Most experts who seek to understand the historical Jesus focus only on the Synoptic Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke. However, the contributors of this volume come to an important consensus: that the Gospel of John preserves traditions that are independent of the Synoptics, and which are often as reliable as any known traditions for understanding the historical Jesus. As such, the contributors argue for the use of John’s Gospel in Jesus research.
The volume contains various critical approaches to historical inquiry in the Gospel of John, including new evaluations of the relationship between John and the Synoptics, literary and rhetorical approaches, comparative analysis of other early traditions, the judicious use of archaeological data, and historical interpretation of John’s theological tendencies. Contributing scholars include Dale C. Allison, Jr., Paul N. Anderson, Harold W. Attridge, James H. Charlesworth, R. Alan Culpepper, Michael A. Daise, Craig S. Keener, George L. Parsenios, Petr Pokorný, Jan Roskovec, and Urban C. von Wahlde, who help to reassess fully the historical study of John’s gospel, particularly with respect to the person of Jesus.
Contents List of Abbreviations Notes on Contributors Preface Introducing the Focus of the Third Princeton-Prague Symposium: John in Jesus Research James H. Charlesworth Part One John and the Synoptics in Jesus Research 1 Why the Gospel of John is Fundamental to Jesus Research, Paul N. Anderson 2 Reflections on Matthew, John, and Jesus, Dale C. Allison Jr. Part Two Literary and Rhetorical Approaches for Jesus Research in John 3 Some Methodological Considerations Regarding John, Jesus, and History, Harold W. Attridge 4 How and in What Ways Does John’s Rhetoric Reflect Jesus’ Rhetoric?, George L. Parsenios Part Three Johannine Relationships to Early Traditions, Josephus, and Archaeological Data 5 The First Edition of John’s Gospel in Light of Archaeology and Contemporary Literature, Urban C. von Wahlde 6 John 2:20, “Forty-Six Years”: Revisiting J. A. T. Robinson’s Chronology of Jesus’ Ministry, R. Alan Culpepper 7 Historical Tradition in the Fourth Gospel’s Depiction of the Baptist, Craig S. Keener 8 Can Archaeology Help Us See Jesus’ Shadows in the Gospel of John?, James H. Charlesworth Part Four Johannine Tendenzen, Theology, and History 9 History in John’s Portrayal of Jesus Jan Roskovec 10 Jesus and the Historical Implications of John’s Temple Cleansing, Michael A. Daise 11 Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospel of John, Petr Pokorný Part Five Summaries of Symposium Discussions 12 Allison, Anderson, Culpepper, and Attridge: Discussion of Papers I, Nathan C. Johnson and Maurice J. P. O’Connor 13 Charlesworth and Parsenios: Discussion of Papers II, Brandon L. Allen 14 Pokorný, von Wahlde, and Keener: Discussion of Papers III, James M. Neumann 15 Roskovec, Daise, and a Developing Consensus: Discussion of Papers IV, Jolyon G. R. Pruszinski Part Six Appendices Notes Jesus Research and the Gospel of John: Selected Bibliography, Jolyon G. R. Pruszinski Modern Author Index Scripture Index Ancient Sources
James H. Charlesworth is George L. Collord Professor of New Testament Language and Literature and Director and Editor of the Dead Sea Scrolls Project at Princeton Theological Seminary, USA. Jolyon G. R. Pruszinski is a PhD Candidate and Trustees Merit Scholar at Princeton Theological Seminary, USA.
Reviews for Jesus Research: The Gospel of John in Historical Inquiry
This is an important volume, as the impressive range of contributions lends significant evidence to the search for the historical Jesus in John’s gospel. The contributions will change the ways in which we have tended to view the presentation of Jesus in John’s gospel. * Modern Believing *
