The Legacy of John: Second-Century Reception of the Fourth Gospel (Supplements to Novum Testamentum)

. 10 . nd, I""" '>--IO ... m to 1'""uPl""" •• ;t.,boo of .. riou~ I",... mably ,. ~'.""n .I.. ~-.D known from "'"" Ch"" .. " ""''''' (d. wh"< I..... '0J- 1IOI. On "" ..., ;, of ,bo "",m..J <""lm". th< 'l' ; ~k. m ""'" " .... monIr ...... d 'n A... Mj,.,.-. <>p«"'Iy;" >ph< ..... . nd .i>,ro ,. 0000, 10000I tO a . f..-. d;" ... _ >« RE. "row" ''''. 100--10'. , I h.o .. ;ocl, okd ,,,{"''''''. '" 1 and ' ]0/>" ..... ""'." thoy m "",.." ,- " >hould "" notN, how",,,. tho, thm . " "'" d;!fmoc" ' '''''''g "" tk... 0:, <.&-. lM.

1"';,111_111.

,I.., IO ... , I• ..,me ,ubtle d ifference. b stem from a common cirde or w>, I list the mo." imponant of the .. common expressions . nd then proeM to evaluate what they ..y about the relation'hip betwe<'n t il< go.pel and ,h. epistles.'

,

lh. Exrr .. oon the beginning, tbe woN (J.O-,u.;) lif.

"'" h .." ...., . nd testify

1"" Ep!,tl..

lh. Go5j>
1 John U

JohnLl In the i>f.ginning wa, the Word John L4 in h,m ",.. Iif., and the bfe ~-.. tbe I'ght
Wh. t wa. from the i><&inning, ~'hat ~~ h.." beard, ",II .. ",. h..~ .... n with oor ey<>, ~' ru.t w. h .." k>oI<e
..., U~

We h. v< ... n his

II I W. 'p". k of ~+t.t ~.• know a"d testify to what we Ita,,, ""n

• A d , w< romp"""'" i><,,"I)k> of ti>< !",\,odO lOll, " '_156. Dodd i"'m..J ,.n K>m< d,Ok",.", ,. " rio .. "'00 to ''l!'''' fo< Ih< " 1'' '''''' ... ,ho.-.h 'f" oflh<" ....,"'_ S<0<1 '0 "'I'P"" Ih< ,ommoo ,u,hoM'p of,i>< t"'I"I . nJ 011,1."" I"""'ni", ,," ~ b , Cf. Rod"' "hl anI ) h.. "'''''''''', '" m." ,u, 'nto """"n' ti>< po><,bilOly of dd,b"... <"I'y;n8 '" "u",on,,"" ;mi.. t .... ""hi" , ",hooI of wri'", 1><_ w, u'" ")i' ~~ n;","- '0 ''l!"' roo Ii>< rom""", .. ,hoMjl' of Ih< Johann j", wnhnS'• t h,,,, """ w,,o Ii>< m<>« «>mpIn< W ~ 'n R,E, Brown "". ,,,·n ._ t ",",', ""P"'''" Ii>< " ..;I,,;,;., 1h<m<,;c.Ur.uwl om ,",d ,I.< , ..., ~ hm Ii>< ....,,,,;,y '"88,~,d 0.,- Brown ,, " " "b,n' or "n,,,~, i,,- I" Ih< "'bk. t ",,,, sO"'. Ih< G",' foo-nu .00 'I""'..J ti>< P""lI" ..I.<" " &n'&,"' roo "" <=>8"'""" oflh< " ....00 diJfm"" ~ An ..'u'''' {'I "'_" • • " P"''''''" "' .. " d'~ 'n<';'" .. ti>< ", .. T",,",,", '0 "" Go>l"lof lohn.oo t" . n< _ I '"" Ih< 'I"~k, .. to ,I.< "'~ of "" ",,' T,,"""n ', '" P,;n", ""'. 6'_6<.

<"""'.

"-
th', ;,

"Lo,,,,,,

"

OA'''O HAKOI..A

1m",,) 1.... Exp=ioo

" " " " "

,."

light

11>< Go.pel

1 Iohn D

I""n 8012, "'~ IN6 I am 'ht light of tl><

God i. light

",wid

• light ,Iu".. ("m,i.)

1 lOOn 2,8

I""" I,'

• , .... tru< Iiglil (,b ..... '" ~).~fh""') light ... J"kn"",

1 Iohn H

loon 19

1 Iohn L6-7; H- ll

loon 1,', 119-1o-, 8 .12; 119-10; IU~46

• wall (..,.""",,;.) in the lightld.,k"""

t lOOn L6-7; 2, II

• do truth

ki/ln L6 1 Iobn L8, H; 2 Iohn 2 !

truth b
k

111< F-rist'",

.~

• know

It"''''''''''/

I""" U2, 11,9 (walk d uring ,he d. y), l U a (,,-.Ik at night); lB' lohn j,21 loon 8M

1 lOOn 2.21, 2 John I

I""" 832

1 Iohn 221, 119

I""n 1837

! loon H i

)00" l U7; 16, IJ

,iSh",,) , .... truth

M • be of(i. ) Ih< truth k

,

• , .... SpIrit of truth • know It'''"''''''''') th< true ol>
I lOOn

,,2Q

koow the 1m< one, J..... i, , .... lrut God

1~ , 16;

I""" 173

(ef ,1>0 nS) kn"", , .... only 1m< ~

• be from

(.t"" ,.)

! Iohn llO, 4,1,2,3,4,6;

"

~

H9, J loon 11; d. 1 Iohn H6, bot from ,be father

~

• be bom from (",j

1 lOOn 229, ),'J;

,

~

H,4,18

• be from (,;"'" ,.) tM devil

1 lOOn 18, d_ 1 lOOn 112, be from tM
~

• be from (,;"" ,.) tM ororld

-

1 lOOn H6,

4, ~

loon U7

I""" U3 loon 8.44 (-y"" .... from YOU' fat""" tM d"in loon 8,23, 1~19; 17 , 1~16; 1836

TI,. lOliA""'''' TkAl>IT!ON ,,; 1, 1, 3 JOHN

(0"1.)

• ~

• "

• "

,--

11>< upr«''''''

1'" EJ>I'tl..

• (onquer (,,"';,) the

I loon H

>

I loon lJ3

lOOn

n ; [H8

I loon 11

lOOn

[7J~

-" ,o.

world h.le, )"" ,o. work! dod 001 know God >.bid< ( ~ ;"",,) in )<>" God/)..... .oi.!<s in • o.l"" word of God .oi.!<s

,

"

lOOn 16JJ

(~,o,i,)

'"~
• "'~

k.." (,_i,) 1.. ",'1 •• God. words/com-

I loon 2,6,27,28, 16,24; lH,6,7 4,13-[6 I loon 114; H2-16

lOOn 6, ~ " ,'

I loon lJ4

Jolin 'J8

I loon ll,2. 10; H

lOOn Ll2; IL'l

I loon

lJ-', 112,24;

lOOn 8,11-,2,",

"

14, 1 ~, 11.23-24;

[loon 1,7,8, 2 Jolin'

lOOn [134

• (om m.ndm.n, '0 low 000 another

I loon l23; 4,2[, 1 loon " d .•1>0 I loon In ''''' m'=g< (,,-n,),,,,-) ,h., w< sbooIJ ""'< 00< aooto.,.

lOOn [134; [H2,[7

~

> '0 Jov< l<su>lGod i, '0 hep hi, com"",ndmenl<

I loon 1J-3, 2 lOOn 6

lOOn IH1,21; " ,10

'"

,,1ul
I loon 112;

"

• 10)'

m.od"..,,1< %

>

n.w comm.odmo",

(fvtu),~,

•

,,,,>1\.)

down 0",,' li[,

for ("(;oW ' ~dp)

....,m,

1~1O.2Q-,

[loonll6

' , 14- 1 ~

Jolin IH3,14; ",7-I6,I&2l lOOn 10;11,",17, 18; nl7

orh ...

> 1«". ,. k.. (n;"",,) , w'y ,in. > p.a.....t

" h., " (""ail<> " "') from d."h ' 0 lif<

I loon

1~

I loon 114

17,6

lOOn U9 lOOn

~ , 24

"1m",,)

OA'''O HAKOI..A

1M Exp=ioo

11>< F-rist''''

11>< Go.pel

"

my fOl
llohnH7

loon 83', 120)4

"

! ki/ln ~, '2 (d. 1 lohn 4.2(1)

loon US

~

00 or><

has

.v<' ...n

• w. ba,~ known . 00

" oro.'

! Iohn H6

"

btliev
!

• joy fulfi lled

1 lohn L4, 2 joon II

lOOn 16.14, 17oU; d. .Iso 3,2\1, I~ , 11

the purp<>'" of writing

1 lOOn H3

I""" 2(}.3(l

'" "

loon 6069 (bal" ,00 known)

1><] .. ,...:1

Iohn ' ,' -8

lohn 1'J:J..i

With >ome exception •• lhe .imilarit ;.. p,,,,,,nted in the Ii" al>ove are uniqu~ to til< GOIlpel of John and ,,2 and J 101m. It i. nOl ju st a qu«,ion of similarity of langu.ge but in many ca, ... , the Odiom. I>e1ray a common .nd d i>!inctiw view of the world. The language of light a nd d.,kn ..... (20-') i •• chuoc' er;',ic of. du.li"k world" iew whkh th e world d ivide
,«.

a

",~i .. rs

but the .. writers do not identify the ",ure. th~ are u.ing.' The first .. phdt and undisputM dtation of t he epistle. come. from Iren.eu. who q~ote. both I John and 1 Joh n but po>.ibly th ink. that hi. quotations stem from the ... mo letter which he a"ign' to lohn, the d i",iple of le.u. (A.dv, hoi". 1,16.3, 3.16.~; 3.16 .8).' Like I.. nae ~ ., "",er.1 .ubsequent wri .. rs cite both I John and 2 John but .how no knowledge of 3 John. It i. reve.ling that the fi rst attest.tion of the exi. tene. of 3 John refe .. to the di.puted po>it ion of 2 and 3 John a mong Olri"ian ""ite .. ,· The pooition of 1 and 3 John .. mained di.puted e'r«i.lIy in Syrian churche. where they, along with 1 Pet .. and Jude, were t .. n.latM into Syria< only in the .ixth century.'" lhe doubts concerning the a uthenticity of 1 and 3 lohn notwithstand ing, t he preniling view "'""" that the go were ",~itten by •• ingle author who "' •• ident ified a. Je.us' disciple. In modern scholarsh ip, th e common autho .. hip of t he go'rbyter mentioned in 2 .nd 3 loh n (llohn 1,3 John I)." How,,'''' the majority of ",hoi." now.da)~ think that the go.pel and the
, , '" 1"""'''' """,", of , I>< loo.nnin< """. " P''''' ' 0 m C>.

>« u. Bro,," ,I>< ....... ".~ by ,,,I >004 • • "'. ,'''' moo< 'mpo"'n' "".Jkl ' 0 "'" """"" " 'n pol. I'M ] , ' , ",..- "",,)' on< ,,00 ,hall "'" «'n roo oIut J".' chri" ',,,,,",,;n tl>< . nh< ' PP<""'" of ,he ph,.... ;. '''" 3~ ;n the urn< oom""ho" Id . , John H) and ,I>< ",n'""" -..., u'--.'urn ... k ,,, ,I>< ..-o«l wh"h .... dorh""",

t • .,. 6_•. C[ . 100

Ok","

to "' from the "'ginn'ns- (d. 1 John n. 2<; },", 'Iohn 'J "'" likdihoo
;n 1'<>1. ""d. n 'n'''''....

• SP;"~ ,Dd ,l><. """""

an
on ;,J but "'" .. .. y th
'1, """"",",,"".

» R."- 8rown " "-'. " 11>< 'I'"'''''' au tooo"'" of tl>< goop<,;. i, "'pportrod..,. A. ' Ion..... W ............ IV. H001 . • _w.

"'gi>'-'

""'_310.

" lh,

",halo" f""'wO< two J'ff"m' .... hen for ,he I!"'pd an< W;"W "h. C.H. l>odd. R. S<",""" . ""'ny ",hOUn tMnk ,h .. th, go",," "Od 'hr """"'. ~.", I... , on"" d;ff"",n' writ",,"- "ul'","nn.

,,,>tin

fo&~; n8

II.

""-;",n"""

OA'''O HAKOI..A

'he go< .pistl .. h .... emerged in differen, .i'uation. a nd rep",,,,nt 'wo d ifferen , ",ndering. of ,I>< .h • .....J tr,di,ion.

2.

D'Ff'kfNCF.s " £TWEEN T H E GoSPEl ANI> T H E [vISnE.

The moo' ob"ious difference i. ,h .. ,h. go.pel (ente" around ,he c""me' betw.. n Je.m and 'the Jew.; while ,here i. no . ign of ,hi. conflict in 'he epi.tle •. " The word '10"&"01 ,ha, appea" in 'he gospel seven'yone ti mes is n< Son (, John U; 2.21-24; ( ,, 4; 2 lohn 9). However,the d lvi.io n ofl.oor be,ween 'he Fatl>
'0

H. Coru.dm.nn. E. HanK"" f . l,,/,,<, P. v~,t..un, K. W'"S>!, G . '"«k,,, U. S<~"dk K. !I<'Y,.nd "'. Ubohn. S<, K'm 200', 310. " 1 .. ",,,ROct ,,"~ """ 1<"'- 'n ,J" _ , " qu'" commonty uod",.""" '" r"'k rt ." "~ !!"dIy b;",,""; ",,,fl Oct .. ,""" tho J"""nn'", rommuni'f . nd tho pool·7" c •. ""''Yn' rabIM"" I..... ""'. El"""v«. , .. "" , .. I 100- tM, k'''{ of ,,,,,ftOct ;, m"s", " h h '"lIB"" ,boo ,.. o
,don,

,,''*0«

1001, lJI_'.,.

,. ,I>< .... of """'o%g)- ,,10,«1 ,,, tl>< ""P''''''' ("""'" .,."....", ........ '" b<1ow) "' tl>< "tkru !hi> ",ormoc<. " '1><"""1"""" K>m< h;nt, of . n ;",,,"01 < g0< p.... ", of",~ of ""'''''''''' " OU .n,,,,;v<, "I"ch .rou><;, ~"'< "'"""''''"'" b-,- , .. ,von!!,,';". s., H.kolo

"",ok,

...,,'"

' 001~

'''_107.

"

the Son i • • ligh~y different. Many of tho~ imag« 'hot a ... uS«! of J<>uo in the gO'rus (Joh n 6:~: I ~ A-7). " while I John },H a nd 4,] , . peal of the mut ual ab iding be,w""n God and those who beli,,"." Funhurno.e, the epistles lack 'he idea of the mutual indwelli ng of the Falh .. and the Son that form. a fo unJ"io n for the indwelli ng of the belie ... " in God in the gO.p< go.pciples ' hat '0 10"" him i, '0 keq> hi. commandments (1 4. 1~>21, l~, 10); in the epistle"~ 'he >arne kind of I.nguage is u...a '0 undeu< gwp16, 16,13 ) will do wh.'e"er hi, diu:ipl< •• sk in h i. name, The >ameldnd of promi .. 'pp<ar, in 1 lohn withou, 'he men,ion prayers mould be >aid in Jesus' name. Those who obey Goo', ome roints, ide .. tha, are >aid of Jesu. in t he gO'rel are presen,ed •• ch.racteristic. of an ,ho .. who belie"e. 1 John ~,4-~ st.te, tha,

"ructu,ro

,ha,

8 0 .. how",,,, ""'n 'U}, .,""'" ,,"" m. "" .. Ul k«p mp""d, an" m ) ' f,00'5, J", J%. " 0 R,n.b<'S" lIm .. ho "mut. "", .bid'ns 01 God J',,,,I, in Chn"w" on" in God p " ~ , n),hing tlut .... o.l 'n th, Goopool of tho (= bd",,), " 0 "" " """'- "-

'''''r

<J""'"

(I""

.,o.

",to..,

'w'"

OA'''O HAKOI..A

·wh.. e... r i. boom of Goo" or "our f.ith" or "the on~ who believ., , h., J<>uo is ,he Son of Goo" conquer> the world ;" in 'he g""pe1. i, i. Jesu. who ha. conquerN 'he world ( 16,33). According '0 1 Iohn 1, 17. 'he one who doe. 'he will of God st.y. fore ... r (~iv" fi:; "IV u> who promi ... ,hat "anyone who h.ar. my WON ... h"" p.as....J (~"'''Il<~~'-''') from death '0 lif~." In I John l,l4. 'he phra .. i. linked '0 ,he mu,ua] 10... of tho believe .. , "We know thot we have pa...,J (~",uP.p~ru~,v) from "".,h to life becau •• "'.., 10... on< .nother." It "",nlS ,ha' t he cent ....1 r"'. p1ayM by I<>u. in 'he go<.,.1 i •• • , lea" partly. absorbecl in'o 'he idea of community in 1 John." We hav~ ~n ,h.t many par.llel, be,wHn 'he epi"l ... and the goo.1;"v (6), iI,o)')";,,,,,,, ( to), o:v,,,,,ha, (8), o:vIi"",,,,, (4 ), ~""'~Q1
·'0

'0

'0

no'

it""

a'

" A=mii"!! to t Jobn U, "you m born God. and h.o,.. , .. , Dodd ' ' ' '. "O-t"".nd ""0 ' .... 11'- tn tbe 1;" "", foIow>, "" oc,""nnm ol It.. 'mn ;n Ih< SO'f"'I m g;,m ;n f"T
"",n'_

"'''" '0

,,';

".,t.

f'l"'(IAp""" ,,, .....

'"1""'" ""..

,(\It, '~I . ""''''''''' "~,

"'I -m '".,

"(I " " " """,," UH.' p>n",!, ""W • " " ~ ~u "'l"'u, ,.,,,

""fl" l ,u"u>w>fd wo> 1" "'>OJ

>WOO

·,odu>o »vw 'pu,,, ""'" " " "'l"tJO ~"'p" >U"',p """J ,'1""'" >q ~nw ,.,"";"'"j '. '''I'''!J'>" •• '~\"I'" """ "'I' f'>U'~woo ""I

0,

>WOO

'"'I "I

'I"'." PI""" ".,,,oJ

"(I

'I"'~"

"' P'"

:''''1' ~ '."'I"t >WH

"'I' ' .... ~~

"'I' '-l 1"""""' , '.'1"1 YO Am",...""" "'I g, '''I''' ..... "l '1''1'' '''l'''>="''''''' -,n-or. ',,,,, """"" ... ." ". 'I>d.oi "'I' JO ~"fK> "'1'-'" "",6""''1' • "'.' ~

l·,,~rqdw' lOU ..... '""10, po>') ""'J 0"!""",'1" 1''''''1' -"'~~. "I' ,,,..~ J,m""u,{:) >u"""!"I_""" 0, 1>Jwli ,.., ""I' ""'I'" ... """"'1 '" "'''I JO ".., "G> "" "f'OI' "., i><'l " u><W!j""I'"'" '-"''1''''" " " "'l ...... "I' .... ,u..,oow, nil". '""'I "' ij"{' ' I'U "J'OD po. ''''''''''0 "'-~ . ''l'"'"'''''' ""'P "l' " I"''' " .... "" AfU",,~d ""OJ 0, .. " .. ,,.,,,<1. "I' ' ..... ---po,.,,'w'l' "'" " . "" 'I j~ .... "'1'><0 I'"" .m'l "".. d,,!,,,,,,,,,,,, 1""'.P" " f'O'} F"" ,"",,,mp "".~I><J """POW .. 'f'" g, '"", U" pu. l>ohoi "l' _ " , d ."".. ' "l' '''l' '~>q,oo.(~ q,," ''!'O'' , >i.."'l' " """, ',<6, ,>i<"1' "'" "'I" 9 'm, ',,-It ',<6, "", "

., m,". '"'I"I , "'I'

,,1><1<02 ''I' JO ' 42n04' .... ' 'Ill,'" ,><>uuo> 01 P'04 ,nq ,.>moo U.l")J4:l "U1UU~40! _"ou '''4'0 WOJ) l O'11WOj >J~ '''''Pl "''1.1 -(L( ,t '~",!J, ~~l OO!~~ ~'i',!) ,u,wllpn!)o .(.p ''I' uo ,,,uPloq .A~4 0, ."~,, 'PI ",2Jn pu. (g,:, '''1.,..-.00,,") liu!wo, >In,nj "n",! 0, "'j" '(l :, 'sl 'll.W!4 .",1 "'I U",," '''''''!l'''l .... ' u.4'" pm P"]••.\>l '! , m,,'! U.... M ,wI' ~m,nJ • JOJ "1 .... '4 '(&FI) 2u!wo, '! ")J4'pu~ ~4' u'4'" (000): ~l"rg!) moq "~I ''I' '1 '! '"'I ' 'Pu."J~pun J>llJ,., 0'1.1 ,dod.oli .41 U! Pl" '1 ,~ .... pUoA>q "j ,..,li u40J ( '';jIoloI'''!= oJn,nj JO "U~'"~I. UlO,UO' ]>-oo ''I' jO o]dw.x> pooli. 1><1.02 .41 .""'w pu. om,nJ .41 ul UO!,UMJ01Uj I~uy ',~ ,noq. uO!'.ln:>..J. JOJ WOOJ 4,mu "'~~] 'Oop uOjD1Auo> 'l'U 'lUlOJ .A!l!UYOP • "! .n •• ! U! JI,,"W!4 P"]."'" .(P •• 'l~ '.4 ~ ' 04' .,u."!'U! "1 ' 1 ]> ''I' ul liUHU!41 I~'ljlol0,"q'" ''I' 'UJ~)UO' o,u.J0J!!P JOf'w J.4lOuy ,,-]> ul 'Ol,,!do .... ' JO 'lPl-lIU.""041 .4' ,noq~ ~~ 0 , pOYl"nf '! ') 'UO!"OjUO, '4li!J uo ')"qdw, '141.,!d"Q '(L u40J " ..-]'f-l't ',,-,T, U40! ]j,n"'J jO UO!""Juo, ,«.l!J ~4')0 .>muoow! ~4' ".J" .(IP",~>lu2pnf liulliu!-,q •• " ]'-'P.UJ>lI. '10 'Y!AI"' ~ U01"!W ' l'lJo [roll 0'1' pu< UO!lDYlJo(.l 'l 4'. JO dn lIuPJ!! '1'1" poo,,,opun 'I q ,o,p "H 'UOA"" 4 01 JO l>4'~d .... ' 01 liulPu~", W01] 10 ~.'oq. WOJ) liulPun.op'. P"'I!-'=P '! UO!"lW '~pUO U>A~~ 4

NKOI",',

"

.~, ~ow"vu ' N'SNV~ol",u

OA'''O HAKOI..A

Unlike th. SO'I'"I (Iohn 14016,26; 1~26; 16m, I John dO<'> not apply ,h. fOrm ~" F'OXA~"" to 'he Spirit bu, only to Jesuo (I John 101) . Thi. applica 'ion i. only implied in the go.pel ""here the Spiri' i. called "a noth er Paradele" (14.16) ...hich much doser background to 1 loh n 4. 1-6 than the more refined concept of th e Spirit-Paracl ... fou nd in lesus" farewell .~hes in the go.pel ." lhe .!>m'.-mentioned difference •• uggest that, in .pite of t he common t heological terminology, the th""logical profile< of ,he go.peland the epi"] .. are d ifferent. The idea. in the ~o.pel related to the cent raJ role of Ie",. and high Chri<1oiogy. realized e>" in compari",n with the epi"le. who", ide .. are. in many ca",., mo..., loosely formu !>ted a nd akin to other Chri>fian a nd Jewi.h ..,urce. ," We may add to

",
~ II m»" 0. '1'" ,. odd"".. to. Chri,".n rornm"n;')' """,,, m<mho.m .. "ph=o~ "" >houId "" .ok '0 """Iud< tho, ""'" "",,"" .. Ephn", .n , ...... rornm,""y" (p. 'M). Ho""',,,,, th< 1",011<1. ""'.... 'n W """nn;n< H,,,,,",,, . nd "" [1. .<1 "'. Scroll, a " "" "'pt..;.. d <.,.- •
'0<

s,,, ""oil, ...

_""",d '''', ,,.;.. ,6,. 1loUm,,"

d

100', '''_100. w

cr. R,n"""I!"

fowMl 'n 'h<

(''m, ll ) who """', 'hoi · th< ... of ""'" ,r
,,,,,rlh Goo!,,1 Out

0"",;",

1;,,,,,,",,,' ,,.

the features thot a.. d istinctive to the Fourth Go'rel but mi .. ing from other ea rly Christian wurc<" induding the Johann ine epistl .., t he figu .. of the BelovM Disciple (Joh n ]J,23; 193~ , 20.2; 1) .7.10). That the epist les lack m.n )· features that are unique to the gwrel must he explai ned in any hn",thesi. concern ing th e relatiomhip of th e gO'rel and the epistle •. The .. [eatures rose a serious (hallenge to the th""'Y thot the epistl .. were writte n a. a reaction to the mi.interpretation of the gO'rel (_ helow).

3. COMMON JO"ANS'N. T k ... I>tTlON

Thot ' he epi st ;'" are. at the same time. d"""ly rel.ted to and yet dilfere nt from the gosp< writing> "'pr<>, con"in • .."",ral feature. ,hat , prealed to a "ide range of dilferent Ch ri also ref]«t, at least to some extent , the exrerience. and n.,.,d. of that particular community or a duster of communit'" where t hey were prod uced, ~

'I""',

-""P I"'"m" ;, " ",xuin! ' 0 Rm .... 'lI". ,hi. """'Y "'pm.".n .ffort 00 op
,ho,

,h;, ,... "' ,..

h)~"'''',

""

hx ""'ho.IoIogKaI
H~. >00'5. pa'ri"~

" h"

«>Un'''_''''''''''

M . ~yn',

(10[13) "",,·!
..n,,,,

,h.

[0, rio" ,..., ,I« go>p' ''n ,<X, ~ K." n >00'5. ,.;,_", . ..". ""I." k-< ' ..... l " _l ... Sim " " ' , '_11.

""

,.rul

OA'''O HAKOI..A

On purely Ii....')· grounds, it i. difficult ' 0 define 'he mu, u.1 rela'ionship of 'he gO'rel and 'he epi,des. Tho>< who 'hink that 'he epi.tl .. pr .. upro'" the gO'rel, often cl.im ,hat 'he beginning of 1 John (1 John [,1--4 ) is mooel«l after 'he prologue of 'he gO'rel (John [,[18)." How",..,r, th e beginning. of the goo!",l and 1 lohn •• ,..,n though 'hey "",m to be surpri.ingly similar, also .how dear d ifferenc••. lhe gosrel begin> wi ,h t he ".temen'. "In 'he beginning w:os t he Word: (i.v "PlU ~v ;, J.iryo;;) ",hich pre .. n" J.. uo •• the preexi"en' Word ,h., "'-• • wi,h God before Cre.,ion, !t i. no' de"" ho",..,,,,r, th ., 'he phr ... "wha, was from t he beginning" (0 ~v~' "Pl~:;) in t he beginning of ] John refers 10 ,hi. view. The expr ...;"n "from t he beginning" can sometimes be us...J in [ John '0 refer .i,her '0 God or '0 J<sus," Howe,'", 'he neuter pronoun ,u);g"" ,h., th. u>age in 1 John Ll i. rel... d '0 [ John L24, "I.." what you he.rd from ,h. beginning (0 ~'''''''IH' a~' aplit» abide in rou ." O,h ... pa ....g .. 're.k of 'he commandmen, 'hot t he community h •• h.d "from the beginning" ([ lohn 2.7,1 lohn ~-6) or of t he m.... g. ("TI,l;«, cf 'he verb "~IlTIfi..loJ in ] lohn 1,2 and 3) 'he communi'y ha. heard "from 'he beginning" (1 lohn 3:11). Funhermore, 'he <xpre .. ion "concerning ,h. word of life" (",pi ~ Tii; l;.,~;) at th •• nd of [ lohn I,] ,u);ge'" th.t ' h e term "word" i. not used ab.ol u .. ly 10 refer to God', eternal Word a. in the go.!"'1 b Ul mean. "word " or "messoge:" In [ John U, ,h. word . o\\,"v;" deno' .. ,h. fellowID ip of 'he beli",'''' with 'he Father and 'he Son, a word 0>0' found at all in 'he go.!"'!. Th ... d ifference • • ugg." t h., 1 lohn U-4 i. no' simply a reproduc'ion of lohn U -18 but ,h., ,h.r«l ... di,ion h .. ""-'n do,,,Iope
,or.

"row" ,..." "_.,, lI«k uP"'Won ",fm God ..- t o I" .... ~ ,..- ,Ii< d;.cu""," wh3l, ,,,,_,6,. Brown '"['I""" ~i, h goo.! UP''''''"'' tli< ;mpmon.1 m,,.n;"ll 01' Jffro; .. "won!" '" """''''s<- Ilrow" 00<0, ;" ' p it< 01' hi, """ , .. , , 100" ;, wntl .... ;m;\o';"" 01' 100 " CO"_ !ot>. l ~· dop« Schn<&< '''', 65-61, 1M" ""'"", ,,-06. 1h< l;];dH""", 01' ' hi' ..... rio ;, '"1'1'0''''' "" tli< loct ,.. , """" ,doolo" m ",oJy ", ..knc..-l<"8" ,Ii< ...... hulk ofIOOn u_" ~ o..N on, "..lit;"",. hymn. " 01;," uS...-d th.. , John '''' i, o..N "" ,b< ""ig;"'" ,OO;n8 of ,b< lohn ><>J1. S«, '_~, P';n'" >001, ~" c\.,., tli< lu"";"" 01' , I"'m ' oU i, '''';[,,''0 100" ><>JI . , lOOn , , " ;, ott .. ukn . ,
,h.", " ;, "'"

'0

u_,

'0'_11, ,.., __

,n"

;, ,I.,

,h.",

'O-n " ;'.

_

,h.",

_ I ..

in John 1,1-4 we mu" a»ume th.t the writer has delib< .. tely playeJ down tho.., pan. of t l>< prologue that emphasize the revel.tion of the divine reality as a pan of his " ... tegy to counter the d.im. of h i. opponent .. " Mo" of the other .im ilariti.. Ii""" earlier in thi, e.....y are common th.m .. or idiom. that, while dearly indicat ing tl>< !< epht l.. irrespe<:tive of the textual or thematic context in which they appear in the g""peL For example, there appea .. in 1 lohn ~,6 the combination of water and blood which i. found.1so. in re ... ""d order. in lohn 19,34, Both the.., p •• >age< a.. ",ell-known cruxes of interpretat ion, and ",hola.. h.,-e not reached a definite agr""m.nt wh.t the.., ambiguous reference> me.n, o.-spite the we of t l>< common .ymbol •• the meaning of which w.. prob.bly more ob,-;ous to the original audience t h. n to U', the p •• .ag"" are d ifferen., In I lohn ~,6, I.,u. i... id "'0 come by water and blood .. ,not ",i.h the water only bUI wi.h the water .nJ .he blood: while in lohn 1934, blood and ",-.teT com. ou, of I.. us' p~rced .ide . AccorJing '0 1 lohn ~:6-7. 'he Spiri' i. ,h. one who testifies, a nJ t l>< te"imoni .. of'he Spiri' and 'he water and t he blood agr"", 1he th eme of testimony appears in lohn 19,n but it i. "he ",ho ..", ,hi,' wh o testifies; el .. where in 'he go.pel, t his figure i. iden.ifieJ .. 'he Belo,-eJ Disciple, The ,heme of 'he Spiri' appear< in Ihe crucifixion ",ene only if the ment ion, "Then he bo,,-ed h i. head and gave up 'he 'piri': (John 19,}0) i. take n '0 refer '0 lesus giving of lhe Holy Spiri' to hi> followe .. at th e time ofh;' death. Even though common ,heme< appear in bo.h pa ... g ... i, ;. by no mean. ",If-e\ident 'hese ,hem", are used in the .. me way, Rather, a. luJi,h Lieu has condud"", we have here ano.her example of "diwrgence in application and reference of .har"" b nguage and concep"" t hat i. "the main character;'tic of t l>< relatiomhip" bet ",,,,,n 'he Gospel of lohn and I lohn, "

,ha,

"'" lou"., . ~' hoI< in "h ..h "'" th< _ ' :14_11 i, . k,nd """pp,n,];, ,h.< i, ot""h.')' oddi'''''' to 1 lOOn, ' . ~. by"- BuJ' .... " " . c'H . Dodd .. Y. \',<", v<,,<> .. . n '""g< ~ pm 01 1 100". A. ,,,,,k .. _,~ , fob"}01l " p"" "'-'fly 01 "" h I' ...,.-do In 'h< p.""wnS "'co"'" folio ... th', ",too ".m~.~ y . ,h<" I. no ",,«I '" ' hi'" Wt ' hi' , ." ' .. ~ i"mrily
"'_".00

u..J .. U
>O:JI.

. lID-ll'.

&"'"" '''', 1"'_10'. f"" "'" probI<""

".h thu vl<w. "" I>
OA'''O HAKOI..A

Som~

p.rallel. fou nd in ' he go.spel .... , on 'he I>o,i. of ' he internal analy.i. of the gO'l'"k explicab l. a , stemming from 'he < gO>1'"1 a nd in ' he epi"l... imilar kind. of "w." ·confe";on>, and 'hey """m '0 I>< a n e"ablisheJ part of 'he Johannine tradition," FA!""i.lly 'he end of ,h. conf... ion in John 3, II (0 ,O>pOl.~(v) comes clo .. '0 ' h e words " .....e have sepages bu, .Iso 'heir common terminology "em. from 'he ,h.red , ..d i,ion." The po"ula'ion of a
H

~

,-,,,,010 2{"". m ,

cr. I .... lOOSb. ' ' ' , - .. ~ ,,-;&., ,..., , od\ ... ",,,, ,,'" of '""i "I""~nc<. !''''_ . "~ .... 'od in f,"l"'.Uy '''''''Y'''''''' =nf"",~ '" '<>"monw fO<m .... ,

",.... rly W«<.

6#,

f...,~w

.. .-.tog)'

"'1<, J loh.

~,,,h;.

,,~.

" A"""", 1""'-8" ...... .

,.. b-roo
~ m;J .,.

<;" u of

()ohn 101',16; J,Il,

,,,,,f...""-'l [",m.a. ,. ,I« fi,,, 1"'''''"

pl., .. '!'P'''' " p«", ,,,,,f,,,"," '" John 6# ow, ... ,"

<1;.,-, .nd know o-m.Io, an "n" ..... rom"i"""," __

"'I;,,,,.nd

know· (... "~,,,;, ......... "'; .............. )', .... Iound do<_ w .." In ""'" '"' In "" NTbo, "1'1""" . ",0. " In , 100" .,,6, k ..... " , nd "', .... (........... ..,i """"""'-") "" low God h,u i>o- " ,. ~ F., ,..., foI"""ng.
s,,, ''f''ri'-llr h"" ,.... ,...,

'n ".",,,"

u,

,t..,

"w,"''''

B rower of the ,",'iI one" ( ! John ~,J9)." In light "f thi>, the " atement in 1 Joh n 201 i. surpri.ingly uni ... ""l and inclusive" While t he..., are no p.r.llel> for the uS<' of t he term iJ..a,,~&; in the go.pel, the id ea that J.su,> ..crifice is for the';n< of the W< P•• "",., lamb (hod 12) or •• a combi n.tion of both of the .. image •• the significance of Jes ... t be lamb of God i. ci.><:ribed in univen.al term .. There are funhe r echoes of t il< Bapt;,,', •• Uv,pbm fo, Jesus' mi .. ion (ef. Joh n Ul) connect. thi> ve, .. ' 0 'he Bap'i"', t... 'imony." It i. con. in ly po"ible to ' h ink ,hat 'he wri'er of I lohn h •• d eriwd the", id ••• anJ ,erminology Jirec,ly from Joh n ],29, but ' he ..." e,ed referenco. found in d iffe,en' pans of 'he WTi'ing could he expl.ined, a' Ie." .. , ..son.bly, by pootulating. (ommon traditio n that i. u se
(,,,,,,,,,,,.;,e.,. "..

"o u. " ' 0 ''''. 100. How ...·", >« .bo I I""" . ,", -:rh, •• !ho, bo, " n' h', Son .. ,I>< "'rio< of

"" wOOd.- """ ( 1'>&1, '"'I "" notN tho, , I""" n , nd . ," '"",nd hk< ...t<. '"'"" """h bo,·, ""j"",,, and th0., 66) bo, " ,,,,,tN th', ,,,,,,1"_ .. tho , ... of, john . ," but >0)" of , John ,,', -:II>< lo< ,ommon" r of 0""....... . " ,. but • >ierukr th""j. how,,''', .ml <10<, I",~ '0 ,bo,,!!, tho 0.",]1 pou". of ,I« "'«,: Cf. obo "I woo "Y' ,hat ,I« U";'tological .."",,,,,n, ,,)inS' (d;, mm,o/.,_ ru<'" ,·.r>iih'""l"'","'!"nl ,. 1 I""n U. ,,' and . ". ,I<m from ,o. ,nd""," """

,,,,,,'vro '"

"'to< ....

'''''"YO'---'

"",k< ,.,-j«,.

- U. R.>" B"'>m '''"2, <01. • R< ,,,,10... ,,, "",,,,,,n' 'n 1 J""" n ,. prob. obIr dj=tly from John U'. U:. Brown ('''1. Nol "Y' ,hot tl>< ,to,,",,"' "... y hn' o..n . n «00 of tl>< 'l«oIop of ,.J,"1i< douh 'n tho lohoon '"" ""bon"" fo.-mul,· (john 6 , "~ .-,,, Rrow" thi. " ,""'h" wh", !ho . ,,"'" of I John "" 'y '" " ..hinS bock to ,I« "rlr "'P' ol Johonni"" tnd",,", . .. to " I..", h', oppo. ", nli ".ru"S of ,I>< ""'''''''': 1 John , ,' m.)· """," "1""""' ".1", ,,"';,ion loot ";' "'" n"" .. ,ay o>«l poIem".uy ('" 0."' .. ).

"",,0.1

'.>Un«

J'""""''''

34

OA'''O HAKOI..A

r, ~xed linguistic pattern. and common yet different ly ohap<'d theological th.m .. which could regularly h..'e!><-en tranomined in cat""hetical... nnonic or liturgical tradition. of the community. whether in oral or in written form. It i. fully plau.ible, therefore. to explain the c<><x;".nt .i miloriti .. and difference. between these writing. by 0 common Joh.nnin. tradition th at i. d",'elop<'d in a different way in different .ituation.. Thi. condu.ion has !><-en rut forward in a number of writing. by Judith Lieu, and it i•• ff.
- I""n ",51_", "1< ....... oboo t t. d", f<x ().., ... ,,,", a nd not "'" ,I" ... ,.,. only. bo,.oo (
i"""".w"",

""",i_ ilI-.......,.

().., """'" ,,'.,.WI:"

V'''', .".

,,_t"

w ,Xu 1906. " i6_116; """ '99' , ,.._to7,lXu """->. """~ 1001, '7---00, G.. )"'on (, .... '1_") .1w ok"",,, th, u.d.I, " " '... th;nk, pp<1 ;. _ "oN '" ,'" ,,",ok, . nd ,.... oh< go>po). ,''' ""'" d;'P""d po".,( ""', ..... , =on,,"", .... , """",... , " h" ,;n,.nd J loon ... '" writt,n bd",,,'" pp6, ""',.,~. ;n"'P"' .. ' .... ;. bo .. d to , Io'l!""'"' on , '" "hI>< P"''' n' po"~;pI< f""nd ;. 'I"". ), "who do 00< "",I"", 1< .... Ch.;~ ,,,,,,;ns j;","""",) '" oh< ... "': "",,,In "y' ",-" ,'" F"",dp!< >houId b< ...&ntood;. , '" lid "" ... 0< to .d" '0 1< .... rorn inS ;n , '" ... "'. ,'" """y.,( wh",h "" "f'I"""n .. of "" P"''''Y''' < lo."' ;, "'1"'''_ eJly ",,"S ,'" P«'"'' po~;";pI< of ''''''''''' .. ,'" on< who """" ;nto ,'" ..-.xl
t'"

,b.,""

t'" ,.....

,b., ,

;.'''1''''''''''

Ii"",,,

<1<.,,,_

"ad".... "'" '"

" littl. "'dene< 10 , u gg"" a d irKI literary depaid to bt- in Ih e b.ckground of ,m, epi"!. .. l h erefore. we need ,ake . look at Ihe Ih",rie. concerning the opponent> in I loh n in order to get a b.l.nc...! piclure of the ..... y Ihe loh.n nine trad ition i. doyelo r...! . nd ",,,,,h·ed in Ihe epi"l...

'0

Schol. rs have become incre • • ingl)" aware of Ih. problem. of Ihe wcalled mirror-re.d ing lhal Irea" polemica l 1<xI> as mirrors in wh ich we can..., a de.r piclure of l he J>«Ipl •• nd l he argumen" u nder attack." Th. h i"oric.1 .i,u.,ion of Ihe 0", pa"ag'" where Ihe writer rily ofthi. "" >
~ Cf. R->e Ilrown 1981. JJ. Ilrown odm'h ,"', ",., ...... ;n ""y of ,'" of Epi>tln ;, . d; ... d or " ..... n ~ ..... [rom Gloon. a ,.",""ng f... if' I""n ~... "ri''' n oft" GjOOn.- 'n h', <1<" .. " "'g"~~ how""" . B"",n oII"n Ih< knowINg, of Ih< SO'f"" by ,o. "'"" of, I"""· a ;U~''''d 'n'~;,," of "'0"0" '''"''. ""

t""

."u"",

"0<

,,""" >00,. 11_14.

" h" "" probk m' of m i""' .....odin!o .... &.,c\ay ' ' '' . n_n >.wn ' hough """,loy «m<m""" "I",ioIty "" P••I'. "p;,u" to ,o. G.... ,,"', Ih< probkm' ",", n"",d b.,OOm m 01., h'gh!r " 10,,,", ro. Ih< in"rp«U' '''' of, 1"""-" '" too ...y · to ;ump '" , ondu,""" .bou , "ho, ,,,,bon ., .bou, .rod. on« _ "''''' . n .... " ",I in "'" m'nulo,,- , nO '"",n • ",hoi< ,"",~ i, hung "on " - llirruy ""go. - 'or Ih< probI<m ' in "" "..dy of , n"gorU'" in mly a,,'~"n oou ,«~ "" obo lhw-.'n 1001. 79_'>'. ' n ",,,",, folio"" , ~,.< "'"" "."""" of he" "" .. problem. "",., .. rlK
""'n

t'" ",,,,..

'""rpr<'"''''''

,
t'"

fir'.'"

und prow"' .... ""

B,own " ". ''''_'63, P.'n", ,.... "_71,

" '''' 001. ,"_H"", m mpl<. "'''''' "",,,,,n" """"minl!'" (".!o. ' Joon '00".,,, ""_10) or< "",,, o""n tak<" '" "'1"'"'''' '""' think;ng of t'" oppon
OA'''O HAKOI..A

we shoukll>e cautious in ",.ding 'he ano i'h .. icallanguage in ,he ul.,ed in 'he go.pel ." It is a.. umro ,ha' 'he opponents interpreted ""me el.men" fo u nd in the go.pel in. w.y 'hOI wa. unaccep'able '0 , h. writer of I John who offered wh., h. regarded as ,he true in .. rp .... 'ion of ,he legacy of 'he go.pel." Th. ""hism i. oft.n understood in Chri .. ological term •• nd uid '0 concent ra'. on the meaning of le>u' earthly lif. bi ng come in the ilesh i. from God" (cf al"" 1 lohn 7). The u", of the perf"'t in the exp .... ion ." ,mp" a~i..t&", "",m. to refer not only to the moment of I•• u' incarn. tion (cf the aor; .. u.ed in John Ll4) but to J<su' completed coming and the r",ulting rem.i ning in t he il",h." I John 4:2 is o~en connKtM to t he interpretation of 1 John ~ ,6-8 ("Thi. i. t he one who came by wa1u. Chri... not with th. "·... r only but with th< wa.. r .nd the blood.") where t he word "blood" i. taken to ref.. to I",u.' deoth. The combined in1<rpre" ' iom of I Joh n 4,2 and ~06-8 ... then compared to ""me early Ch ristia n writing> 'hot polemidu again .. those who deny that Jeo", truly .uffered and that are cu.tomarily defined a. represent ing some oort of doceti.m'· It i. claimed

'0

'or , n ...",,,,;,, ...... tho<"''' ,t.. !!"'f"'I'" "'I"""'" th< ",.'un ... n_ ,Oon«j 'n ,t.. ""ok~ >« St""<,, ,.... . nO ~ ",_M. ,I><", ",hoI.o" p<1 bo, h<~. to , I"" '''8'' ;n 'h< h'ot"'}' of th< lohann;", rommun;." "fI<",d "' ,I>< 'h< 1"0000m, of fin«n p,,,,,,,,d o.k>«. 'or. ,,;th ~ ; "o' mg,""", ,rr P,;.,.. '036."_'~. P, 'n' .. 2001, '6-11, K" ",); ' ' ' ', H_" , dr no_ J,,; llOO6.1"_lH " For ,umpl<, >« T...,,, 100'. 36" a.Bum ... 1006. " " _N'. a,,,,,,n "P ""' ,, ', "'" hrlpful '" ,.!I "'" "Pro""n" 'n 1 ""'" .;mplr doc<,~. bn..... ~uj" d"b"" ",n.ti<, of docrt',m 'n .. rty Chri" ,,,utr. ,I>< fin<. "I",,,,.«d by ""'"""'. d" ""o th" 0."" ooly ' l'I"",d to >utt", rI ....... """fir. S-•. UO"'). 11>< >«ond. '<pr<",n o< Chri ..... " ""tW)y ...,.,,,, =t ;,~, O" n.., u ~ ~J>. ..... I. 1h<
'1, s
T..... "'"",


""oK ' .....

,Om""..,,,

1>«,"" """"""

llo,,, '''',

'hough' u,...

thot the oppoon"<m< co""1",,ion and thereby ooKUIed the salvific ",Ievanee of lesuo' .. nhly life or death, 1hi> i> . lso.een o. a ..ason why the tern" that "p..",nt the high Ch ristology of the go.pel and the "prog"''''iw" th«>logy of the oppon"p~i a~Au9&r" .ugge". that .h< whole phea>< "Jem . Christ h"'ing come in the fi .. h" i> the object of the confe .. ion, no. only its latter part." lhi. is confirmed as the writer d""'ribes the wrong conf"",ion in 43 only by .. ying that "ewry . piri. that d"". not confe .. Jesu. i. not from God." It ...,m. that the writer i. not inter.. ted in .he fac" that are conf.....,J about J«u. or in the erroneous details of the f. ith of the alleg.d opponents," " number of early Christian ,,'riting. connect the word "tl"h " to J«u" while t hi. conn""tion may Klm"irn .. arrear in polemkal conte,ts ([gnat i",), Ihe word i> also used in an un polemical way to .. fer eit her

.. ' PI',,., ..,,,, . nd not ' ruJ)' ('ll'" Smp". U _1, ,,', J ,I , U, "" Ill" . T,.lt 9-.t_" t<>t) .•.h"""n «""Iud,,, "", ,'" ~ , of,h< "1'1'",,,n";n t loon U " '''''l' ,10", '0 Ign.
"ro~TI t .. 2,

01_".

'_J.

«>fif'''....

" lh",." .......Jly th,,,, "'P 10 'h< .D<. ' ...... ">Ii_ t60. A. "". _,,~ I lobn U_, .... qu;« oftm in" frlt 'h< n«>i. "" 1< .... ,""'''s 'n th< Ok", ("Cool...... 1<'"' O,'~ .. ""rinr ro .. , ;n "" 11<,),"). 1h, ;Mn;'i, ·<.oo '1'1"'" in rol. P16. Erum.n {1OOt5, 12 l _1.6\!w, ohow,,- "'-<m. ,bo, J."" ;.. &100. .." ",",n' "", ~ mot< ..... ",,'''' '" th< O,'~~".J "f'I""
I".'

·t-",

_""'''''"r

"'''
"""""m"

,..'"

M l"," ' ...... 170.

OAt"O HAKOI..A

to J~.U' .ulfering. or to hi. e.rthly life in gene .. t" Wh""""r the exact mea ning of .. <Jupd iJ..~h&", in I John 4,2 i., this exp .... ion i. unspecified .nd general a . compared. for example. to Ign.tius' antidocetic rolernic." Therefore. it i. not wi", to h.ng the whole ' Kon"ruction of the .itu.tion behind 1 John on the di.puted interpret.tion of t his verse or on the ,,'en more di.puted interpretation of ~:6, The above condu.ion i. confirmed if we read 1 John 4,2 a•• pa" of its imm""i .. e context and tbe ",hoi. I John, The .ntithesi. betw"",n ·every .pirit t h.t confe"",· and ·e....'1 .pirit th . t doe. not conf.... • i. only one form of .,,'e ..1 antithe",. found in I John 4'1-6,'" In thi. serie. of .ntithe.... the expression iv oap~i iJ..~Au&,,, de>cribe. ·Jesus Chri,," in t he same way .. the perfect i9).~A;a" nv de>cribe. f. l.. prophet. in the preceding (·fal", prophets have gone out into the world ·)" The use of the analogou. form. could be talon to imply the .. noe of confrontation with the me.ning that who ha. come in the fi .. h is gre. 1<, th.n fal", prophets who have gone out into th~ world or the .pirit of the antkhri" th.t i. coming and i. alr~ady in th~ world (v, 3). Nothing in 4,)-6 ,ugge". that the npr"";on" aap~( iA~h9..i", i. t he chief pa" of t he argument.tion, on 'he con-

,'.,se

res""

"II>< on< ....... ~ in )"" " (1IlO&o. (60) ....... "Y' tho<;

,n.,

tk"'" ... Y ,,","' "'0 ""'''h ,I>< bd',',,-n.oo """- lkl"f', _ ili«ctol .. ,d "",,' ,;'"""" ,,, ,I>< 1"" "'" " ;."rloc .. d ... h bgn'"d "' ,I>< "P'''_ ,;00 " On tM tkoJ,". ,,"mh<, of ' .....n..'" from"" ,I""d I""-'"mn< ".who« (d.

100" 'H,",,·}6,6J). ~ ~

cr. ''''''"' '.71), >OJ_"". Min<"

,.ro, ~ """ lOOI!'.

'67.

trory, it i. only 3 p.,t of ,h. . . rift of contr. ". and, "a. t he num,,"r of ,urroga'", for one <xpression gro",~, the more flexible must one', thinking become. and the I.... en.lawd to . si ngle formulation.The .." of I lohn .uppon.'he abow conclu.ion. I lohn 4:2-3 i. only one of the m.ny p.... ge. empha.izing the need for right ,,"lief and confe .. ion, bu, there is no interest in I..",,' flesh or blood in the .. other p>. ...... g. .. " The role ofth. p.... g .. urging 'he conf"';on of lem • • , ,h. enri" (2 ,22) or as the Son of God ( 4 ,1~) is problematic if we unduly .. Ieet I lohn ~,ll .nd ~06 .. ,h. foc.1 points of the confession and think that the aut bor w.s m.i nly combating t hoo< who denieJ t he ,,1"'3nee of le>uo' humanity and lif. in th e flesh." If we 40uld tak< up some o,her confes.ions in I lohn .. the point of dep>.nure for our hi,torieal rKon"ruc,ion •• the portrait of 'he .lIeged opponents would he very different," The diwr:sity of confeuional terminology itself ".ugg'''' ,hat 'he author wa. no' inter<>,ed in t he juridical formulation

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.... Son "" ,'" '''),'0 "'')'00< who roof",., ,'" ""' .... "" .. ,,"',....,: UJ, .,hi. i, h', """"",odmhouI " ' o,ri>' : "God ob;d<. 'n , 00.. ~TIo m;, .... "'" of God." ,,', "Emyon< who b<1.,,... "'" 1<'"' i, ,'" b<. n born of God." , ,' , "who ;, rt ""', ronqun. ,"" ""rid but ,'" on< .. ho ",,00'" "'" ,,,b< "'" of Go.W , ,10, ",00.. who b<1~ .. 'n "" Son of God N", .... ",timon)' .. ho,rt~ ,ho" who do _ b<1 ~v< .. God NY< """" him ,,;., by not b<1""',,!! 'n ,'" "" imo")' 'N' God 0.. g;>OJ"", .... d,th",",,, in "."k,,;.,oo ""g"'g' by ..... mi"g th>t "" «>or",. ,""" "'" """""" fo. ith .. 1<'.' " ,b< n~" (' ,ll ) 0< . . , "" Son of God ("!» from the , ,,,,,,,,,,, ""''''' ,'" ,,,,,f,,,;"" 'n U ~ ,n 'IfWWon of , b<" ....",,, iorrn.· .... '0< 1<10", .. 'hi> .. f""' .... <1;",,,, ,'" in",!,,""'''''' ol "'''', ' ,nd "Y 'N' "" '''''' ,ouId pro>'"'" .,"'" '0 God (p. "I. t" m )' opin ion. thi> """I""",, i, on th, ' ish' "",k boc,." J,If",n' Io,-m, of ",,,k,, ..... ",W'." 'N' ,'" wri'" of, lo'm .. , n" to~, tho _ " " .....kinS 'ny fo.j(h 'n 1<.... " ... ho .....·" ', 'a, th" . , ' " "',.,," port";, of .... f.j(h ol , b< _n'~ A«o<: , 00.. ... ho com< from • J"""" b.c~rou "d ."""'~<»tology, whik ,oo.. ... ho cu," from , G""",'" b.<~'''''oJ ",.1",,000 God ,oJ "'P«""''" 'oo ""g!>-

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OAt"O HAKOI..A of a .ingle c .... dol te" ..... Thi. di,-er>it)" .. nd. to blur any detail. of the faith of tho~ who do no t .hare what the writer regards a. the authentic faith in lem" The cumulative for ce of the nrying dem.nd. of the right confe";on i. t h. t the opronen" .imply lack any authentic fa ith in I... u •• nd, from the writer'. p.".p<"e< undefined la nguage a. he .pe.k> of God or Jem. and onen il i. difficult-if not imro .. ible-to determine ,,'hich of the two th. a uthor in tenJ. (•. g .. L9; 2,3-4; 1,19; 33,7,24), A. Manin < ide.. ar< pre>
M;n< _ , "'jt doc.,;"" .. ,uch
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.gain.. the opponents' mi, .... of the 1IO"p<'1 and that explain' t he ",Ioctiv. us< of tho &""pel materi.1. Additionally. tho role of the Spirit in 1 lohn i. explain...! . . . reaction to t he extremist belief. of the oppon.nt> based on t ho role of the Spirit-Par.clete in the gospel." It i. not cleaf, however. wherher the alleg...! ""hi,,,, can account for the lack of tho ref... nce. to the Spirit a. t ho Paraclere, One of the main funct ion. of th. Spirit-Par.cI... in the gO're! i.to remind the d i""ipl.. of .1I that iesu. h ...... id when ho still was with them (lohn 14 ,26), It i. emph .. i,...! th .t the Spirit 'Will not 'reak on hi. own' but will glorify I..", "b"cau,", he will take what i. mine and ded.re it to you' (lohn ,6,,3-,4), If th e writer of 1 lohn knew the gO'rel .nd its teach ing of the Spirit-Paraclele. h. would have had a ready model to emphasize the connection betw",n the testimony of the Spirit and t ho e.rthly life of i<>u •. " On the ha.i. of the gO'rel. however, t he juxtaposition of the Spir it of truth a nd the Spirit of error in I John 4:1 -6 i • ..,mething that i. not <>retions. it i. defen.ible to conclude thot the allegoo ""hism doe. not expl.in why certain f•• ture, d istinctlv. to the Fourth Go'rel do not 'prear in the .pistles. The writer of

"_93.

" "" .,in' ... 100'. C[.!", R.' .. Bro~'n " " . m,"l1>< owon, nl> = y ...,' d.~N tl><mod"" .. ,..,1><,,'00 propb< 00.. ,.,. "r .. ·"""'mabIj' "" ..,,00,- would not d.ov , .. , ,I>< ",int n . "" p,,-"""t<, bu, I>< n".." " . ... "", I>< 'mpho.oi'" w'h.t i. Oftly ~int<" " "' u" S""f"1. n,""Iy. tho, ", .. , "u" P.... kt,· (PI" '_141). 'n , _I><, '0"""'",". """'n (''''. WI """ .... t'" "" "" oc< ,boot tl>< P",,,,,"t< io "" "'r b< "ocr""oul: n lbw abo G"I""" __ • OJ. a . aI", T.G. &0"" 100'. ,"'. T .G."""", OOG_ c""". thot tl>< f""''').... oftb< Sp;,it ;n ,I>< I!"'pd.n<, "nli"S 'n "lotion to ,I« oOm< of it> i< goopd. Sh< I".. ,.uti" 'pp. 107_"'), how<"",",guN w"b p>d ""' "" ,1wI " i. "0100,1y tho, ,I« "' ..... K.". i" 1 Jooo «m ,. 'oo" odOct th< "I'I"""n',

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D
OA'''O HAKOI..A

1 John portrays th ..... who, from hi. p<"pec'i"" have left the communi'y ( I John 2,19) .,lacking any real fa ith in Je.WI which fru"rate. our a"emp" to rKonstruc' a detailed posi' ''m of ' he opponen .. , If we are ' 0 believe ,he au,hor and condude ,h., , he .. opponents once belonged '0 the communi'y, i, i, quite ,ertain tho, 'heir portrai' ., unbelie""" i. exaggera,ed, The .. me kind of .weeping us< of language i, "",n .. , he au,hor dewlop'. on the ba,i. of 'he "aditional duali:!1ic imag.., ' he con'"",' be,ween ,h. children of God who >lIould 10", one ano,her and 'he children of the devil who .. deeds are bad and who are full ofha"ed (3,7-17). In , hi. connK,ion, , he writer u ... ,h. example of Cain '0 portray 'hooe who hate ' heir bro'hers or .iSle" as murderers (3,'~), a depiction tho, i. hanlly ",'er taken literally bu, ,een a . hyperbole," The.. kind, of contr.". are quite exp
h cr. "--,,- R,o,," '''' , ...,,"n.. ,n,,,,.,,, to my,d<", hYP',ooo, frn- m.J",,,_ "",n',- Romb.'l!'" ,...." .., -,-,,,,, " tkn ....., ' ....." th< ,YmbOO< """'ns of th< mmpk of Co,.,th< mu,"""" ~ '.l""" whe ..", , brotho, '" ~,",. "h', .. ,m, ot "," Sl.",«, ' ""J' ''''''1'"''3 "'-tomont. .. [bu'l ~ ~ _ """"''Y '" '.1'1""" ... ,

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in <xaggera.ion and. pol.riza.ion of perced in quite abm"". and generalt and thus become too vague to be tested, Generalizations do not invite veri~cation attempts and are relatively immu ne from falsi~cation." lhe way the lohannine t... di.ion is de\'eloped in the lohannine epi""s. and .. p«ially in t lohn. i. a good ca .. in point of t il< abovemen.ion..J intergroup bi • •. The writer doe. not try to de><:,ibe hi. opponents in any detail but creat", an imaginary unive"" wll
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In t hi. e.. a)", I h.ve argued that the lohannine 'pi"l... hould not be read as a re.ction to .he alleged "hi.m prompt..J by the .xces.ive interpretation of th< go.pel. The detailed comparison of the gosp.1 and th. epi"l.. dearly demonstrat .. the kin.hip of th .... writings but also r"".I, dear ddf.rences in how common idioms and them . . . re d'\'eloped. Th ••imilariti.. can be apiain..J by th. u s< of the common "adition but they are not .nough to <stabli.h a d irK' liter.ry dependence between t h.-.e writing., 'The main d ifferenc .. concern 110m. major th<m .. that are distinc.ive to the g"'pel but mi .. ing from the epi.d .., lhe lack of the h igh O uistology and t he Spirit- p.,..dete in the epistl...

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for oxample, canno' b< explainro a. an inten,ional reworking of 'he go.pel m.terial bu, .uppons ,I\< view ,h .. ,h. go.pel and ' he epi"l<. repre..,n, ' he morro Joha nnine tradition ,h., i. developed in differen, way. in d ifferen, .ituat ion.>, The view a rgued here . uppons ' he d ive"ity of 'he Johannine tr.di,ion in its • • rly " ag ... No' only 'he difference. be,ween , I\< gospel and the epi"l<. b u, al.., the fac' ,h ., there .<em. '0 be some kind of di.pute-however , .. guely deocribed a. i, i.-in 'he background of ' he epistl .. . peals for the dynamic na' ure of the rohannine "ad i,ion." The epiSlIes can be .... n a. an anemp' ' 0 come '0 term. wi ,h 'he fiuidi'y of ,hi. "adi,ion in a .itu .,ion where no external authori,y solved ' he di.pu, .. among ' hose who beliewd in I.. us. While 'he Go.pel of John, owi ng '0 its refined portraits of resus and ' he Spiri,-Parad"e, made a lasting imp .." ion on the formulation. of later OuiSlological and , rinitarian 'hinking among various Ch ri"i. n group., ' h e epi"I<5, d .. pite 'heir more mundane 'heological profile, .1", influenced late' ' heolo&),. l h i. infiuence was no' ach i,,-ed through ' heological preci.ion, bu" on 'he con'rary, by creating a ,;,ionary '1'0<, where people are divided in' o 'wo plain categori ... on 'he basi. of 'heir f. i,h in resu .. Thi. vi,ion may already originally h.ve be.n an ovenly .implistic rep.. sen,.,ion of a much more diver", rea li'y bu , it " ill pro'ided later Ch rini.n. wi,h a ready model a. 'h ey defined ,hem",I",. in oppo.i'ion not only ' 0 ,h. ou" ide world bu, also '0 som<-re.1 or im.ginedintem.1 threa,s." While 'he Johan nine .pi"l« , .. tify to 'he original di,-eni'y of , I\< Johannine , radition, ' I\
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