Description
Throughout Christian history, the Gospel of John's distinctive way of presenting the life, works, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus have earned it labels such as "the spiritual Gospel" and "the maverick Gospel." It has been seen as the most theological of the four canonical Gospels. In this volume, leading biblical scholar Richard Bauckham illuminates main theological themes of the Gospel of John, providing insightful analysis of key texts. Some of the themes Bauckham addresses have been much neglected, and others have been much debated during the past century of New Testament scholarship. Bauckham sheds light on the "individualism" apparent in John's portrayal of the believer's relationship to Jesus and the mutual indwelling of individuals (Jesus and God, the believer and Jesus); divine and human community; how Jesus reveals God's glory and how disciples participate in it; John's understanding of the key events in his christological story; baptismal and eucharistic overtones; the background and significance of John's dualistic language; and how John's language evokes multiple meanings without negating the literal sense of his narrative. A concluding chapter explores the significance for faith of the differences between John and the other Gospels. This compact volume will serve students as an ideal supplemental text in a course on John or the four Gospels. Gospel of Glory will also serve New Testament scholars and theologians as a reexamination of the Fourth Gospel by a master of their guild.