Content

This unit will examine the content and structure of Johannine thought as a distinctive development within early Christianity, as reflected in the narratives in the Fourth Gospel, the Johannine Epistles and Revelation. A narrative approach will be used, which will be a gateway into considering different reading communities, ideological textures and modes of hermeneutical appropriation. Emphasis will also be given to contextualizing the theology of the Johannine literature for the Church today, including grounding in a sense of community, and service within God’s love.

Unit code: BN9397B

Unit status: Archived (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: New Testament

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Eva Burrows College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Demonstrate an understanding of the major narrative devices and theological themes employed in the Johannine literature and their impact on the community of believers.

2.

Analyse the concerns and context of the Johannine community, and the relationship of the Gospel to the rest of the Johannine literature.

3.

Compare how the Johannine Epistles use theological themes in similar and different ways and for similar and different purposes from the rest of the Johannine literature

4.

Employ effective narrative critical tools to exegete specific texts in the Johannine literature

5.

Discuss critically the frameworks for interpretation of the Johannine literature as well as some of the issues involved in current biblical scholarship

6.

Evaluate critically the hermeneutical foundations of various approaches to Johannine literature.

Unit sequence

24 points NT Foundation unit or equivalent

Pedagogy

Lectures, tutorials, seminars, group work, online forums

Indicative Bibliography

  • Carter, Warren. John and Empire: Initial Explorations. New York: T&T Clark, 2008. New York: T & T Clark, 2008.
  • Culpepper, R. Alan. Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel: a study in literary design. Phildaelphia: Fortress Press, 1983.
  • Culpepper, R. Alan. The Gospel and Letters of John. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998.
  • Gorman, Michael. Reading Revelation Responsibly. Eugene: Cascade, 2011
  • Lee, Dorothy A. Flesh and glory: Symbolism, gender and theology in the Gospel of John. New York: Crossroad, 2002
  • Lindars, Barnabas, R. Alan Culpepper, Ruth B. Edwards, John M. Court. The Johannine literature Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2000.
  • Moloney, Francis, J. Belief in the Word: reading John 1-4 Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock publishers, 2004.
  • Moloney, Francis J. Love in the Gospel of John: An Exegetical, Theological and Literary Study. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013.
  • Painter, John. 1, 2, and 3 John. Sacra Pagina 18. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical press, 2002.
  • Resseguie, James L. The Revelation of John: a narrative commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009.
  • Thompson, Marianne Meye. John: a commentary. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2015.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Exegetical Essay

4,500 word Exegetical Essay

4500 65.0
Seminar or Tutorial

2,500 word Seminar Paper

2500 35.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 27 Jul, 2017

Unit record last updated: 2022-10-05 16:00:26 +1100