Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel
Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel

Author: Craig R. Koester

Publisher: Fortress Press

Published: 2003-02-19

Total Pages: 372

ISBN-13: 9781451405422

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Craig Koester's respected study uses the symbolic language of the Gospel of John as a focus to explore "the Gospel's literary dimensions, social and historical context, and theological import." This edition is fully revised and updated and includes a number of new sections on such topics as Judas and the knowledge of God. Fresh treatments are given on a number of issues, including the Gospel's Christology. This new edition offers both new insights and proven worth for students and scholars alike.

The Symbolic Narratives of the Fourth Gospel
The Symbolic Narratives of the Fourth Gospel

Author: Dorothy A. Lee

Publisher: A&C Black

Published: 1994-01-01

Total Pages: 273

ISBN-13: 1850754683

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The book examines six long narratives of the Fourth Gospel, arguing that they are best understood as 'symbolic narrative'. They display a unique cohesion of symbol and narrative: the narrative unfolds the symbol and the symbol draws out the narrative. This process occurs as the character struggles to understand the symbolic meaning. The structure develops in five Stages: the establishing of a 'sign', image or feast (Stage 1); misunderstood in materialistic terms (Stage 2); the struggle to understand the symbolic meaning (Stage 3); the acceptance or rejection of that meaning (Stage 4); a confession of faith or statement of rejection (Stage 5). The symbolic narratives reveal how material reality becomes symbolic of the divine. Just as the flesh of Jesus is the symbol of divine glory, so material reality now has the potential for symbolizing God. Flesh has no independent existence; its value lies in its symbolic role. This parallels the cohesion between form and meaning. Just as the flesh is given value in symbolizing the divine, so narrative form is of value in disclosing theological meaning. The implied reader is drawn into the drama of the symbolic narratives to make the authentic response of faith.

Understanding the Fourth Gospel
Understanding the Fourth Gospel

Author: John Ashton

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2007-04-26

Total Pages: 606

ISBN-13: 0199297614

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Arguing that the thought-world of the Gospel is Jewish, not Greek, and that the text is composed over an extended period as the evangelist responded to the changing situation of the community, this book offers a partial answer to a key question: how did Christianity emerge from Judaism?

The Fourth Gospel
The Fourth Gospel

Author: John Shelby Spong

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: 2013-06-11

Total Pages: 323

ISBN-13: 1443424013

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Bestselling and controversial bishop and teacher John Shelby Spong reveals the subversive, mystical wisdom of the writer of the Gospel of John and how his teachings point us forward in the twenty-first century In The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic, Spong turns his attention to the Gospel of John, the fourth Gospel in the Bible. Contrary to what is most often believed, he writes that this gospel was misinterpreted by the framers of the fourth-century creeds to be a literal account of the life of Jesus. In fact, it is a literary, interpretive retelling of the events in Jesus’ life through the medium of Jewish worship traditions and fictional characters, from Nicodemus and Lazarus to the “Beloved Disciple.” The Fourth Gospel not only recaptures the original message of this gospel, but also provides us with a radical new dimension to the claim that in the humanity of Jesus the reality of God has been met and engaged. This book offers a fresh way to read the Gospel of John and a unique primer about how to be a Christian in the post-Christian twenty-first century.

Four Gospels, One Jesus?
Four Gospels, One Jesus?

Author: Richard Burridge

Publisher: SPCK

Published: 2013-03-21

Total Pages: 221

ISBN-13: 0281070318

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First published in 1994, and revised in 2005, this classic edition includes updated suggestions for further reading at the end of the book.

How John Works
How John Works

Author: Douglas Estes

Publisher: SBL Press

Published: 2016-10-07

Total Pages: 361

ISBN-13: 0884141470

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Essential classroom resource for New Testament courses In this book, a group of international scholars go in detail to explain how the author of the Gospel of John uses a variety of narrative strategies to best tell his story. More than a commentary, this book offers a glimpse at the way an ancient author created and used narrative features such as genre, character, style, persuasion, and even time and space to shape a dramatic story of the life of Jesus. Features: An introduction to the Fourth Gospel through its narrative features and dynamics Fifteen features of story design that comprise the Gospel of John Short, targeted essays about how John works that can be used as starting points for the study of other Gospels/texts

The Word of Life
The Word of Life

Author: Craig R. Koester

Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing

Published: 2008-11-17

Total Pages: 259

ISBN-13: 0802829384

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"This work explores the major theological dimensions of John's Gospel, including God, the world and its people, Jesus, the crucifixion and resurrection, the Spirit, faith, and discipleship. The Word of Life by Craig Koester is notable for its comprehensive treatment of themes and its close, careful focus on the biblical text, on the narrative itself." "Koester interacts throughout with the best of current research and makes creative proposals about how to understand the many aspects of John's theology. His clear and highly readable guide to the theology of John's Gospel will serve a wide range of readers."--BOOK JACKET.