Recitation Six: Jesus, Nicodemus, and the Samaritan Woman
As we continue to study and probe the Synoptic Gospels it is more and more obvious that further investigation is needed to uncover the distinctive emphases of each author. Therefore, we have been using certain methodologies such as redactional criticism to help examine these emphases. This particular methodology is meant to determine what's important to authors by understanding how they used their sources. Although this proves effective in most cases it also has subtle flaws. Consequently, a new methodology was invented known as the comparative method. This method mends a few of the objections scholars have towards the redactional method and focuses on comparing passages in a conventional manner without any pre-conceived assumptions or ideas. Perhaps a better …show more content…
Although these ideas are similar, in John 3, there is no reason to believe that Jesus is in fact the Son of God, but he is actually referred to as a “teacher come from God” (3:2) multiple times. In John 3, Jesus spends a lot more time speaking about the Son of God and what God has promised his people if they believe and accept his teachings, but spends no time claiming that he is indeed that person. On the other hand, in the beginning of John 4, Jesus claims that “whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (4:15) In this statement he is indeed claiming that he is the Son of God who was sent to provide salvation to all. Unlike the Synoptic Gospels John does not depict Jesus as speaking in parables or proclaiming the coming of the Kingdom of God. Instead that God is present in the world (Jesus) and offers the gift of eternal life. In effect, John presents
As we continue to study and probe the Synoptic Gospels it is more and more obvious that further investigation is needed to uncover the distinctive emphases of each author. Therefore, we have been using certain methodologies such as redactional criticism to help examine these emphases. This particular methodology is meant to determine what's important to authors by understanding how they used their sources. Although this proves effective in most cases it also has subtle flaws. Consequently, a new methodology was invented known as the comparative method. This method mends a few of the objections scholars have towards the redactional method and focuses on comparing passages in a conventional manner without any pre-conceived assumptions or ideas. Perhaps a better …show more content…
Although these ideas are similar, in John 3, there is no reason to believe that Jesus is in fact the Son of God, but he is actually referred to as a “teacher come from God” (3:2) multiple times. In John 3, Jesus spends a lot more time speaking about the Son of God and what God has promised his people if they believe and accept his teachings, but spends no time claiming that he is indeed that person. On the other hand, in the beginning of John 4, Jesus claims that “whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (4:15) In this statement he is indeed claiming that he is the Son of God who was sent to provide salvation to all. Unlike the Synoptic Gospels John does not depict Jesus as speaking in parables or proclaiming the coming of the Kingdom of God. Instead that God is present in the world (Jesus) and offers the gift of eternal life. In effect, John presents