RUTGERS UNIVERSITY 
RELIGION
DEPARTMENT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY RELIGION
DEPARTMENT
840:309 John
Analysis of the Fourth Gospel & its historical significance for the development of early Christianity. Introduction to current literary & theological research on the biblical text.
Upper level course. Prerequisite: 840:202 New Testament or permission of the instructor.
The gospel according to John has long been the most popular, influential & controversial source of information about Jesus. It played a major role in the formation of classic Christian creeds & theology. Its dialogues are the sole source many well-known Jesus sayings. John 3:16 is a text that even those who have never read the NT have probably heard.
Yet, John is also the most problematic of the gospels. It was favored by early Christian gnostic sects. Its logical problems sparked heated debate among theologians & its relationship to the first three gospels & other works ascribed to John has perplexed scholars since the early 2nd c. CE. There is even no current scholarly consensus regarding the identity of the author & original audience.
This course explores the Johannine problem & resolutions proposed by recent scholars.
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This page was revised 15 January 1998