The goal of this dissertation is to provide a framework for examining the metaphor of Jesus as king throughout the Fourth Gospel. This dissertation argues that the theme of Jesus as king provides one of the unifying themes of John's overall message, blending familial, pastoral, sensory, and judicial metaphors with the metaphor of Jesus as king. This allows for a cohesive depiction of Jesus' kingship that begins in John 1 as Jesus is introduced as king and leads to the climactic vision of Jesus' "exaltation" as king on the cross. This dissertation uses an interdisciplinary theory of metaphor that incorporates elements of cognitive and systemic functional linguistic approaches with literary approaches. This examination assesses the place of the Old Testament metaphors of Messiah, "eternal life/life of the age," shepherd, and exaltation in the conceptual metaphorical network of the kingship metaphor and addresses how these metaphors function in John's Gospel to provide a cohesive and dynamic depiction of Jesus' identity as king, the just character of his kingship, the subversion of power implicit in his crucified form of kingship, and the necessity of response to Jesus as king and his reign. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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This thesis explores Karl Barth's use of John's Gospel in the Church Dogmatics. It seeks to read John with Barth, tracing the roles which the Fourth Gospel plays in his theology, while identifying gaps and distortions in Barth's use of John. Another interpreter of John, Rudolph Bultmann, is also significant: despite early parallels, much of Barth's theology is shaped by his deep disagreement with Bultmann. The first two chapters therefore discuss the beginnings of dialectical theology. Bultmann and Barth retreat from systems of thought which have overwhelmed theology and have changed its subject matter. They look to the scriptures in seeking to develop theology which is genuinely about God, but hold different assumptions about the place and form of revelation. Chapter 3 considers Bultmann's existentialist interpretation of John. Chapters 4 to 9 examine a series of different aspects of Barth's use of the story of Jesus in John's Gospel. Although Barth emphasises the picture of Jesus Christ shown through his actions, he is more of a strategist than a story-teller. He presents the Word made flesh in a way which allows him to restructure the whole of theology so that it looks towards Jesus Christ rather than fitting in with human systems of ideas. His emphasis on divine decision and his exploration of the content of theology contrast with Bultmann's focus on individual human decisions. The role of other characters is diminished, and the narrative sequence of the story is compressed and distorted by Barth's emphasis on the paramount significance of God's decision to be incarnate. The dualism of John's Gospel, which becomes a dualism of human decision in Bultmann's theology, becomes a dualism of knowledge and falsehood in the Church Dogmatics, in which the real drama of the story is not the interactions between the characters but the struggle to proclaim the truth. Chapter 10 contains some concluding reflections on the wider implications of John's Gospel, showing how Barth's retreat and restructuring could be followed by a process of reengagement with all areas of truth and experience.

In this Master's dissertation, I would like to explore a symbolic reading of John 11 (The raising of Lazarus) from the perspective of the church's mission to bring about the liberation of the poor. I believe that as one does so, one might discover that in the Gospel writer's original intention, the figure of Lazarus may never have been intended as a literal historical person, but rather as a symbolic representation of the poor, the marginalized and the oppressed. Such a reading of John 11 might throw new light on the Fourth Gospel's understanding of Jesus and his mission. In doing so, I believe that John 11 might become a foundational text to guide and motivate committed Christian mission in favour of the poor. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

In this Master's dissertation, I would like to explore a symbolic reading of John 11 (The raising of Lazarus) from the perspective of the church's mission to bring about the liberation of the poor. I believe that as one does so, one might discover that in the Gospel writer's original intention, the figure of Lazarus may never have been intended as a literal historical person, but rather as a symbolic representation of the poor, the marginalized and the oppressed. Such a reading of John 11 might throw new light on the Fourth Gospel's understanding of Jesus and his mission. In doing so, I believe that John 11 might become a foundational text to guide and motivate committed Christian mission in favour of the poor. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

The Incarnation Mystery in the writings of John of the Cross as a reverberation of Johannine Christology. This thesis analyzes the mystery of Incarnation in the mystical experience and doctrine of John of the Cross, a Spanish Carmelite from 16th century, and searches for traces of the testimony of the Fourth Gospel in his conception of this mystery. Based on analysis of excerpts of his writings it concludes that the mystery of Incarnation has crucial role both in his experience and his writings. It consists in the fact that Jesus - the Word incarnate - is a principal agent in the process of uniting with God: He is both a model for a Christian to shape him or herself after and a beloved Spouse with whom he or she should be united and so enter a loving communion with Father and Son and the Holy Spirit. The main work which reveals how much John of the Cross esteems the mystery of Incarnation is a poetic paraphrase of the Gospel of John: Romance based on the Gospel »In principio erat verbum«. It depicts author's view of the incarnational mystery as a dialogue between Father and Son in eternity. The Incarnation is seen as nuptials of the Word incarnate and humankind which elevates humankind to the God's level. By extension, humankind gains participation on the relationship between Father and Son. The...

Anyone familiar with the Rastafari movement and its connection with the Bible is struck by the prevalence of I-locution found in them both. Because the phenomenon is important in the canonical Testaments, more so the New, this study seeks to investigate its significance in certain epistolary pieces (Romans 7 :14-25 ; 15 :14-33), the bio-Narratives and the Apocalypse, in their historical and cultural milieu. The next stage of the investigation then compares the findings of the aforementioned New Testament books with corresponding statements of the Rasta community to determine their relevance for the ongoing Anglophone theological discussion. In this connection, the following questions are addressed: (1) what are the inter-textual link(s) and function(s) of the `I' statements in Romans? (2) How do they relate to similar dominical sayings? And (3) can any parallel be established between the language of Rastafari and these? In sum, the study seeks to bring into critical dialogue the permutative `I' of the NT with the self-understanding of Rastafari. / NEW TESTAMENT / DTH (NEW TESTAMENT)

Anyone familiar with the Rastafari movement and its connection with the Bible is struck by the prevalence of I-locution found in them both. Because the phenomenon is important in the canonical Testaments, more so the New, this study seeks to investigate its significance in certain epistolary pieces (Romans 7 :14-25 ; 15 :14-33), the bio-Narratives and the Apocalypse, in their historical and cultural milieu. The next stage of the investigation then compares the findings of the aforementioned New Testament books with corresponding statements of the Rasta community to determine their relevance for the ongoing Anglophone theological discussion. In this connection, the following questions are addressed: (1) what are the inter-textual link(s) and function(s) of the `I' statements in Romans? (2) How do they relate to similar dominical sayings? And (3) can any parallel be established between the language of Rastafari and these? In sum, the study seeks to bring into critical dialogue the permutative `I' of the NT with the self-understanding of Rastafari. / NEW TESTAMENT / DTH (NEW TESTAMENT)