Sourcebook of the Structures and Styles in John 1-10

The Johannine Parallelisms and Chiasms

Kim

• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781630878566
• Topic: Théologie et religion
• Subtopic: Religion

No other book in the New Testament compares to John in its complexity of style and structure. So many factors confuse Johannine scholars, including the complexity of styles, repetition, duplication, and seemingly distracted structures that are difficult to discern. Sourcebook of the Structures and Styles in John 1-10 is designed to scrutinize the structures and styles in John 1-10, reading John according to John's way, with the following integrated points of view: First, this reading is indebted to both diachronic and synchronic approaches. Second, macro structure and micro style are treated together and interactively. Third, specific and overall analyses are made together. Fourth, grammatical and relational considerations are brought together. Fifth, syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic relations are considered all together. Sixth, both parallelisms and chiasms (including their variations) are examined, whether in macro structure or in micro style, without excluding either. Seventh, all types of parallelisms and chiasms are examined, whether simple or complex. Eighth, ancient and modern ways in writing-reading processes complement each other. Ninth, Western and Eastern perspectives become complementary. Tenth, the Greek text and its English version (by the author) are used interactively. Eleventh, analysis and discussion are brought to complement one another.

1

The Prologue and the Early Testimonies

“No passage in the New Testament compels more interest than the prologue of John’s Gospel. It is considered by some to be the gospel in miniature and by others to be an awkwardly connected passage that can be eliminated without loss to the message of John. Exactly what is the prologue?”109

Dual Mode in Structure

John 1 can be divided into two groups of passages: vv. 1–18 (I, prologue) and vv. 19–51 (II, early testimonies). Again, vv. 19–51 are categorized into two passages: vv. 19–34 (testimony of John the Baptist) and vv. 35–51 (testimonies of his early disciples).

The testimonies of John the Baptist (19–28) consist of two episodes: vv. 19–28 (first testimony) and vv. 29–34 (second testimony). Similarly, the testimonies of early disciples (35–51) are arranged in two parts: vv. 35–42 (first meeting-witness of the disciples); 43–51 (second meeting-witness of the disciples).

Besides the prologue (1–18), all the passages in John 1 are made in double mode, enforcing the repetitive effect for the certainty of the identity of Christ. We may say that even the prologue contains two types of testimonies: of the author group (“we”: 1–5, 9–14, 16–18; specifically 14 and 16) and of the Baptist (John: 6–8 and 15).

I. The Prologue (1:1–18)

Combined Chiastic, I1 (A-B1-C-B2-X-B’2-C’-B’1-A’)

The structure of vv. 1–18 is a complex, chiastic structure, centering v. 12–13: A-B1-C-B2-X-B’2-C’-B’1-A’ (or, if oversimplified, ABCD-X-D’C’B’A’). It means that its structure is basically classified as a chiastic one but with some specific, unique relations among its constituents.

This diagram tells us that there are at least four pairs of interrelation: A-A’, B1-B’1, C-C’, and B2-B’2. Additionally, there are two more, inter-connected pairs such as B1 and B2; B’2 and B’1. As seen in its structure, this unit is designed to deliberately create a chiastic effect as well as having an interactive, repetitive impact on the readers in relation to witnessing the Logos.

How to Discern the Complex, Chiastic Structure of vv. 1–18

1. If we consider the cohesive, parallel (or interactive) features among phrases and sentences, we can say that this unit is made up of nine subunits: vv. 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–11, 12–13, 14, 15, 16–17, and 18. Each subunit contains its own cohesiveness in itself, except vv. 3–5 that seem not to have any connected parallel in themselves, but rather show a certain relationship with other verses such as 9a, 10, 11b, and 17b.

2. Primarily, we can find that there are two seemingly, heterogeneous subunits: vv. 6–8 and v. 15, both describing the Baptist and his testimonies. These differ from other verses that are all witnessed directly by “us” about the Son.

3. We may say that vv. 1–5 are in parallel with vv. 16–18. There seem some common ideas shared between them. But if vv. 3–5 are also related to vv. 9–11, it would be better to distinguish vv. 1–2 from vv. 3–5. So with the case of vv. 16–17 from v. 18.

4. After that, we can see that both vv. 1–2 and v. 18 focus on the deity of the Son, Jesus Christ, demonstrating who he is in relationship with God the Father. The name “God” is repeated: three times in vv. 1–2 and twice in v. 18. We may call them A and A’.

5. Verses 3–5 and vv. 16–17 are in common, telling of his relationship toward the world or “us.” In vv. 3–5, “life” and “light” occur twice each, while in vv. 16–17, “grace” appears three times and “truth” once. These terms are related to each other in terms of what kind of benefits could be given by the Son to the people: the world and “us.”

Besides, there is a parallel between them: All things (a) through him (b) were made (ἐγένετο, c) in v. 3; grace and truth (a’) through Jesus Christ (b’) came (ἐγένετο, c’) in v. 17. We may call vv. 3–5 and vv. 16–17 as B and B’.

6. As mentioned earlier, vv. 6–8 and v. 15 are in a pair. We may call them C and C’. It is observed that v. 15 does not fit in the middle of v. 14 and vv. 16–17, disrupting the flow of the literary cont...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Preface: A Journey in John
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• The Structure of John
• Chapter 1: The Prologue and the Early Testimonies
• Chapter 2: The Cana Miracle and the Cleansing of the Temple
• Chapter 3: Two Dialogues with Discourses
• Chapter 4: The Samaritans and a Royal Official
• Chapter 5: The First Sabbath Healing and the Discourse of Jesus
• Chapter 6: “I Am the Bread of Life”
• Chapter 7: Who Is He and Where Is He From?
• Chapter 8: “I Am the Light of the World,” I
• Chapter 9: “I Am the Light of the World,” II
• Chapter 10: The Shepherd and the Sheep
• Bibliography