in the OT Pseudepigrapha, and memra, yeqara, and shekinah in the Targums are discussed in the sections that follow, since the intertestamental writings form an important bridge between the OT and the NT. The survey of the lexicographical background of δόξα concludes with a discussion of the meanings of δόξα in the NT. Proceeding with the supposition that answers to the questions regarding the nature of the gift of δόξα and of oneness in 17.22-23 are found primarily in Chapter 17 and in the Farewell Discourse(s), the study of Chapter 17 begins first in 17.22-23 and its paragraph (vv. 20-23), and radiates out from there into the rest of Chapter 17 and the Farewell Discourse(s). Relevant passages in other sections of the Fourth Gospel are examined as well. This study does not attempt to discuss every text in the Fourth Gospel that speaks of δόξα or δόξαζω, but those that are most closely associated with the passage under consideration are studied and discussed. / Thesis (PhD (New Testament Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / New Testament Studies / unrestricted

Section 1 of this thesis develops an eclectic meta-model of metaphor analysis that is subsequently applied to the paraenetic metaphors in First Peter. This comprehensive and broadly-based theory provides for the integration of First Peter‟s metaphors in the analysis of the epistle‟s persuasive, knowledge-change rhetoric. The bulk of this thesis is a largely suggestive and primarily inductive study of the major paraenetic metaphors within the conceptual and rhetorical world of First Peter, especially “gird up the loins of your mind” and “be sober,” which are crucially bound up with the epistle‟s first grammatical imperative: “hope on the grace to come …” (1:13). I argue that 1:13 is central to all of First Peter‟s paraenetic statements through a sequential survey of these injunctions in the order provided by the text. While “girding the loins” is capable of a more generic or other specific interpretations, I argue for a conflict connotation. First Peter presupposes a situation of spiritual peril, with the danger especially related to the “mind.” The greatest threat is not from persecution but from ignorance, an irrational fear of humans rather than a rational fear of God, along with other sinful “passions”–forces strengthened by the menacing Devil. By means of courageous faith believers must “stand firm” with a disciplined and focused mind oriented vertically towards and hoping fully upon God‟s present and future grace (5:12) to the exclusion of sin, ready for spiritual battle–just as Christ was (4:1). In addition, I maintain that honouring/glorifying God is the ultimate goal of First Peter‟s paraenesis. Consistent with this, the metaphorical organization of “space” in the letter gives evidence of the prioritizing of the vertical axis over the horizontal. In this connection, I challenge Troy Martin‟s view of the Christian life as a journey, finding First Peter to image it as essentially a stationary waiting for final salvation to come to them. Finally, I seek to demonstrate that the Fatherhood of God is the dominant metaphor for First Peter as a whole, a complex image that unites its metaphors, paraenesis, and overall message. / New Testament / D.Th. (New Testament)

[pt] O Evangelho segundo João desperta grande interesse pelas alusões, em preferência às citações, que faz do Antigo Testamento para anunciar a Boa Nova de Jesus, o Filho de Deus. Localizada na primeira unidade deste Evangelho, que aponta para a hora de Jesus, a perícope de Jo 3,1-12 é a primeira grande seção do diálogo com Nicodemos, um fariseu e um principal dentre os judeus, ali representando seus pares. O anúncio de um novo nascimento necessário de água e espírito, por obra do Espírito, para que se possa participar do escatológico Reino de Deus, é incompreendido por Nicodemos. A repreensão que lhe é dirigida evidencia que na base do anúncio está algum texto das Escrituras de Israel. A presente pesquisa encontrou texto próximo daquele em Ez 36,24-28, onde, ao disperso e desolado Israel, o Senhor promete purificação total e profunda renovação pela infusão do Seu espírito. A dissertação procedeu à análise exegética de Jo 3,1-12, situando-a em seu contexto amplo e imediato, à análise exegética de Ez 36,24-28 e à análise das relações intertextuais entre os dois, segundo os critérios de Markl. Os resultados apontaram significativas correspondências: em ambos se encontra o Senhor em diálogo com o Povo da Antiga Aliança, após o juízo sobre Jerusalém e o Templo, anunciando a salvação escatológica que se cumprirá para o Israel renovado, não necessariamente os descendentes na carne dos israelitas. Mas, o anúncio de João ultrapassa o de Ezequiel: os que recebem o Espírito Santo nascem como filhos de Deus. / [en] The Gospel according to John arouses great interest in the allusions of the Old Testament, in preference to the quotations, to announce the gospel of Jesus, the Son of God. Located in the first unit of this Gospel, which points to the hour of Jesus, Jn 3:1-12 is the first great section of the dialogue with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a principal among the Jews, representing his peers there. The announcement of a necessary new birth of water and spirit, by the Spirit, to participate in the eschatological Kingdom of God, is misunderstood by Nicodemus. The rebuke directed to him shows that there s some text of Israel Scriptures at the base of the announcement. This research found a similar text in Eze 36:24-28, in which the Lord promisses, to the scattered and desolated Israel, total purification and deep renewal by the infusion of His spirit. The dissertation proceeded to the exegetical analysis of Jn 3:1-12, placing it in its broad and immediate context, to the exegetical analysis of Eze 36:24-28 and to the analysis of the intertextual relations between them, according to Markl s criteria. The results point to significant correspondences: in both the Lord is in dialogue with the People of the Old Covenant, after the judgment on Jerusalem and the Temple, announcing the eschatological salvation to be fulfilled for the renewed Israel, not necessarily descendants in the flesh of the israelites. But John s announcement goes beyond Ezekiel s: those who receive the Holy Spirit are born as children of God.

Section 1 of this thesis develops an eclectic meta-model of metaphor analysis that is subsequently applied to the paraenetic metaphors in First Peter. This comprehensive and broadly-based theory provides for the integration of First Peter‟s metaphors in the analysis of the epistle‟s persuasive, knowledge-change rhetoric. The bulk of this thesis is a largely suggestive and primarily inductive study of the major paraenetic metaphors within the conceptual and rhetorical world of First Peter, especially “gird up the loins of your mind” and “be sober,” which are crucially bound up with the epistle‟s first grammatical imperative: “hope on the grace to come …” (1:13). I argue that 1:13 is central to all of First Peter‟s paraenetic statements through a sequential survey of these injunctions in the order provided by the text. While “girding the loins” is capable of a more generic or other specific interpretations, I argue for a conflict connotation. First Peter presupposes a situation of spiritual peril, with the danger especially related to the “mind.” The greatest threat is not from persecution but from ignorance, an irrational fear of humans rather than a rational fear of God, along with other sinful “passions”–forces strengthened by the menacing Devil. By means of courageous faith believers must “stand firm” with a disciplined and focused mind oriented vertically towards and hoping fully upon God‟s present and future grace (5:12) to the exclusion of sin, ready for spiritual battle–just as Christ was (4:1). In addition, I maintain that honouring/glorifying God is the ultimate goal of First Peter‟s paraenesis. Consistent with this, the metaphorical organization of “space” in the letter gives evidence of the prioritizing of the vertical axis over the horizontal. In this connection, I challenge Troy Martin‟s view of the Christian life as a journey, finding First Peter to image it as essentially a stationary waiting for final salvation to come to them. Finally, I seek to demonstrate that the Fatherhood of God is the dominant metaphor for First Peter as a whole, a complex image that unites its metaphors, paraenesis, and overall message. / New Testament / D.Th. (New Testament)

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 292-313) : illustrations / This thesis examines the Experience of God in the Fourth Gospel (in this research, it is also called the Johannine Experience of God) by perceiving it from the perspective of the metaphoric Familia Dei, found in this Gospel. This examination is done in a three-step process: The first step consists of a literary review and a presentation of the methodology and approach employed in this research. It intends to set the thesis within the Johannine studies. The second step involves the articulation of essential considerations on Religious Experience, the Johannine Community, and the Fourth Gospel. This articulation has two aims: First, to acquire a deeper understanding of the background of the Johannine Experience of God, and second, to point out the functionality of this Gospel’s narrative in constituting this experience. The third step comprises the following suggestion and the elaboration on its constituents: - The Johannine Experience of God consists of two components: the first one is the initiative of God the Father conveyed by Jesus Christ, perpetuated by the Holy Spirit, and as it is recorded in the Fourth Gospel. And the second one is the response of the believers (John’s readers) to this initiative by accepting the Son and journeying spiritually under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. - The Johannine Experience of God can be perceived from the perspective of the Familia Dei metaphoric found in the Fourth Gospel. - The narrative of the Fourth Gospel has the ability to constitute an experience of God and accordingly creates spirituality, once it is read or heard. This thesis aims to generate a deeper understanding of the spirituality of the Fourth Gospel at one level, and to offer an acceptable general insight about the Johannine Spirituality at another, hoping that its findings become an inspiration for future studies. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Christian spirituality)