This thesis is a typological study of the Fourth Gospel in the light of its Son of man sayings, paying particular attention to their context within the Gospel; within the four canonical Gospels; and within the Judeo-Christian tradition. It shows the importance for the Fourth Gospel of an aspect within apocalyptic Judaism concerning the vision of the open heaven. The Johannine Son of man theme reflects disputes within Judaism surrounding the vision of God. The Fourth Evangelist reinterprets the Synoptic Son of man tradition, using Old Testament texts central to these disputes with reference, to Jesus the vision of God. Our Evangelist engages on the one hand in an internal dispute with other Christians, and an the other hand in an external dispute with Jews. He retells the gospel story with reference to his own situation. Through his Gospel we see the relation between the Johannine church and the synagogue. My first three chapters show how the Evangelist links his Son of man theme to Old Testament vision texts to interpret Jesus as the prophetic vision of the heavenly Son of man (Jn. 1: 51; 3: 13,14; 5: 27). The remaining chapters show how this interpretation affects the community's worship and its relation with the synagogue. The Fourth Gospel is -. different from the Synoptic Gospels. The Son of man theme is common to all four Gospels, and to apocalyptic Judaism. Therefore the conclusions drawn from a reading of the Fourth Gospel can be tested by a comparison with the Synaptic tradition and with the Jewish apocalyptic tradition.

This thesis examines how the Fourth Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels depict exchanges between Jesus and certain of his fellow Jews, with the goal being to further our understanding of the relationship between them. Halliday's concept of register is applied to analyze a certain portion oftheir conversations, including independent clause analysis, Subject analysis, and dependent clause analysis. This research illustrates that the relevant exchanges in John and the Synoptic Gospels are similar in terms of interpersonal meaning, are different in terms of experiential meaning, and are different in terms of clause complexing. Some possible explanations are also discussed at the end of the thesis. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>The thesis examines the relationship between John 20:30-31 and the purpose of the Fourth Gospel. It argues that the passage expresses a purpose which is reflected in both the structure and the content of the Gospel as a whole. This purpose is to convince the reader that faith in Jesus as the Christ, Son of God, can and indeed should be based on the signs as recorded in the Gospel. In order to achieve this purpose, the Gospel uses the following arguments: the reader is seeking salvation; salvation is attained through faith in Jesus; faith in Jesus can be based on his signs; even the reader who has not seen Jesus' signs himself can "witness" them through the agency of the Gospel. The thesis demonstrates where and how the Gospel develops these arguments.</p> <p>The thesis is intended to contribute to the discussion of several issues which are central to Johannine studies. It examines an aspect of the issue of the purpose of the Gospel which has not been the subject of extensive scholarly attention, namely the way in which the author(s) of the Gospel meant their document to function in the lives of its readers. In doing so, it discusses in detail three of the christological titles, "Christ", "Son of God", and "Prophet", and sheds light on the ways in which the Gospel demonstrates the appropriateness of these titles to Jesus. In addition, it argues against the interpretations of the term sēmeion as used in 20:30-31 and of the Gospel's view of a faith based on signs. Finally, the thesis offers some suggestions concerning the identity of the intended reader of the Gospel.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (M.A. (New Testament))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

The concepts of "Life" and "Light" are prominent in the prologue of the fourth gospel (cf. John 1:4, 5, 7, 8, 9) and have been studied by various scholars as important themes. In the past years, the quest for the conceptual background of the prologue and the entire Gospel has led to converging and diverging opinions. But are all the proposed backgrounds important to the reader to understand and interpret the fourth gospel? Should we find the relevant religious background, could it help us understand and interpret the "Life" and "Light" concepts in the prologue and the rest of the Gospel? The aim of this study is to identify the most appropriate background against which to read and explore the concepts of "Life" and "Light" in the fourth gospel. We also wish to study other selected passages from the fourth gospel that relate to "Life" and "Light". The reason for doing this is to find out if they can add meaning to our understanding of "Life" and "Light" in the prologue. The study reviews and compares crucial literature on the fourth gospel. Attention is given to the development of the debate on the religious background that influenced John. It also seeks to discover if there are any fresh ideas on the religious background of the fourth gospel. Reference will be made to primary material like the Dead Sea Scrolls, first century Palestinian Judaism, Josephus, and Philo of Alexandria. The following proposed backgrounds will be reviewed: Hellenistic Judaism, Philo of Alexandria, Gnosticism, Hermetic Literature, Mandaism, the Old Testament, Rabbinic Judaism, the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Samaritan background. This research is undertaken within the reformed evangelical tradition, and is informed by the historical critical method. The author argues that the Old Testament and its development in first century Palestinian Judaism is the most plausible background against which to understand the "Life" and "Light" concepts in the fourth gospel. The study concludes that "Life" in the fourth Gospel is understood as eternal life characterized by quality, happiness, blessedness and many other good characteristics. Believing in Jesus who is the true life leads one to enjoy the authentic life. The life that he gives triumphs over death through the resurrection. Concerning "Light" the study also concludes that to receive the light (Jesus) is to receive salvation accompanied by enlightenment, joy, blessings and victory. It is impossible to receive the "Light" that Jesus gives and to fail to have the "Life" that he gives. The absence of the "Life" and "Light" from him leads to suffering, hopelessness and death without hope. Thus, the Old Testament and Pharisaic Judaism meaning of these two concepts is fulfilled in Jesus the "Life" and the "Light" in the fourth Gospel. / Thesis (M.A. (New Testament))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

The concepts of "Life" and "Light" are prominent in the prologue of the fourth gospel (cf. John 1:4, 5, 7, 8, 9) and have been studied by various scholars as important themes. In the past years, the quest for the conceptual background of the prologue and the entire Gospel has led to converging and diverging opinions. But are all the proposed backgrounds important to the reader to understand and interpret the fourth gospel? Should we find the relevant religious background, could it help us understand and interpret the "Life" and "Light" concepts in the prologue and the rest of the Gospel? The aim of this study is to identify the most appropriate background against which to read and explore the concepts of "Life" and "Light" in the fourth gospel. We also wish to study other selected passages from the fourth gospel that relate to "Life" and "Light". The reason for doing this is to find out if they can add meaning to our understanding of "Life" and "Light" in the prologue. The study reviews and compares crucial literature on the fourth gospel. Attention is given to the development of the debate on the religious background that influenced John. It also seeks to discover if there are any fresh ideas on the religious background of the fourth gospel. Reference will be made to primary material like the Dead Sea Scrolls, first century Palestinian Judaism, Josephus, and Philo of Alexandria. The following proposed backgrounds will be reviewed: Hellenistic Judaism, Philo of Alexandria, Gnosticism, Hermetic Literature, Mandaism, the Old Testament, Rabbinic Judaism, the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Samaritan background. This research is undertaken within the reformed evangelical tradition, and is informed by the historical critical method. The author argues that the Old Testament and its development in first century Palestinian Judaism is the most plausible background against which to understand the "Life" and "Light" concepts in the fourth gospel. The study concludes that "Life" in the fourth Gospel is understood as eternal life characterized by quality, happiness, blessedness and many other good characteristics. Believing in Jesus who is the true life leads one to enjoy the authentic life. The life that he gives triumphs over death through the resurrection. Concerning "Light" the study also concludes that to receive the light (Jesus) is to receive salvation accompanied by enlightenment, joy, blessings and victory. It is impossible to receive the "Light" that Jesus gives and to fail to have the "Life" that he gives. The absence of the "Life" and "Light" from him leads to suffering, hopelessness and death without hope. Thus, the Old Testament and Pharisaic Judaism meaning of these two concepts is fulfilled in Jesus the "Life" and the "Light" in the fourth Gospel. / Thesis (M.A. (New Testament))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

This dissertation argues that the Gospel of John was written (at least in part) as a response to the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in 70 CE and the resulting questioning that would have centered on the location of Jewish worship in that temple’s absence. Along these lines, the Fourth Gospel presents the person of Jesus as the locus of worship, both before and after the resurrection event. The risen Jesus abides with his faithful as the dwelling of the divine Presence/Glory, in the same way that the Presence/Glory had dwelt in the midst of Israel in the wilderness tabernacle during the Exodus. Hence, John presents those who embrace the Jesus-temple as “Israel.” The presentation of Jesus as worship locus relies entirely upon the portrayal of Jesus as sacrifice, which has strong parallels to Akedah traditions found in some rabbinic texts and in Philo of Alexandria, among others. Among the ramifications of such a view is the translation of the term Ἰουδαῖοι, typically translated into English as “Jews.” This thesis argues that the translation of Ἰουδαῖοι is overwhelmingly dependent upon the Fourth Gospel’s theme of Jesus as locus of worship, which depends upon the portrayal of Jesus as sacrifice. Because John’s use of Ἰουδαῖοι is centered on the problem of worship location, it should be translated as “Judeans” in nearly every instance: the Ἰουδαῖοι are those who do not have a temple, while Ἰσραήλ is comprised of those who have the Jesus-temple as their worship space.

This study seeks to gain an understanding about the scribal tendencies observed in the Fourth Gospel in Codex Alexandrinus using the method of isolating and classifying singular readings similar to what was first proposed by Colwell, and later modified by Royse and others. In addition to singular readings made before corrections, this study considers singular readings in relation to punctuation markers and line breaks. First, a brief introduction to Codex Alexandrinus is given. Second, the method used to undertake this study is set forth and explained. Third, each singular reading in the Fourth Gospel in Codex Alexandrinus is listed under each respective group in which it is classified, the text of the exemplar is reconstructed if possible and each singular reading is discussed. Finally, the resulting data are analyzed and conclusions are given regarding the tendencies of the scribe responsible for the Fourth Gospel in Codex Alexandrinus. In general, this thesis demonstrates that the strongest tendency of the scribe was that of omission; the scribe was reluctant to add or to harmonize. Harmonizations, when they do occur, are never corrected. Both punctuation and line breaks often afforded the opportunity for the scribe to become distracted and to commit error.

Religious diversity largely defines the present religious situation; comparative theology adaptively responds to this situation by comparing influential theological hypotheses from different contexts and developing theological hypotheses from that inquiry. The popularity and sophistication of the Bhagavad-Gītā and Fourth Gospel make these scriptures excellent comparative candidates. This dissertation situates these scriptures, interprets them, compares them, and constructs a philosophical theology from the comparison. Part I follows J.A.B. van Buitenen, Angelika Malinar, and Emily Hudson by situating the Bhagavad-Gītā in its original epic context, the Mahābhārata, and philosophical context: Sāṅkhya and Vedānta darśanas. It follows Robert Hill and George MacRae by situating “John” against its dual first-century backgrounds: Judaism and Hellenism. Part II provides an original interpretation of the scriptures. With Śaṅkara, Abhinavagupta, and Hudson, the dissertation interprets the Bhagavad-Gītā as reorienting Arjuna to see the subtlety of karma and dharma and to realize non-duality with Kṛṣṇa/Ātman/Brahman in the devotee’s heart. With Bultmann, Eckhart, Hill, and Neville, the dissertation interprets John as anti-gnostically affirming the cosmos as God’s Logos expression, which elicits love as the appropriate response to the Logos. Part III compares the scriptures in respect to ultimate reality and human existence, the main comparative categories. Ultimate reality comprises four subcategories: (1) cosmic scope and nature, (2) cosmological metaphysics, (3) ontology, and (4) avatāra/incarnation. Despite notable differences, both scriptures emphasize the non- duality of the cosmos with its indeterminate (nirguṇa/ἀόρατος) ontological ground. Existence comprises four subcategories: obligation, comportment, engagement, and life’s meaning. Realizing nonduality with Brahman, seeing everything as the expression of the Logos, provides ecstatic freedom, and the courage to be. Part IV develops a philosophical theology from the comparison. Einstein’s relativity theories weigh the probability that the cosmos pulsates or dies. Evolutionary theory shows that consciousness emerges as an adaptation to environments, not environments for consciousness’s pleasure. After distinguishing physical cosmology from cosmological metaphysics, the dissertation dialectically argues that the cosmos is real, but contingent on the ontological one, which is indeterminate (empty/nothing) apart from its shining forth in the cosmological many. Although this theological hypothesis requires greater breadth for stabilization, it remains tentatively viable for today’s religious situation. / 2024-09-06T00:00:00Z

[pt] Idoù ho ánthropos em Jo 19,5 como citação de 1Sm 9,17. A entronização do Rei de Israel. Neste trabalho propõe-se demonstrar que a expressão Eis o homem (idoù ho ánthropos) de Jo 19,5 é uma citação de 1Sm 9,17, idou ho ánthropos, para a Septuaginta, ou hinnê ha is, para o texto Massorético, sendo esse texto de 1Samuel o único lugar em toda a Sagrada Escritura em que a expressão joanina aparece. Em 1Samuel, há um contexto de realeza, quando Yhwh revela ao profeta que Saul é o homem escolhido para ser o primeiro rei de Israel e a apresentação ocorre com a expressão Eis o homem. O contexto régio também perpassa todo o relato do julgamento de Jesus diante de Pilatos, quando Jesus é investigado como rei, coroado e vestido como tal e apresentado como rei aos judeus para ser aclamado. Entretanto, quando se esperaria, em Jo 19,5, que Jesus fosse apresentado com a expressão Eis o vosso rei (íde ho basileús humōn) de Jo 19,14, Pilatos o faz com a fórmula Eis o homem, de tal modo que este idoù ho ánthropos só tem sentido de estar ali porque é uma citação de 1Sm 9,17. Com isso, neste trabalho também se demonstra que o relato da Paixão apresenta Jesus como o Rei de Israel, uma vez que ele foi rejeitado como Rei dos judeus. Enquanto Rei de Israel, Jesus reúne em torno de si o novo Israel de Deus, composto por aqueles que creem em Jesus, pelos que ouvem a sua voz e pelos que acolhem a sua revelação. / [en] Idoù ho ánthropos in Jn 19,5 as a quote from 1Sm 9,17. The enthronement of the new king of Israel. This research wants to assert that the expression Behold the man (idoù ho ánthropos) from Jn 19,5 is a quote of 1Sm 9,17, idoù ho ánthropos to the Septuagint or hinnê ha is to the Hebraic Text, being this text of 1Samuel the only place in the whole of Sacred Scripture in which the johannine expression appears. There is a royal context in 1Samuel, when Yhwh reveals to the prophet that Saul is the chosen one to be the first king of Israel, and the presentation occurs with the expression Behold the man. Regal context also encompasses the whole story of Jesus trial by Pilate, when Jesus is investigated, crowned, dressed and presented to jews as their king to be acclaimed. However, when one would expect, in John 19,5, that Jesus was presented with the words Behold your King (íde ho basileús humon) from Jn19,14, Pilate uses the formula Behold the Man by so that this idoù ho ánthropos only makes sense to be there because it is a quotation from 1Samuel 9,17. Thus, this research also shows that the account of the Passion presents Jesus as the king of Israel, considering that he was rejected as the king of the Jews. As King of Israel, Jesus gathers around himself the new Israel of God, composed of those who believe in Jesus, those who hear his voice and accept his revelation.