Is John’s Gospel Ethically Defective?
This paper discusses and evaluates the widespread view that John’s Gospel has little ethical value and may even be responsible for fostering antisemitism. It is argued that such criticisms are misplaced and that John is, in fact, advocating the kind of unity, mutual trust and self-sacrifice that wou...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Biblical Instute
2012-07-01
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| Series: | Kairos (English Ed.) |
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| Online Access: | http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/126597 |
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| _version_ | 1849398129061789696 |
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| author | Robin Plant |
| author_facet | Robin Plant |
| author_sort | Robin Plant |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper discusses and evaluates the widespread view that John’s Gospel has little ethical value and may even be responsible for fostering antisemitism. It is argued that such criticisms are misplaced and that John is, in fact, advocating the kind of unity, mutual trust and self-sacrifice that would have been necessary among believers at a time of conflict between church and synagogue. Jesus’ willingness to wash the disciples’ feet, the egalitarian nature of the Gospel, and the paradigmatic community of Father, Son and Spirit, are identified as role models for the kind of love Jesus commands. Although John’s ethical focus is essentially inward-looking, it forms the basis for a distinctive Christian counter-culture and has important social and political implications. It is concluded that while John’s ethical vision is limited, and open to being misapplied, this can be avoided by interpreting it in the light of other biblical perspectives. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b4a1839dbdce44249666d5ef526d71c0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1846-4599 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-07-01 |
| publisher | The Biblical Instute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Kairos (English Ed.) |
| spelling | doaj-art-b4a1839dbdce44249666d5ef526d71c02025-08-20T03:38:43ZengThe Biblical InstuteKairos (English Ed.)1846-45992012-07-0161721Is John’s Gospel Ethically Defective?Robin PlantThis paper discusses and evaluates the widespread view that John’s Gospel has little ethical value and may even be responsible for fostering antisemitism. It is argued that such criticisms are misplaced and that John is, in fact, advocating the kind of unity, mutual trust and self-sacrifice that would have been necessary among believers at a time of conflict between church and synagogue. Jesus’ willingness to wash the disciples’ feet, the egalitarian nature of the Gospel, and the paradigmatic community of Father, Son and Spirit, are identified as role models for the kind of love Jesus commands. Although John’s ethical focus is essentially inward-looking, it forms the basis for a distinctive Christian counter-culture and has important social and political implications. It is concluded that while John’s ethical vision is limited, and open to being misapplied, this can be avoided by interpreting it in the light of other biblical perspectives.http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/126597BibleGodchurchethicsGospel of Johnevangelisationunitylovetheology |
| spellingShingle | Robin Plant Is John’s Gospel Ethically Defective? Kairos (English Ed.) Bible God church ethics Gospel of John evangelisation unity love theology |
| title | Is John’s Gospel Ethically Defective? |
| title_full | Is John’s Gospel Ethically Defective? |
| title_fullStr | Is John’s Gospel Ethically Defective? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is John’s Gospel Ethically Defective? |
| title_short | Is John’s Gospel Ethically Defective? |
| title_sort | is john s gospel ethically defective |
| topic | Bible God church ethics Gospel of John evangelisation unity love theology |
| url | http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/126597 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robinplant isjohnsgospelethicallydefective |