Vidimus et approbamus ad norman Statutorum Universitatis

Romae, ex Pontificia Universitate GregorianaDie 20 mensis novembris anni 2007

Prof. Johannes BeutlerR.P. Javier Lopez

© 2009 Gregorian & Biblical PressPiazza della Pilotta 35 - 00187 Romabooks@biblicum.com

ISBN 978-88-7653-177-4

JOHNS VARGHESE

ROMA 2009

The Imagery of Love in the

Gospel of John

Dedicated to my late father Mr. P.T. Varghese

and my beloved mother Thresiamma Varghese

My first teachers of love and faith

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Writing a doctoral dissertation could have been a lonely enterprise had it not been for the wonderful people God put me in contact with during these years of ecclesiastical formation. I thank my Bishop, Rt. Rev. Valerian D’Souza, Bishop of Pune, who offered me constant encouragement during my studies; the professors of the Pontifical Biblical Institute, especially Fr. James Swetnam; my catechist and mentor, Fr. Leonardo Di Mauro, who along with Fr. Zacharias Mattam and Don Claudiano (my rectors) have guided me con-stantly; the priests of the Parish of San Pier Damiani, especially the former Parish Priest, Don Riccardo Viel, and Don Mario Sanfilippo.

This dissertation would not have been brought to completion had it not been for my exceptional moderator Fr. Johannes Beutler. His vast knowledge of Johannine literature coupled with his meticulous corrections and construc-tive criticisms brought this research to a successful and fruitful defence. He has really been a Doktor Vater for me during these years especially when just before the defence of the thesis God called to his heavenly abode my own Father. I thank Fr. Javier Lopez the second moderator of the thesis for his critical observations as well as the President of the Commission Fr. Scott Brodeur. The present work is a slightly revised version of my doctoral dissertation defended at the Pontifical Gregorian Univeristy, Rome on the 17th

of November 2007. The active ecclesiastical engagements (pastoral work and academic teaching) prevented me from bringing out this work earlier.

It is to the loving memory of my father, the late Mr. P.T.Varghese, that I dedicate this thesis. Along with him I remember with fond affection my mother Thresiamma Varghese who all along has been and still is with me in this pilgrimage of life; my brothers Thomas, Jose, Fr. James, sister Nancy, sister-in-law Anitha, nephew Joshua and niece Joanna who have supported me constantly, the first Neo-catechumenal community of St. Ignatius, Fr. Victor Borde for his esteemed friendship (Pune), the fourth community especially Mr Roberto Ruggieri, Mr Alessandro Serini and Miss Stefania Giombini, Regina dell’Agata (Natività), the second community of San Pier Damiani. I thank my

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catechists here in Rome, Mr. Stefano Procaccianti, his wife Giuliana and their team for their invaluable presence in my life.

A word of special thanks to Fr. K. Plötz who read through the whole manu-script and suggested improvements. I thank Fr. Pietro Bovati, the director of the Analecta Biblica Series for having accepted the thesis to be published in this prestigious series and for his editorial suggestions. The library staff of the Pontifical Biblical Institute and the Gregorian Pontifical University were ex-tremely helpful in my search of academic publications. An heartfelt thanks to that ineffable gentleman Sig. Carlo Valentini (the Secretary General of the Biblical Institute), Fr. Roman J. Lebiedziuk, Dr. Katia Paoletti and Sig. Vincenzo Tocci for all the technical advice in the redaction of this work. I would like to thank all those who have contributed financially towards this publication. May God bless you all abundantly.

For all those unnamed and countless parishnors and simple people who have remembered me in their prayers, I offer thanks and prayers to God. In the midst of all these names of persons I also thank my beloved city, Pune (India) where I received a major part of my inspiration for the completion of the thesis. Had it not been for those wonderful experiences lived in the city of Pune with so many people from different walks of life, many of the ideas reflected upon in this thesis would never have been born.

My heartfelt gratitude and thanks to God and to you all. .

PRESENTATION

The dissertation of Fr. Johns Varghese published in revised form in this volume recommends itself for multiple reasons. First, the subject has not been dealt with up to the present. There have been various monographs about as-pects of the theme of love in the Gospel of John, but no exhaustive study of this theme from the synchronic and diachronic point of view. The dissertation published here combines both aspects and arrives at new conclusions.

Previous studies into the background of the theme of love in John were in danger of narrowing down the multiplicity of images for the theme of love in John to one main field of influence. As the author shows, the still important contribution of A. Nygren compares the New Testament and Johannine con-ception of love as “agape” to the Greek concept of “eros”. A. Feuillet discovers the biblical roots of the Johannine concept of love and sees its con-nections with Old Testament Covenant theology. M. Lattke emphasizes Gnostic parallels and tries to show the influence of Gnostic tradition on John. None of these authors has really satisfied the readers. Thus, it was time for a new approach which combines the various cultural worlds behind the Johan-nine concept of love.

In choosing the term “imagery”, our author uses a concept becoming more important in recent times. The term allows the interpreter to start from the existing text instead of asking immediately for its literary roots. According to this methodological option, our author starts the interpretation of each textual unit in the Gospel of John with a solid exegesis of this unit from the point of view of its Linguistic-Syntactic, Semantic and Narrative aspects. The Seman-tics allow pursuing the quest for literary influences on the corresponding pas-sage. Three main semantic fields emerge which can be attributed to two cultural backgrounds.

The imagery of “bride – bridegroom” has its roots mainly in Old Testament and Jewish tradition. On the other side, there are also connections with Greco-Roman world, and even if the concept of “eros” is missing in John, various passages in the Fourth Gospel come close to this reality. Other texts evoke the idea of “friendship”, rooted in Old Testament tradition as well, but also and in

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particular in Greco-Roman literature. Jesus has friends on the human level and exhorts his own to be ready to give their lives for their friends.

The third conceptual world is characterized by Covenant vocabulary. This perspective has only emerged during the last decades and is gaining increas-ing acceptance. Although the Main Commandment of Deut 6,4f is never mentioned explicitly, its influence on John can be shown clearly. The disci-ples are exhorted to love Jesus and to live the commandments of the Covenant and thus receive the promise of becoming heirs of the New Covenant.

In the course of his investigation, the author shows his familiarity not only with his primary texts, but also with international secondary literature. This qualifies him for publishing his results in the prestigious series of “Analecta Biblica”.

At the end of his dissertation, the author places his results into the context of his Indian culture. Johannine “love” comes close to the fundamental con-cept of “Bhakti” in Hinduism. This way, the Gospel of John can find its way more easily to Indian readers with a Hindu background. The courage of our author to ask hermeneutic questions at the end of his investigations merits praise. The Word of God has not reached its goal as long as it has not been translated into the cultural and social reality of its readers. This is the convic-tion not only of the Second Vatican Council (last chapter of “Dei Verbum”), but also of the Pontifical Biblical Commission in its document from 1993 “The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church”. We wish the book and its author God’s blessing.

Frankfurt a. M., November 2008 Johannes Beutler, S.J.

GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................7

PRESENTATION........................................................................................ 9

GENERAL INTRODUCTION ..................................................................... 11

1. Philological Aspect of Love ...................................................................121.1 Ste,rgein (sto,rgh)............................................................................121.2 vEra/n (e;rwj) .....................................................................................121.3 Filei/n (fili,a) .................................................................................131.4 vAgapa/n (avga,ph) ...............................................................................13

2. Love in the Gospel of John.....................................................................14

3. A Survey of Some Studies......................................................................15

4. Defining Imagery....................................................................................284.1 Imagery of Love in the Gospel of John...........................................30

5. Methodology...........................................................................................325.1 Working Hypothesis........................................................................34

PART ONE

BRIDEGROOM-BRIDE

CHAPTER I

OVERVIEW OF THE NUPTIAL SYMBOL IN THE BIBLE

Introduction ................................................................................................39

1. The Nuptial Symbol in the Old Testament .............................................39

2. The Origins.............................................................................................46

IMAGERY OF LOVE IN JOHN 476

3. Nuptial Symbol in the New Testament...................................................513.1 Jesus as the messianic Bridegroom and the Church as Bride..........51

Conclusion..................................................................................................57

CHAPTER II

BRIDEGROOM-BRIDE RELATIONSHIP IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

Introduction ................................................................................................59

1. Jn 2,1-11 (The Wedding of Cana) ..........................................................591.1 Preliminary Observations................................................................59

1.1.1 Delimitation .............................................................................591.1.2 Textual Criticism .....................................................................611.1.3 Structure...................................................................................62

1.2 Linguistic-Syntactic Analysis .........................................................631.2.1 The Setting: 2,1-3a...................................................................631.2.2 First Dialogue (Mary and Jesus): 2,3b-4..................................641.2.3 Second Dialogue (Mary and the Servants): 2,5 .......................651.2.4 Intervention of the Narrator: 2,6 ..............................................651.2.5 Third dialogue (Jesus and the Servants): 2,7-8 ........................651.2.6 The Director and the Groom: 2,9-10........................................651.2.7 Comment of the Narrator: 2,11................................................65

1.3 Semantic Analysis...........................................................................661.3.1 Identifying the Semantic Fields ...............................................661.3.2 Semantic Oppositions ..............................................................691.3.3 Semantics of the Key Concepts ...............................................69

1.4 Narrative Analysis...........................................................................871.4.1 Exposition (2,1-2) ....................................................................881.4.2 First Scene (2,3a): Inciting Moment ........................................881.4.3 Second Scene (2,3b-4) .............................................................891.4.4 Third Scene (2,5) .....................................................................901.4.5 Statement (Comment) of the Narrator (2,6).............................901.4.6 The Fourth Scene (2,7-8) .........................................................901.4.7 The Fifth Scene (2,9-10)..........................................................911.4.8 The Sixth Scene (2,11).............................................................92

1.5 Tradition-Historical Analysis..........................................................93

Conclusion..................................................................................................96

2. Jn 3,27-30: The Friend of the Bridegroom.............................................97

TABLE OF CONTENTS 477

2.1 Preliminary Observations................................................................972.1.1 Delimitation .............................................................................972.1.2 Textual Criticism .....................................................................982.1.3 Structure...................................................................................982.1.4 Form and Theme....................................................................100

2.2 Linguistic-Syntactic Analysis .......................................................1002.3 Semantic Analysis.........................................................................103

2.3.1 What is given from above......................................................1042.3.2 The figure of the Bride and the Bridegroom..........................1042.3.3 The friend of the Bridegroom ................................................105

2.4 Tradition Analysis.........................................................................112

Conclusion................................................................................................113

3. Jn 4,1-26: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman .........................................1143.1 Preliminary Observations..............................................................114

3.1.1 Delimitation ...........................................................................1143.1.2 Textual Criticism ...................................................................1143.1.3 Structure.................................................................................115

3.2 Linguistic-Syntactic Analysis .......................................................1163.2.1 Jn 4,1-3: Transitional Passage ...............................................1163.2.2 Jn 4,4-6: Setting of the Scene ................................................1163.2.3 Jn 4,7-15: True Water ............................................................1163.2.4 Jn 4,16-26: True Worship ......................................................118

3.3 Semantic Analysis.........................................................................1203.3.1 Identifying the Semantic Fields .............................................1203.3.2 Semantic Groups....................................................................1213.3.3 Semantic Analysis of Sub-Units ............................................125

3.4 Narrative Analysis.........................................................................1343.4.1 Jn 4,1-3: A Bridge Passage ....................................................1343.4.2 Jn 4,4-6: The Setting..............................................................1343.4.3 The Dialogue: 4,7-26 .............................................................136

3.5 Tradition-Historical Analysis........................................................1403.5.1 Literary Analysis....................................................................1403.5.2 Historicity ..............................................................................1413.5.3 Traditions present in the pericope (4,1-26)............................142

Conclusion................................................................................................142

4. Jn 12,1-8: Jesus and Mary of Bethany..................................................1434.1 Preliminary Observations..............................................................143

4.1.1 Delimitation ...........................................................................143

IMAGERY OF LOVE IN JOHN 478

4.1.2 Textual Criticism ...................................................................1444.1.3 Structure of the Text ..............................................................146

4.2 Linguistic-Syntactic Analysis .......................................................1474.2.1 Syntax and Grammatical Difficulties.....................................147

4.3 Semantic Analysis.........................................................................1514.3.1 The Setting (12,1-2)...............................................................1514.3.2 The Action of Mary (12,3).....................................................1544.3.3 The Reaction of Judas: 12,4-5 ...............................................1604.3.4 The Narrator’s Intervention: 12,6 ..........................................1614.3.5 The Interpretation of Jesus: 12,7-8 ........................................161

4.4 Narrative Analysis.........................................................................1634.4.1 Exposition (12,1-2) ................................................................1644.4.2 The First Scene (12,3)............................................................1664.4.3 Second Scene (12,4-6) ...........................................................1684.4.4 Third Scene (12,7-8) ..............................................................169

4.5 Tradition-Historical Analysis........................................................1714.5.1 Synoptic comparision ............................................................1714.5.2 Historicity ..............................................................................174

Conclusion................................................................................................175

5. Jn 20,1-2.11-18: Jesus and Mary Magdalene .......................................1765.1 Preliminary Observations..............................................................176

5.1.1 Delimitation ...........................................................................1765.1.2 Textual Criticism ...................................................................1775.1.3 Structure.................................................................................178

5.2 Linguistic Syntactic Analysis........................................................1785.2.1 The Setting: 20,1-2 ................................................................1785.2.2 Mary and the Angels: Jn 20,11-13.........................................1805.2.3 Mary and Jesus: 20,14-17 ......................................................1815.2.4 Experience of Mary (20,18)...................................................183

5.3 Semantic Analysis.........................................................................1835.3.1 Identifying the Semantic Fields .............................................1835.3.2 Semantic Groups....................................................................1845.3.3 Semantic analysis of Sub-units ..............................................189

5.4 Narrative Analysis..........................................................................1945.4.1 The Setting: 20,1-2 ................................................................1955.4.2 Dialogue with the Angels: 20,11-13 ......................................1965.4.3 Mary and Jesus: 20,14-17 ......................................................1975.4.4 Experience of Mary: 20,18 ....................................................199

5.5 Tradition-Historical Analysis.........................................................199

TABLE OF CONTENTS 479

5.5.1 Synoptic Parallels ..................................................................1995.5.2 Verses appearing only in John ...............................................2015.5.3 Origin of the Resurrection-Tradition .....................................202

Conclusion................................................................................................204

PART TWO

FRIENDSHIP

CHAPTER III

CONCEPT OF FRIENDSHIP

Introduction ..............................................................................................207

1. Friendship in the Greco-Roman World ................................................2091.1 Pre-Aristotle Period.......................................................................209

1.1.1 Homer ....................................................................................2091.1.2 The Pythagorean Life.............................................................2101.1.3 Socrates and Plato..................................................................211

1.2 Aristotle.........................................................................................2121.3 Hellenistic Period..........................................................................213

1.3.1 Epicurus .................................................................................2141.3.2 Stoicism .................................................................................214

1.4 Roman World.................................................................................215

2. Friendship in the OT.............................................................................2152.1 Linguistic Evidence.......................................................................2162.2 Narrations depicting friendship.....................................................2162.3 Proverbial maxims regarding friendship .......................................2172.4 Friendship with God......................................................................218

3. Friendship in the Judaic Period ............................................................2213.1 Early Judaic Period .......................................................................2213.2 Later Judaic Period........................................................................222

4. Friendship in the NT.............................................................................2264.1 Friendship in Paul .........................................................................226

4.1.1 The First Letter to the Thessalonians.....................................2264.1.2 Letter to the Galatians............................................................2284.1.3 Romans ..................................................................................229

IMAGERY OF LOVE IN JOHN 480

4.1.4 Letter to the Philippians.........................................................2304.2 Luke/Acts ......................................................................................231

Conclusion................................................................................................233

CHAPTER IV

THE FRIENDSHIP OF JESUS WITH THE BETHANY FAMILY, HIS DISCIPLES

AND WITH THE BELOVED DISCIPLE IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

Introduction ..............................................................................................235

1. Jn 11,1-46; 12,1-8: Jesus and the Bethany Family ...............................2351.1 Preliminary Observations..............................................................235

1.1.1 Delimitation ...........................................................................2361.1.2 Textual Criticism ...................................................................2371.1.3 Structure.................................................................................238

1.2 Semantic Analysis.........................................................................2391.2.1 Relation of friendship between Jesus and Lazarus ................2391.2.2 Relationship of Jesus with Martha and Mary ........................244

1.3 Tradition-Historical Analysis........................................................2471.3.1 Traditions concerning Love ...................................................2481.3.2 Other Traditions Present in the Pericope ...............................250

Conclusion................................................................................................251

2. Jesus and the Beloved Disciple ............................................................252

Introduction ..............................................................................................2522.1 Historical identity of the Beloved Disciple ...................................2532.2 The Epithet ‘Beloved Disciple’.....................................................2552.3 Friendship between Jesus and the Beloved Disciple.....................256

2.3.1 Jn 13,21-30: The Intimacy .....................................................2562.3.2 Jn 19,25-27: Beneath the Cross .............................................2592.3.3 Jn 20,1-10: Exemplary Faith..................................................2642.3.4 Jn 21,1-14: Recognition of the Risen Jesus ...........................2692.3.5 Jn 21,20-24: The Perennial Witness ......................................271

Conclusion................................................................................................274

3. Jn 15,13-15: Jesus and his Disciples ....................................................2743.1 Preliminary Observations..............................................................2743.2 Characteristics of Friendship.........................................................275

TABLE OF CONTENTS 481

3.3 Conclusion .....................................................................................277

PART THREE

COVENANT

CHAPTER V

NOTIONS ON COVENANT

Introduction ..............................................................................................281

1. Covenant in the OT ..............................................................................2831.1 The Ancient Near Eastern Context................................................2831.2 Covenant among Human partners .................................................2851.3 The Divine-Human Covenant .......................................................286

1.3.1 Creation..................................................................................2861.3.2 Covenant with Noah ..............................................................2861.3.3 Covenant with Abraham ........................................................2871.3.4 Covenant at Sinai ...................................................................2881.3.5 The Deuteronomic Covenant .................................................2891.3.6 The Davidic Covenant ...........................................................2901.3.7 The New Covenant (Jer 31,31-34).........................................291

2. Covenant at Qumran.............................................................................295

3. Covenant in NT ....................................................................................3013.1 Linguistic Inquiry..........................................................................3013.2 Covenant in Paul ...........................................................................3033.3 Covenant in the Letter to the Hebrews..........................................306

Conclusion................................................................................................308

CHAPTER VI

COVENANT AS LOVE IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

Introduction ..............................................................................................311

1. Jn 5,41-44: The Love for God ..............................................................3111.1 Preliminary Observations..............................................................311

1.1.1 Setting ....................................................................................311

IMAGERY OF LOVE IN JOHN 482

1.1.2 Textual Criticism ...................................................................3121.1.3 Structure.................................................................................312

1.2 Linguistic Syntactic Analysis........................................................3121.3 Semantic Analysis.........................................................................315

2. Jn 8,41b-42: The love for Jesus ............................................................3192.1 Preliminary Considerations...........................................................3192.2 Linguistic-Syntactic Analysis .......................................................3202.3 Semantic Analysis of Key Concepts .............................................321

2.3.1 Not Born of Prostitution ........................................................3212.3.2 YHWH as Father of Israel .....................................................323

3. Jn 13,34-35: The New Commandment of Love ...................................3263.1 Preliminary Observations..............................................................326

3.1.1 Setting ....................................................................................3263.1.2 Textual Criticism ...................................................................327

3.2 Linguistic-Syntactic Analysis .......................................................3273.2.1 Jn 13,34..................................................................................3273.2.2 Jn 13,35..................................................................................329

Excursus: Literary Genre of Jn 13-17.......................................................329i) The Commandment of God ..............................................................330ii) Reciprocal love................................................................................330iii) Unity...............................................................................................3303.3 Semantic Analysis.........................................................................331

3.3.1 Giving of the commandment .................................................3313.3.2 The Significance of ‘Commandment’....................................3313.3.3 The New Commandment .......................................................333

4. Jn 14,15-24: The Unity between Love and Commandments ...............3354.1 Preliminary Observations..............................................................335

4.1.1 Setting ....................................................................................3354.1.2 Textual Criticism ...................................................................3364.1.3 Structure.................................................................................337

4.2 Synchronic Analysis......................................................................3374.3 Diachronic Analysis ......................................................................340

4.3.1 Loving God and Keeping his Commandments......................3404.3.2 The Gift of the Spirit..............................................................3424.3.3 The Indwelling.......................................................................343

5. Jn 15,9-17: Remaining in Covenantal Love .........................................3475.1 Preliminary Observations..............................................................347

TABLE OF CONTENTS 483

5.2 Exegetical Analysis.......................................................................3485.2.1 Abiding ..................................................................................3485.2.2 Election ..................................................................................3535.2.3 Appointment for a Task .........................................................355

6. Jn 21,15-17: Reconfirmation of the Covenant Relationship ................3576.1 The Demand of Jesus to be loved above everything else..............3576.2 The Shepherd/Sheep Symbolism ..................................................359

GENERAL CONCLUSION........................................................................361

1. Bridegroom-Bride (e;rwj) .....................................................................361

2. Friendship (fili,a) ................................................................................362

3. Covenant (avga,ph)..................................................................................364

4. The necessity of a loving community...................................................365

5. Final Hermeneutical Reflections ..........................................................3665.1 Introduction...................................................................................3665.2 Actualisation .................................................................................367

5.2.1 Theoretical Principles ............................................................3675.2.2 The way of Bhakti in Hinduism.............................................3685.2.3 The Christian Community .....................................................3715.2.4 The necessity of professing one’s faith..................................3735.2.5 Role of Women......................................................................374

6. Final Remarks.......................................................................................375

ABBREVIATIONS……………………………………………………...377

BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………….393

INDEX OF AUTHORS…………………………………………………..441

INDEX OF CITATIONS…………………………………………………453

GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS...........................................................475