Full Description
The contribution of the Johannine literature to the development of Christian theology, and particularly to Christology, is uncontested, although careful distinction between the implications of its language, especially that of sonship, in a first century 'Jewish' context and in the subsequent theological controversies of the early Church has been particularly important if not always easily sustained. Recent study has shaken off the weight of subsequent Christian appropriation of Johannine language which has sometimes made readers immune to the ambiguities and challenging tensions in its thought. The Oxford Handbook of Johannine Studies begins with chapters concentrating on discussions of the background and context of the Johannine literature, leading to the different ways of reading the text, and thence to the primary theological themes within them, before concluding with some discussion of the reception of the Johannine literature in the early church. Inevitably, given their different genres and levels of complexity, some chapters pay most if not all attention to the Gospel, whereas others are more able to give a more substantial place to the letters. All the contributors have themselves made significant contributions to their topic. They have sought to give a balanced introduction to the relevant scholarship and debate, but they have also been able to present the issues from their own perspective. The Handbook will help those less familiar with the Johannine literature to get a sense of the major areas of debate and why the field continues to be one of vibrant and exciting study, and that those who are already part of the conversation will find new insights to enliven their own on-going engagement with these writings.
Contents
Abbreviations
List of Contributors
1: Judith M. Lieu and Martinus C. de Boer: Introduction
2: H. A. G. Houghton: The Text of the Gospel and Letters of John
3: Michael Labahn: Literary Sources of the Gospel and Letters of John
4: Harold W. Attridge: John and Other Gospels
5: Martinus C. de Boer: The Story of the Johannine Community and its Literature
6: Tom Thatcher: The Beloved Disciple, the Fourth Evangelist, and the Authorship of the Fourth Gospel
7: Urban C. Von Wahlde: The Gospel of John and Archaeology
8: Adele Reinhartz: The Jews of the Fourth Gospel
9: Gitte Buch-Hansen: The Johannine Literature in a Greek Context
10: Jutta Leonhardt-Balzer: The Johannine Literature and Contemporary Jewish Literature
11: Alastair H. B. Logan: The Johannine Literature and the Gnostics
12: Jo-Ann A. Brant: The Fourth Gospel as Narrative and Drama
13: Warren Carter: Ideological Readings of the Fourth Gospel
14: Colleen Conway: Gender and the Fourth Gospel
15: Philip S. Esler: Social-Scientific Readings of the Gospel and Letters of John
16: Dorothy A. Lee: Symbolism and 'Signs' in the Fourth Gospel
17: Jörg Frey: Dualism and the World in the Gospel and Lettters of John
18: Ruben Zimmermann: Eschatology and Time in the Gospel of John
19: Udo Schnelle: The Person of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of John
20: Jean Zumstein: The Purpose of the Ministry and Death of Jesus in the Gospel of John
21: Catrin H. Williams: Faith, Eternal Life, and the Spirit in the Gospel of John
22: Jan van der Watt: Ethics in Community in the Gospel and Letters of John
23: Bruce G. Schuchard: Temple, Festivals, and Scripture in the Gospel of John
24: Judith M. Lieu: The Johannine Literature and the Canon
25: William Lamb: Johannine Commentaries in the Early Church
Index Locorum
General Index
