Richard Ascough

Assistant Professor of New Testament and Greek

Queen's Theological College

Theological Hall 229
Kingston, ON
Canada, K7L 3N6

(613) 533-6000
x78066

rsa@post.queensu.ca
http://
post.queensu.ca/~rsa

Winter 2002

Wednesday
11:30 - 2:30

Theological Hall 203

Office Hours:
Tue 9:30-11:30
or by appt.

Kysar 1993



Sloyan 1991

Course Description | Textbooks | Outline and Readings
Assignments | Supplementary Bibliography & Commentaries
Course Resources (http://post.queensu.ca/~rsa/resources.htm)

The objectives of the course are:

• to guide the student through the contours of the Fourth Gospel and its theology

• to give the student a knowledge of the social world within which the Fourth Gospel was written

• to instill in the student skill and confidence in understanding and interpreting the text of the Fourth Gospel

• to facilitate the application of the text to various theological and pastoral situations in our own day.

Note: The instructor reserves the right to change any aspect of the course at any point during the duration of the course.

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Textbooks

Bible. The New Revised Standard Version or Revised Standard Version are recommended. Be sure that it includes the apocryphal/deutero-canonical books.

Robert Kysar, John: The Maverick Gospel (2^nd edition; Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1993).

Gerard S. Sloyan, What Are They Saying About John? (New York and Mahwah: Paulist, 1991).

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Outline and Readings

January 9 History of the Johannine Community Gospel of John (preferably at one sitting) 1, 2, 3 John Kysar 1993:18-26, 136-46. Discussion Focus: Compare the Johannine Epistles to the Fourth Gospel in terms of style, content, tone. Look particularly at 1 John 3:11-18, 23-24; 4:7-12 and John 13:34-35; 15:1-27. Supplementary: Howard-Brook 1997:ix-xi, 1-7, 171-79; Brown 1979:13-144; Perkins 1990:942-51, 986-88; Meeks 1972; Smith 1992.

January 16 Composition and Structure of the Fourth Gospel Gospel of John John 9:1-40 Kysar 1993:14-18 Sloyan 1991:1-27, 63-68 Discussion Focus: Determine whether there is a particular structuring device employed in the Fourth Gospel (e.g., chronological; theological; literary device). How does John 9:1-40 reflect many of the themes in the entire gospel? Supplementary: Howard-Brook 1997:45-71; Culpepper 1983; Smith 1995:22-48; Duke 1985; Culpepper 1996:193-207.

January 23 The Fourth Gospel and the Synoptic Traditions John 2:13-24 Kysar 1993:3-14 Sloyan 1991:28-49, 82-97 Discussion Focus: Compare the Johannine account of the Temple incident with the Synoptic accounts (Matt 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46). What are some of the similarities and differences? Is John using the Synoptics here as a source? Argue for or against. Supplementary: Howard-Brook 1997:8-15; Smith 1977:367-78; Dunn 1996b:301-13.

January 30 The Prologue (1:1-18) John 1:1-38 Kysar 1993:27-40 Discussion Focus: Compare the Prologue of the Fourth Gospel (1:1-18) with the rest of the Gospel. Examine John's use of logos ("word") in the Prologue. Read Proverbs 1, 8; Sirach 1, 24; Wisdom of Solomon 6-9, Baruch 3. Compare and contrast the roles ascribed to Wisdom with those ascribed to the Logos in John 1:1-18. Supplementary: Johnson 1985:261-94; Carter 1990:35-58; Petersen 1993:8-22, 110-32.

February 6 The Book of Signs John 2:1-12, 4:46-54; 5:2-9; 6:1-5; 6:16-21; 9:1-7; 11:1-57 Kysar 1993:78-96 Discussion Focus: Discuss the miracle at Cana (2:1-12) as a "sign" in the Fourth Gospel. Is this sign like the other signs in the Gospel? What is the importance of this sign in itself and for what follows in the Gospel? Notice John's treatment of Mary here and throughout the Gospel. Supplementary: Howard-Brook 1997:16-30; Fortna 1970:29-98; Rosica 1991; von Wahlde 1989.

February 13 No Class (instructor away)

February 20 No Class (reading week)

February 27 The Fourth Gospel and the Marginalized John 3-5 Kysar 1993:147-54 Sloyan 1991:59-63 Discussion Focus: How does the writer treat women throughout the Fourth Gospel? Does he envision any role for women in the ministry of the Christian community? Does his treatment of women lend itself to the restriction of women in ministry? Supplementary: Howard-Brook 1997:31-44; Schneiders 1982; Karris 1990; Meeks 1996:317-26; Brown 1979:183-98; Rengsburger 1988; O'Day 1992:293-304.

March 6 Christology in the Fourth Gospel John 6-15 Isaiah 40-55 Kysar 1993:40-49 Sloyan 1991:78-81 Discussion Focus: Read the "I am" sayings in their contexts (6:35; 8:12 & 9:5; 10:7-9; 10:11-14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1-5). Be prepared to discuss the Christological import of each of the "I am" sayings, particularly 8:12-59. How is Jesus' equality with God demonstrated in the Gospel? What arguments does John give in response to Jewish claims that it is blasphemy for a human being to claim such a relationship to God? Supplementary: Howard-Brook 1997:72-87; Morris 1989:107-27; Harner 1971; Brown 1966:533-38; Ball 1996; Dunn 1996a; Fortna and Thatcher 2001. *** Commentary Assignment Due ***

March 13 The Holy Spirit in the Fourth Gospel (Pneumatology) John 13-17 Kysar 1993:97-122 Sloyan 1991:69-74 Discussion Focus: According to the Fourth Gospel (esp. chh 14-16) what role does the Paraclete / Holy Spirit have in the life of the Christian community? Supplementary: Howard-Brook 1997:101-8; Pack 1989; Scroggs 1988:85-91; Smalley 1996:289-300; Morris 1989:145-69.

March 20 Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel || Eucharist Gospel of John, esp. ch. 6 Kysar 1993:58-77, 122-35 Sloyan 1991:50-59 Discussion Focus: Trace a symbolic image (e.g., light; darkness; water; birth; life) throughout the Fourth Gospel noting the author's use of the symbol and the function of the symbol in each pericope. Is the author's use consistent or are there discernible changes in certain pericopae? Explain. Although the Gospel of John contains no account of the Last Supper, many commentators suggest that the multiplication of the loaves and fish in chapter 6, along with the changing of water into wine (2:1-11), function in John as replacements for the account - a Eucharist on a grand scale! Be prepared to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this suggestion. If you agree with the suggestion, why would John do this; if you disagree, why does John not include an account of the institution of the Eucharist? Supplementary: Howard-Brook 1997:88-100; Koester 1995; Petersen 1993:1-109. || Beasley-Murray 1991:85-101; Brown 1965:51-76; Brown 1965:77-95; Schnackenburg 1990:2:1-59; Countryman 1994:50-65.

March 27 The Passion Narrative of the Fourth Gospel John 18-19 Kysar 1993:49-54 Sloyan 1991:74-77 Discussion Focus: How does the narrative of Jesus' trial and death develop? How are Jesus, Pilate, "the Jews," and Peter characterized? What is the role of spatial settings in the narrative? Can you detect any irony in the narrative? Supplementary: Howard-Brook 1997:109-60; Sloyan 1988:199-217; Duke 1985:126-37; Senior 1991. *** Poster Display Day ***

April 3 The Resurrection Narrative of the Fourth Gospel John 20-21 Sloyan 1991:97-98 Discussion Focus: Compare the composition of John's resurrection stories carefully with those of the Synoptic gospels. Note the signs of Johannine composition and theology. Supplementary: Howard-Brook 1997:160-70; Fuller 1986:51-63 Sloyan 1988:219-33; Schneiders 1996; Luedemann 1994:151-71; Fuller 1971:131-54.

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Assignments

25% Commentary Assignment. Choose one chapter from the gospel of John and consult three of the commentaries listed in the bibliography ("No, you may not use William Barclay"!). Write a paper of 4-6 pages in which you argue why one of the commentaries is to be preferred over the others. Be sure include a critical description of each commentary used, indicating the strengths and weaknesses of each commentary along with the comparison of the commentaries. Illustrate your observations from the passage you have chosen, but note that this is not to be a commentary on the passage but an adjudication between the various commentaries. Due March 6, 2002.

35% Book Review / Poster Display. Write a book review of no more than two (2) pages of a book chosen from those marked with an asterix (*) in the supplementary bibliography below (note: not all are available in the Queen's library; you may choose another book but must confer with the instructor beforehand). Be sure to emphasize the strengths and weaknesses of the book, giving particular attention to the methods of interpretation employed throughout. You are then to create a poster display in which you highlight the contents of the book, your analysis, and the relevance of the book (if any) for using John in ministry. The poster should be visually appealing and should convey the essence of the written review (note: the poster should not convey more information than is in the review). The posters will be displayed in class on the due date and students will have an opportunity to examine one another's work. On that day please provide a one page, double-sided copy of your review for each member of the class (approximately 25). The objective of this assignment is to introduce the process of critically reading secondary sources while also exposing students to an important method for interpreting scripture for the church. At the end of the poster display each student will have a bibliographical resource for future work in John's gospel. For a guide to Writing Book Reviews see http://post.queensu.ca/~rsa/Book_Reviews.htm. Due: March 27, 2002. Since this assignment will be presented to the class please insure that it completed by the due date. If you do not complete this assignment on-time there will be an automatic reduction of 15 of the 35 marks given for this assignment.

40% Exegetical or Thematic Essay (10-12 pages, double spaced). A paper written on any passage in the Fourth Gospel (about 15 verses) or on a specific historical or theological topic arising from the Fourth Gospel. The focus of the paper should be the critical exegetical issues in the text or the critical historical and/or theological issues surrounding the topic. You should consult (and reference) at least five scholarly works on your passage/topic (e.g., books, articles, essays, or commentaries). To find these resources you can use the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) database, available through the Queen's Library web page (the librarians will assist you in learning how to use this tool). This assignment is not a sermon, but an academic paper and should be written in accordance with academic style. See my online Course Resources page (http://post.queensu.ca/~rsa/resources.htm) for guides for doing exegesis and writing research papers. Due April 10, 2002.

All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the stated day. Late assignments will be assessed a penalty of a one mark reduction per day late. Please observe all page length restrictions.

For an indication of how I grade written assignments see my Evaluation Guide
(http://post.queensu.ca/~rsa/evaltion.htm)

Please do not hand in assignments enclosed in a covering of some sort (e.g., binder, plastic sleeve); just place a staple in the top left corner.

Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty is a serious offense and can result in a grade of F and a notation in the student's record. All use of sources in any form, paper or electronic, must be acknowledged and documented in both written and oral presentations. This includes indirect use of another's ideas as well as direct quotation. Please be sure to read Queen's University's Policy on Academic Dishonesty (http://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/senate/policies/acaddish.html).

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Supplementary Bibliography

Monographs and Articles

* Anderson, Paul N. 1996. The Christology of the Fourth Gospel: Its Unity and Disunity in the Light of John 6. Valley Forge: Trinity Press International.

*Ashton, John. 1991. Understanding the Fourth Gospel. Oxford: Clarendon.

* Ball, D. M. 1996. 'I Am' In John's Gospel: Literary Function, Background and Theological Implications. JSNTSup 124. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press.

* Barrett, C. K. 1975. The Gospel of John and Judaism. London : S.P.C.K.

* Beasley-Murray, G. R. 1991. Gospel of Life: Theology in the Fourth Gospel. Peabody: Hendrickson.

Brown, Raymond E. 1965a. "The Eucharist and Baptism in John." In New Testament Essays, by Raymond E. Brown, 77-95. Milwaukee: Bruce Publishing Co.

------. 1965b. "The Johannine Sacramentary." In New Testament Essays, by Raymond E. Brown, 51-76. Milwaukee: Bruce Publishing Co.

------. 1975. "The Role of Women in the Fourth Gospel." Theological Studies 36:688-99.

* ------. 1979. The Community of the Beloved Disciple: The Life, Loves, and Hates of an Individual Church in New Testament Times. New York and Mahwah: Paulist.

Carter, Warren. 1990. "The Prologue and John's Gospel: Function, Symbol, and the Definitive Word." Journal for the Study of the New Testament 39:35-58.

* Conway, Colleen M. 1999. Men and Women in the Fourth Gospel: Gender and Johannine Characterization. SBLDS 167. Atlanta: Scholars Press.

* Countryman, L. William. 1994. Mysticism in the Gospel of John: Crossing Over Into God. 2nd ed. Valley Forge: Trinity Press International.

* Cullmann, Oscar. 1976. The Johannine Circle: Its Place in Judaism, among the Disciples of Jesus and in Early Christianity. A Study in the Origin of the Gospel of John. London: SMC Press.

* Culpepper, R. Alan. 1975. The Johannine School. An Evaluation of the Johannine-School Hypothesis Based on an Investigation of the Nature of Ancient Schools. SBLDS 26. Missoula: Scholars.

* ------. 1983. Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel: A Study in Literary Design. Foundations and Facets. Philadelphia: Fortress.

------. 1996. "Reading Johannine Irony." In Exploring the Gospel of John: In Honor of D. Moody Smith, ed. R. Alan Culpepper and C. Clifton Black, 193-207. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.

Culpepper, R. Alan, and C. Clifton Black, eds. 1996. Exploring the Gospel of John: In Honor of D. Moody Smith. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.

* de Jonge, M. 1977. Jesus: Stranger from Heaven and Son of God. Jesus Christ and the Christians in Johannine Perspective. SBLDS 11. Missoula: Scholars Press.

* Dodd, C. H. 1958. The Interpretation of the Fourth Gospel. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

* ------. 1963. Historical Tradition in the Fourth Gospel. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

* Duke, Paul D. 1985. Irony in the Fourth Gospel. Atlanta: John Knox.

Dunn, James D. G. 1996a. Christology in the Making: A New Testament Inquiry into the Origins of the Doctrine of the Incarnation. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

------. 1996b. "John and the Synoptics as a Theological Question." In Exploring the Gospel of John: In Honor of D. Moody Smith, ed. R. Alan Culpepper and C. Clifton Black. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.

* Fortna, Robert T. 1970. The Gospel of Signs: A Reconstruction of the Narrative Source Underlying the Fourth Gospel. SNTMS 11. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

* ------. 1988. The Fourth Gospel and Its Predecessor: From Narrative Source to Present Gospel. Philadelphia: Fortress.

Fortna, Robert T. and Tom Thatcher, eds. 2001. Jesus in the Johannine Tradition. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.

Fuller, Reginald H. The Formation of the Resurrection Narratives. New York and London: Macmillan.

------. 1986. "The Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus According to St. John." Chicago Studies 25/1:51-63.

Harner, Philip B. 1971. The "I-Am" of the Fourth Gospel: A Study in Johannine Usage and Thought. Philadelphia: Fortress.

Harrington, D. J. 1990. John's Thought and Theology: An Introduction. Wilmington.

* Hawkin, David J. 1996. The Johannine World: Reflections on the Theology of the Fourth Gospel and Contemporary Society. Albany: SUNY.

* Hengel, Martin. 1989. The Johannine Question. Stone Lectures, Princeton Theological Seminary, 1987. Philadelphia and London: Trinity Press International and SCM.

Horst, Pieter W. van der. 1994. "The Birkat ha-minim in Recent Research." In Hellenism - Judaism - Christianity: Essays on Their Interaction. Kampen: Kok Pharos.

* Howard-Brook, Wes. 1997. John's Gospel and the Renewal of the Church. Maryknoll: Orbis.

Johnson, Elizabeth A. 1985. "Jesus, the Wisdom of God: A Biblical Basis for Non-Androcentric Christology." Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses 61:261-94.

Karris, Robert J. 1990. Jesus and the Marginalized in John's Gospel. Collegeville: Liturgical Press.

Koester, Craig R. 1989. "Hearing, Seeing, and Believing in the Gospel of John." Biblica 70:327-48.

------. 1990. "'The Savior of the World' (John 4:42)." Journal of Biblical Literature 109:665-80.

* ------. 1995. Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel: Meaning, Mystery, Community. Minneapolis: Fortress.

Kysar, Robert. 1993. John, The Maverick Gospel. 2nd ed. Atlanta: John Knox.

* Lozada, Francisco. 2000. A Literary Reading of John 5: Text As Construction. Studies in Biblical Literature 20. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.

Luedemann, Gerd. 1994. The Resurrection of Jesus: History, Experience, Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress.

* Martyn, J. Louis. 1979. History and Theology in the Fourth Gospel. 2nd ed. Nashville: Abingdon.

Meeks, Wayne A. 1972. "The Man from Heaven in Johannine Sectarianism." Journal of Biblical Literature 91:44-72.

------. 1996. "The Ethics of the Fourth Evangelist." In Exploring the Gospel of John: In Honor of D. Moody Smith, ed. R. Alan Culpepper and C. Clifton Black, 317-26. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.

Minear, Paul S. 1984. John: The Martyr's Gospel. New York: Pilgrim Press.

Morris, Leon. 1989. Jesus is the Christ: Studies in the Theology of John. Grand Rapids and Leicester: Eerdmans and Inter-Varsity.

Newbigin, Lesslie. 1995. The Light Has Come: An Exposition of the Fourth Gospel. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

* Neyrey, Jerome H. 1988. An Ideology of Revolt: John's Christology in Social-Science Perspective. Philadelphia: Fortress.

* O'Day, Gail R. 1986. Revelation in the Fourth Gospel: Narrative Mode and Theological Claim. Philadelphia: Fortress.

------. 1992. "John." In The Women's Bible Commentary, ed. Carol A. Newsom and Sharon H. Ringe, 293-304. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.

Pack, F. 1989. "The Holy Spirit in the Fourth Gospel." Restoration Quarterly 31:139-48.

Perkins, Pheme. 1990a. "The Gospel According to John." In The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, ed. R. S. Brown, J. A. Fitzmyer, and R. E. Murphy, 942-85. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.

------. 1990b. "The Johannine Epistles." In The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, ed. R. E. Brown and J. A. Murphy Fitzmyer, R. E., 986-95. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.

* Petersen, Norman R. 1993. The Gospel of John and the Sociology of Light: Language and Characterization in the Fourth Gospel. Valley Forge: Trinity Press International.

* Pryor, John W. 1992. John: Evangelist of the Covenant People. The Narrative and Themes of the Fourth Gospel. London: Darton, Longman and Todd.

* Rensberger, David. 1988. Johannine Faith and Liberating Community. Philadelphia: Westminster.

Rosica, Thomas M. 1991. "Mary at Cana and the Cross." Bible Today 29:47-50.

Schneiders, S. M. 1982. "Women in the Fourth Gospel and the Role of Women in the Contemporary Church." Biblical Theology Bulletin 12:35-45.

------. 1996. "John 20:11-18: The Encounter of the Easter Jesus with Mary Magdalene - A Transformative Feminist Reading." In "What is John?" Readers and Readings of the Fourth Gospel, ed. Fernando F. Segovia, 155-68. SBL Symposium Series. Atlanta: Scholars Press.

* ------. 1999. Written That You May Believe: Encountering Jesus in the Fourth Gospel. New York: Herder and Herder.

* Schnelle, Udo. 1992. Antidocetic Christology in the Gospel of John. Minneapolis: Fortress.

* Scroggs, Robin. 1988. Christology in Paul and John. Proclamation Commentaries. Philadelphia: Fortress.

* Segovia, Fernando F. 1982. Love Relationships in the Johannine Tradition: Agape / Agapan in I John and the Fourth Gospel. SBLDS 58. Chico: Scholars Press.

* ------. 1991. Farewell of the Word: The Johannine Call to Abide. Minneapolis: Fortress.

------, ed. 1996. "What is John?" Readers and Readings of the Fourth Gospel. SBL Symposium Series. Atlanta: Scholars Press.

Senior, Donald. 1991. The Passion of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Collegeville: Liturgical Press.

Sloyan, Gerard S. 1991. What Are They Saying About John? New York and Mahwah: Paulist.

* Smalley, Stephen S. 1978. John: Evangelist and Interpreter. Exeter: Paternoster.

------. 1996. "'The Paraclete': Pneumatology in the Johannine Gospel." In Exploring the Gospel of John: In Honor of D. Moody Smith, ed. R. Alan Culpepper and C. Clifton Black, 289-300. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.

Smith, D. Moody. 1977. "The Presentation of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel." Interpretation 31:367-78. [= Smith 1984:175-89]

------. 1980. "John and the Synoptics: Some Dimensions of the Problem." New Testament Studies 26:425-44. [= Smith 1984:145-72]

------. 1984. Johannine Christianity: Essays on Its Setting, Sources, and Theology. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press.

* ------. 1992. John Among the Gospels: The Relationship in Twentieth-Century Research. Minneapolis: Fortress.

* ------. 1995. The Theology of the Gospel of John. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

* Thompson, Marianne Meye. 1988. The Humaninty of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel. Philadelphia: Fortress.

* Von Wahlde, Urban C. 1989. The Earliest Version of John's Gospel: Recovering the Gospel of Signs. Wilmington: Michael Glazier.

Commentaries (# = on reserve at Stauffer)

# Barrett, C. K. 1978. The Gospel According to St. John: An Introduction with Commentary and Notes on the Greek Text. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Westminster.

# Beasley-Murray, George R. 1987. John. WBC 36. Waco: Word.

# Bernard, J. H. 1928. The Gospel According to St. John. 2 Vols. Ed. A. H. McNeile. ICC. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark.

# Brodie, Thomas L. 1993. The Gospel According to John: A Literary and Theological Commentary. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.

# Brown, Raymond E. 1966 and 1970. The Gospel According to John: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. 2 Vols. AB 29. New York: Doubleday.

# Bultmann, Rudolf. 1971. The Gospel of John: A Commentary. Oxford: Blackwell.

Carson, Donald A. 1991. The Gospel According to John. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

# Craddock, F. B. 1982. John. Atlanta: John Knox.

Ellis, Peter F. 1984. The Genius of John: Composition-Critical Commentary on the Fourth Gospel. Collegeville: Liturgical Press.

# Haenchen, E. 1984. John. 2 Vols. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress.

Kysar, Robert. 1985. John. ACNT. Minneapolis: Fortress.

# Lindars, Barnabas. 1972. The Gospel of John. NCBC. London: Oliphants.

# Malina, Bruce J., and Richard L. Rohrbaugh. 1998. Social-Science Commentary on the Gospel of John. Minneapolis: Fortress.

Marrow, Stanley B. 1995. The Gospel of John: A Reading. Mahwah: Paulist Press.

# Michaels, J. R. 1989. John. NIBC. Peabody: Hendrickson.

Morris, Leon. 1971. The Gospel According to John. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

# Schnackenburg, R. 1990. The Gospel According to St. John. 3 Vols. New York: Crossroad.

Sloyan, Gerard Stephen. 1988. John. Interpretation. Atlanta: Westminster John Knox.

# Smith, D. Moody. 1986. John. Proclamation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Fortress.

# Talbert, Charles H. 1992. Reading John: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the Fourth Gospel and Johannine Epistles. New York: Crossroad.

Witherington III, Ben. 1995. John's Wisdom: A Commentary on the Fourth Gospel. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.

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