Course Code: BBN06 & BBN07

Jesus Tradition in the Johannine Writings

Eng./Regional – BBN06 / Greek – BBN07

BD III, Semester I, 4 Credit Hours, College Paper

Objectives

• To enable the students to gain overall understanding of the Jesus tradition in Johannine writing
• To acquire necessary skills to study the gospel in one’s context
• To comprehend the Johannine theological explorations
• To interpret and apply Johannine insights to contemporary situations and problems in Church and Society

Course Requirement

• Final Examinations 60%
• Internal Assessment 40%
• Attendance 5%
• Weekly Reading 15%
• Written assignment/presentation 20%

Outline

1. Reading Johannine Literature in Context
   • The influences, background, traditions of Johannine Literature
   • Authorship, date, occasion, and purpose/s of Johannine writings
   • Community of John
   • Reading Johannine Literature in Indian multi-faith, pluralistic context
     • Challenges of living as a threatened minority in the midst of a powerful majority
     • Challenges of reclaiming and redefining community identity
     • Challenges of reading images and symbols in Indian ethos
     • Challenges of keeping philosophy, belief and daily struggle in constant conversation
     • Challenges of gender injustice, conflicts, poverty and marginalization
     • Challenge of ecological issues
2. Images of God in the Johannine Tradition
   • Images and Characterization of God in the Gospel of John: Creator God and Self-giving God, Johannine reinterpretation of patriarchy
   • Characterization of God in the 1st Epistle of John: God is light, God is love
   • Passages for in-depth study: John 3:16-21; 1 John 4:7-21
3. Jesus of the Johannine Tradition
   • Evolution of a unique Jesus tradition in John: Method and content of reinterpretation, remodeling, and enrichment of Jesus tradition through cultural religious and philosophical dialogue
   • Differences and Similarities between John’s portrayal of Jesus with Synoptic writers’ portrayal of Jesus
   • Titles and Images of Christ in the Johannine Literature: Logos, Exegete of the Father, the Lamb of God, The Son of God, The Son of Man, the Messiah, the Holy one of God, the Saviour of the World; “I am” sayings, Light, life, Bread of Life, Living Water, Shepherd, Door, Vine, Truth, Way, Resurrection
4. The Passion of Jesus as the Revelation of Glory
   • Johannine reading of the passion, cross and resurrection of Jesus
   • Cross as the revelation of glory
   • Passages for in-depth study: John 1:1-18; 18:33-19:16; 20:1-18, 24-29
5. Images of the Holy Spirit in the Johannine Literature
   • The wind that blows, rivers of living water, Spirit of truth, Paraclete
   • Functions of the Holy Spirit: hermeneut of Jesus, teacher, guide, counselor, judge, revealer. Johannine Pentecost
   • Passages for in-depth study: John 14:16-17; John 16:7-11; 20:19-23
6. Designs for the New Community
   • An alternative community in the world (community of the beloved disciple) – the question of identity and minority living in a world of powerful majority
   • Imagery of grain of wheat, shepherd and the sheepfold, vine and the branches
   • Community of service, love and fellowship
   • Community of life
   • The “signs” of Jesus as affirmation of life
   • Struggles for life, meaning and significance of Johannine dualism – life and death, light and darkness, flesh and spirit, falsehood and truth, above and below
   • Overcoming inner-community dissensions, crisis and conflict resolution: beloved disciple and Peter: a comparative analysis; Union and unity of the community
   • Knowing and believing as means of appropriating life
   • Worship and Sacrament in the community: worship in Spirit and truth. Imageries of eating the flesh, drinking the blood, water, Spirit and new birth
   • Passages for in-depth study: John 10:1-18; John 9:1-34; John 6:51-59; John 17:1-26
7. Johannine Understanding of Ministry and Mission
   • Images of ministry: feet washing (Johannine transfiguration story) and abiding and fruit bearing (Johannine mysticism)
   • Witness as Mission:
     • Witness in conflict – Bringing the deeds of darkness to light
     • Witness as dialogue – towards experiencing and sharing new birth and new identity with others
   • Passages for in-depth study: John 13:1-20; 4:1-42
8. Johannine Vision of Consummation
   • The realized and future eschatology (the hour is coming and has come, the last day)
   • Judgment and eternal life
   • Joy and abundant life
   • Seeing the “glory”
   • Passages for in-depth study: John 5:19-29; 10:10; 1 John 5:1-5
9. Texts for Exegeses
   • In English: Jn. 1:1-18; 2:1-22; 6:51-59; 10:1-18; 17:6-19; 20:11-18; I John 4:7-21; 2 John and 3 John
   • In Greek: 1:1-18; 2:13-22; 6:51-59; 17:22-25; 20:24-29; I John 1:5-10

Bibliography

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