Bridegroom in the 4th Gospel

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M an y i nt er pr et er s o f t he F ou rt h G os pe l d et ec t a ll us io ns t o b ib li ca l

t ex ts a bo ut m ar ri ag e, b ut n on e o ff er s a c om pr eh en si ve a na ly si s o f

t he se p ro po se d a ll us i on s o r a c on vi nc in g e xp la na ti on f or t he ir p re s-

e n c e . B u i l d i n g o n t h e w o r k o f R i c h a r d H a y s a n d D o n a l d J u e l , J o c e l y n

M c W h i r t e r a r g u e s t h a t J o h n a l l u d e s t o b i b l i c a l t e x t s a b o u t m a r r i a g e i n

orde r to develop a meta phor for Jes us and how he re lates to his

f ol lo we rs . T he se t ex ts s ee m t o h av e b ee n i nt er pr et ed a s m es si an ic

p ro ph ec ie s, a nd a pp li ed b y J oh n t o e ve nt s i n J es us ’ l if e a nd d ea th .

M cW h ir te r s ho ws h ow v er ba l p ar al le ls l in k J oh n’ s e vo ke d m ar ri ag e

t e x t s t o P s a l m 4 5 a b o u t G o d ’ s a n o i n t e d k i n g . M e s s i a n i c i n t e r p r e t a t i o nof these texts allows John to use them in portraying Jesus as a

b ri de gr oo m- Me ss ia h a nd d ep ic ti ng J es us ’ r el at io ns hi p w it h h is

f o ll o we r s i n t e rm s o f m a rr i ag e .

J O C E L Y N M C W H I R T E R i s a n A ss i st an t P ro fe s so r o f R e li gi ou s S tu d-

i es a t A lb io n C ol le ge i n A lb io n, M ic h ig an . T hi s i s h er f ir st b oo k.


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S O C I E T Y F O R N E W T E S T A M E N T S T U D I E S

M O N O G R A P H S E R I E S

Recent titles in the series

1 20 . B el ly a nd B od y i n t he P au li ne E pi st le s

K A R L O L A V S A N D N E S

0 5 2 1 8 1 5 3 5 5

1 21 . T he F ir st C hr is ti an H is to ri an

D A N I E L M A R G U E R A T

0 5 2 1 8 1 6 5 0 51 22 . A n A r am ai c A pp ro ac h t o Q

M A U R I C E C A S E Y

0 5 2 1 8 1 7 2 3 4

1 23 . I sa ia h’ s C hr is t i n M at th ew ’s G o sp el

R I C H A R D B E A T O N

0 5 2 1 8 1 8 8 8 5

1 24 . G od a nd H is to ry i n t he B oo k o f R ev el at io n

M I C H A E L G I L B E R S T O N

0 5 2 1 8 2 4 6 6 41 25 . J es us ’ D e fe at o f D e at h

P E T E R G . B O L T

0 5 2 1 8 3 0 3 6 2

1 26 . F ro m H op e t o D es pa ir i n T h e ss al on ic a

C O L I N R . N I C H O L L

0 5 2 1 8 3 1 4 2 3

1 27 . M at th ew ’s T ri lo gy o f P ar ab le s

W E S L E Y G . O L M S T E A D

0 5 2 1 8 3 1 5 4 71 28 . T he P eo pl e o f G od i n t h e A p oc al yp se

S T E P H E N P A T T E M O R E

0 5 2 1 8 3 6 9 8 0

1 29 . T he E xo rc is m S to ri es i n L uk e– Ac ts

T O D D K L U T Z

0 5 2 1 8 3 8 0 4 5

1 3 0. J e ws , G e nt i le s a n d E t hn i c R e c on c il i at io n

T E T - L I M N . Y E E

0 5 2 1 8 3 8 3 1 2

1 31 . A n ci en t R he to ri c a nd P au l’ s A po lo gy

F R E D R I C K J . L O N G

0 5 2 1 8 4 2 3 3 6

1 3 2. R e co n st r uc ti n g H o n or i n R o m a n P h i li p pi

J O S E P H H . H E L L E R M A N

0 5 2 1 8 4 9 0 9 8


5/193

1 3 3. T h eo l og i ca l H e rm e ne u ti c s a n d I T h es s al o ni a ns

A N G U S P A D D I S O N

0 5 2 1 8 4 9 8 3 7

1 34 . G re co -R om an C ul tu re a nd t he G al il ee o f J es us

M A R K A . C H A N C E Y

0 5 2 1 8 4 6 4 7 1

1 35 . C hr is to lo gy a nd D is ci pl es hi p i n t he G os pe l o f M ar k

S U Z A N N E W A T T S W E N D E R S

0 5 2 1 8 5 9 0 6 9

1 36 . T he J ud ae an P oo r a n d t h e F o u rt h G o sp el

T I M O T H Y J . M . L I N G

0 5 2 1 8 5 7 2 2 8

1 37 . P au l, t he S to ic s, a nd t he B od y o f C hr is t

M I C H E L L E L E E

0 5 2 1 8 6 4 5 4 2


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T he B rid eg ro om M es si ah a ndt h e P e o p l e o f G o d

M ar ri ag e i n t he F ou rt h G os pe l

J O C E L Y N M C W H I R T E R

Albion College


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CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS

Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo

Cambridge University PressThe Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 8RU, UK

First published in print format

ISBN-13 978-0-521-86425-1

ISBN-13 978-0-511-34889-1

© Jocelyn McWhirter 2006

2006

Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521864251

This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provision ofrelevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place

without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.

ISBN-10 0-511-34889-4

ISBN-10 0-521-86425-9

Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of urlsfor external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not

guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York

www.cambridge.org

hardback

eBook (EBL)

eBook (EBL)

hardback

http://www.cambridge.org/9780521864251http://www.cambridge.org/http://www.cambridge.org/9780521864251http://www.cambridge.org/


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F or J am ie a nd T ed dy

te * k n a y eou Ð

a nd i n m em or y o f D on al d J ue l

maka * rio i oi mZ i do * n te B k ai p is te u * santeB


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C O N T E N T S

Acknowledgments page xi

List of abbreviations xii

1 A llu s ion s t o b iblic al t e xt s ab ou t m arr iag e 1A t um ul t o f r ev er be ra ti on s 4

Ma ki ng s en se o f th e e ch oe s 10

2 E c h oes of S c r ip tu r e , r e p re s e n t ative f igu r es , an d

m e s s ianic e xe ge sis 21E ch oe s o f S cr ip tu re i n t he F ou rt h G os pe l 21

G u i d e li n e s f o r i d e n t i fy i n g a n d i n t e r pr e t i n g a l l usi o n s 23

R ep re se n ta ti ve f ig ur es i n t he F ou rt h G os pe l 31

M es si an ic e xe ge si s i n t he F ou rt h G os pe l 36

I d en t if y in g a n d i n t er p re t in g J o hn ’ s a l l us i o ns 44

3 T he r ev el at i o n o f t he b ri de g ro om -M es si a h: a l lu si on s

t o J er em i ah 3 3: 10 – 11 a nd G en es i s 2 9 :1 – 20 46“ T he b r id e gr o om ’ s v o i c e” 50

T he J oh an ni ne J es us a t J ac ob ’s w e ll 58

E xc ur su s : t he J oh an ni ne J es u s i n I sr ae l’ s wi ld er ne s s 76

4 T he g lo r if ic at io n o f t he b ri de gr oo m- M es s ia h:

allu s ions t o S on g 1: 12 an d S on g 3: 1–4 79The king on the couch 80

R ec og ni z in g t he r is e n L or d 88

5 T he b ri de gr oo m - Me ss ia h o f P sa lm 4 5 i n t he S o n g o f

S o ng s , J e r em i a h 3 3 :1 0 – 1 1 , a n d G e ne s i s 2 9 : 1 –2 0 106Ps alm 45 as a me ssianic psalm 107

Psalm 45 in the Fourth Gospel 110

T he b el ov ed ki ng a nd h is be au ti fu l b ri de 111

A j oy fu l w ed di ng p ro ce ss io n 115

ix


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I sr ae l’ s fo rb e ar s at a w e ll o f li vi ng w at er 117

E xc ur su s : m or e e vi de nc e f ro m t he F ou rt h G os pe l f or

m es s ia ni c e xe g es is b as ed o n P sa lm 4 5 120

6 H e a r i ng t h e e c ho e s 123H ea ri ng t he e ch oe s i n t he fi rs t c en tu ry 124

H ea ri ng t he e ch oe s i n t he t we nt y- fi rs t c en tu ry 134

7 Conclusion 144

Bibliography 148

S c ri p t ur e i n de x 162 Index of ancient commentators 171

Index of modern commentators 172

x Contents


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A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S

T hi s m on og ra ph i s a r ev is io n o f m y d oc to ra l d is se rt at io n, s ub mi tt ed

t o P ri nce to n T heo lo gi ca l S em in ar y i n 2 00 1. I t h as b een t ho ro ug hl y

u pd at ed t o r ef le ct d ev el op m en ts i n s ch ol ar s hi p s i nc e t he n.

M a n y o t h e r s h a v e p l a y e d a n i n s t r u m e n t a l r o l e i n i t s p r o d u c t i o n . I o w e

t ha nk s f ir st t o m y t ea ch er s. R od W hi t ac re a t T ri n it y E pi s co pa l S ch oo l

f or M in is tr y g ot m e i nt er es te d i n t he F ou rt h G os pe l. M y d is se rt at io n

d i r e c t o r , t h e l a t e D o n a l d J u e l , i n t r o d u c e d m e t o t h e c o n c e p t o f m e s s i a n i c

e xe ge si s , p at i en t ly r ev i ew ed m os t o f t hi s d oc um en t ’s m an y v er si o ns ,

a nd c on si st en tl y s te er ed m e i n t he r ig ht d ir ec ti on . B ev er ly G av en taad ded h el pf ul c omm en ts t o an ea rl y a tt em pt . C om mi tt ee me mb er s

J am es C ha rl es wo rt h a nd R os s W ag ne r c ar ef ul ly r ea d t he f in al d ra ft s

a n d o f fe r ed c r uc i al i n si g h ts .

Ad di ti on al t ha nk s a re d ue t o s ev er al o f m y c ol lea gu es . M y f ri en d

E li sab et h J oh ns on o ff er ed a t ho ug ht fu l r es po ns e t o t he f ir st d ra ft o f

Chapter 3. J oh n M il ler s ha red i nfo rm at io n a bo ut t he T es t am en t o f

Judah. A la n I se r, m y c ol l ea g ue a t S ai n t J os ep h ’s U ni v er s it y, a ns we r ed

m y q ue st io ns a bo ut J ew is h e xe ge ti ca l t ra di ti on s a nd c on te mp or ar yp ra xi s. I m us t a ls o a ck no wl ed ge m y f el lo w r es id en ts C ha rl en e M os s,

M ic ha el D ai se , B il l C am pb el l , L id i ja N ov ak o vi c, a nd R aq ue l S t. C la ir ,

w ho se c on tr ib ut io ns t o m y i nt el le ct ua l d ev el op me nt a nd e mo ti on al

s t ab i l it y c a nn o t b e m e as u re d .

My friends and family membe rs have been a constant sou rce o f

s up po rt a nd e nc ou ra ge me nt s in ce t hi s p ro je ct b eg an . I a m e sp ec ia ll y

g r a t e f u l t o m y c h i l d r e n J a m i e a n d T e d d y , w h o p u t u p w i t h m e a s I m a d e

t h e f i na l r e vi s i on s .

xi


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A B B R E V I A T I O N S

1Q28b R ul e o f t he B le ss in gs

2 Bar 2 Baruch

4 Kgdms 4 Ki ngdoms

4QCanta–c 4QCanticlesa–c

4QComm-

Cant

C o mm e nt a r y o n C a nt i cl e s

4QFlor Florilegium

4QpIsaa Isaiah Pesher a

6QCant 6QCanticles11QPsa Psalms Scrolla

AB Anchor Bible

’ Abot

R. Nat.

’ Ab ot R . N at h an

ACW Ancien t Christian Writers

An Bib Analec ta biblica

Ant. Jewish Antiquities (Josephus)

AOAT Alter Orient und Altes Testam entBar Baruch

BDAG Bauer, W., F. W. Dan ker, W. F. Arnd t, an d

F . W . G i ng ri c h. G r ee k– E ng l is h L ex ic on o f t h e

New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature

3 rd e dn . C hi ca go , 1 99 9

BDF Blass, F., A. Deb ru nne r, an d R. W. Fu nk.

A Greek Grammar of the New Testament and

O t he r E a r ly C h r is t i an L i te r at u re

C h ic a g o, 1 9 61

BETL Bibli othec a ephemer idum theo log icarum l ova niensiu m

BFCT Beiträg e z u r F ö r d er u ng c h ri s t li c he r T h eo l o gi e

BGBE Beiträg e z ur G es c hi ch t e d er b ib l is c he n E xe ge s e

BHS Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia . E di te d b y K ar l E ll in ge r

a nd W il h el m R ud ol p h. S tu t tg ar t, 1 9 83

xii


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Bib Biblica

BJRL Bulletin of the John Rylands University Library of

Manchester

BJS Bro wn Judaic StudiesBNTC Black ’s New Testament Commentaries

BSac Bibliotheca sacra

BTB Biblical Theology Bulletin

BVC Bible et vie chrétienne

BZ Biblische Zeitschrift

BZNW Beihe fte zur Zeitsch rift f ür d i e n e ut e st a m en t l ic h e

Wissenschaft

CB Cultura biblica

CBET Contr ib utio ns to Biblica l Exegesis and Th eol ogy

CBQ Catholic B iblical Quar terly

CGTSC Cambrid ge Greek Testament for School s and Co ll eges

Comm.

Cant.

C o mm e nt a r i us i n C a nt i c um (Origen)

Co nBN T C on ie ct an ea b ib li ca: N ew T es ta men t S er ie s

CRINT Comp endia rerum iuda icaru m ad Novu mTestamentum

Dial. Dialogue with Trypho (Justin)

DRev Downside Review

Ebib Etudes bibliques

EgT Eglise et Thé ologie

EvJ Evangelical Journal

EvT Evangelische Theologie

FC Fathers o f the ChurchGCS Die griechische christ liche Sch rift steller der ersten d rei

Jahrhunderte

HBT Horizons in Biblical Theology

HeyJ Heythrop Journal

HNT Handbuch zum Neuen Testam ent

Hom. Cant. Homiliae in Canticum (Origen)

Hom. Gen. Homiliae in Genesim (Origen)

HTS Harv ar d Theolog ical Studi es

HUCM Monogr aphs of the Heb rew Un io n Co llege

ICC Interna tional Critical Co mm en tary

Int Interpretation

ITQ Irish Theological Quarterly

JBL Journal of Biblical Literature

JSNT Journal for the Study of the New Testament

List of abbreviations xiii


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J SN TS up J ou rn al fo r t he St ud y o f t he Ne w T es ta men t: Su pp le men t

Series

JSOT Journal for the Study of the Old Testament

JTS Journal of Theological StudiesLXX Septu ag int

MT Maso retic Text

m. Yad. Mishnah Yadayim

NA27 Novum Testamentum Graece, N e st l e- A l an d ,

2 7t h e dn .

NCB New Ce ntury Bible

NeoT Neotestamentica

NICNT New Int ernatio nal Commentary on the New Test ament

NIV New Int ernatio nal Versio n

NovT N o v u m T e s tam e n tu m

No vT Su p N ov um T es tam en tu m S up pl em en ts

NPNF1 Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers , S er ie s 1

NRSV New Re vised Standard Versi on

NT New T estament

NTS New Testament StudiesOdes Sol. Odes of Solomon

OTP Old Testamen t Pseudepigr apha. E di te d b y

J . H . C ha rl es wo rt h. 2 v ol s. N ew Y or k, 1 98 3

PL Patrolo gia latina. Ed ited by J .-P. Mig ne. 217 vols . Pari s,

1 8 4 4 – 6 4

Pss. Sol. Psalms of Solomon

PTMS Pittsb urgh Theolo gical Mon ogr aph Seri es

RB Revue biblique RSR Recherches de science religieuse

RSV Revis ed Stand ard Versio n

RThom Revue Thomiste

RUO Revue de l’université d’Ottawa

SBLDS Soci et y of Bib lica l Li teratur e Disse rtatio n Seri es

S BL Sy mS S oc ie ty o f Bi bl ic al L it er at ur e Sy mp os iu m S er ie s

ScrHier Scripta hierosol ymitana

SJLA Studies in Judaism in Late Antiq uity

SJT Scottish Journal of Theol ogy

SNT Studien zum Neuen Testament

SN TS MS S oci et y fo r N ew T es ta men t St ud ies M on og rap h Se ri es

SP Sacra pagina

ST Studia Theologic a

StABH Studi es i n Ameri ca n Bibl ical Hermeneuti cs

xiv List of abbreviations


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TBT The Bible Today

TDNT Theological Dictiona ry of the New Testament . E d i t e d b y

G . K it te l a nd G . F ri ed ri ch . T ra ns la te d b y G . W .

B ro m il ey . 1 0 v ol s. G ra nd R ap id s, 1 9 64 – 76ThTo Theology Today

T. Jud. Tes tame nt of Judah

T. Lev. Tes tame nt of Levi

TNTC Ty ndal e New Testamen t Commentaries

T r ac t . E v .

Jo.

In Evangelium Johannis tractatus

TS Theological Studies

TSAJ Texte und Stu dien zum antiken Jud entum

t. Sanh. Tosefta Sanhedrin

VTSup Vetus Test amentu m Sup pleme nts

WUNT Wis sens ch aftl ic he Un tersu chun gen zum Neu en

Testament

ZAW Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft

ZNW Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und

d i e K u nd e d e r ä l t er e n K i rc h e

List of abbreviations xv


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1

A L L U S I O N S T O B I B L I C A L T E X T SA B O U T M A R R I A G E

“Y ou s ee t ha t ev er yw he re t he my st er ies a re i n ag re eme nt ,” w ri te s

O ri ge n o f A le xa nd ri a ( ca . 1 85 –c a. 2 53 ). “ Yo u s ee t he p at te rn s o f t he

N ew a nd O ld T es ta me nt t o b e h ar mo ni ou s. ”1 O ri ge n’ s b el ie f i n t he

theol ogica l uni ty o f th e Bi bl e leads him to reco gnize all kin ds o f

parall el s betwee n passages i n the New Test ament and port ion s of

I s ra e l’ s S c ri p t ur e s. A m o ng t h es e a r e s i mi l ar i ti e s b e tw e e n t w o o f J o h n’ s

s to ri es a nd ce rt ai n b ib li ca l t ex ts t ha t i nv ol ve ma rri ag e. I n h is Com-

m en ta ry o n J oh n, f or e xa mp le , h e c om pa re s t he S am ar it an w om an o f

J oh n 4 :4 – 4 2 w it h Re be kah i n G en . 2 4: 1– 6 7. J us t a s R eb ek ah m ee tsA br ah am ’s s er va nt a t a w el l, s o t he S am ar it an w om an m ee ts J es us a t a

w el l . O ri ge n n o te s o n e i m po rt an t d i ff er en ce : w he r ea s R eb ek ah g i ve s

Abraham’ s servant a dri nk from h er water jar and do es not l eave it

b e h i n d ( G e n . 2 4 : 1 8 ) , t h e S a m a r i t a n w o m a n a c c e p t s t h e w a t e r o f e t e r n a l

l if e f ro m J es us a nd fo rs ak es h er o wn j ar – t ha t i s, h er fo rm er o pi ni on s

( Jo hn 4 : 28 ).2 In his G e ne si s H om il y, Origen g oes on to extend the

c o n n e c t i o n t o t w o o t h e r b i b l i c a l s c e n e s : t h e s t o r i e s o f J a c o b a n d R a c h e l

in Gen. 29:1– 20 and of Mos es an d Zi pporah i n Exod. 2: 15–22. Het he n p ro po un ds t he u ni fi ed t he ol og ic al m es sa ge o f t he O ld a nd N ew

T e s t a m e n t a c c o u n t s : “ T h e r e , o n e c o m e s t o t h e w e l l s a n d t h e w a t e r s t h a t

brides may b e fo un d; an d t he c hu rc h i s u ni te d t o C hr is t i n t he b at h o f

water.”3

Ori gen al so percei ves a conn ec ti on b et ween John’ s st or y o f the

a no in ti ng a t B et ha ny a nd t he S on g o f S on gs . H e i nt er pr et s S on g 1 :1 2,

“ W h i l e t h e k i n g w a s o n h i s c o u c h , m y n a r d g a v e f o r t h i t s f r a g r a n c e , ” i n

l i g h t o f J o h n 1 2 : 3 , “ M a r y t o o k a p o u n d o f c o s t l y p e r f u m e m a d e o f p u r e

1 Origen, H o m . G e n . 1 0 . 5 , i n H o m i l i e s o n G e n e s i s a n d E x o d u s ( t r a n s . R o n a l d E . He i n e ;F C 7 1 ; W a sh i ng t on , D . C. : T h e C a th o li c U n iv e rs i ty o f A m er i ca P r es s , 1982) , 1 67 .

2 Origen, C om m en t ar i i i n e v an g el i um J o an n is 1 3 .1 7 5– 7 8, i n C om me nt ar y o n t heG os pe l A cc or di ng t o J oh n: B oo ks 1 3– 32 ( tr an s. R on al d E . H ei ne ; F C 8 9; W as hi ng to n,D . C. : T h e C a th o li c U n iv e rs i ty o f A m er i ca P r es s , 1993) , 1 0 5 – 6 .

3 Origen, H o m. G e n. 1 0. 5.

1


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t he n ot io n t ha t t he O ld a nd N ew T es ta me nt s p re se nt o ne u ni fi ed t he o-

l og ic al m es sa ge . N ot m an y c on te mp or ar y s ch ol ar s w ou ld a gr ee t ha t

biblical stories about a man and a woman meetin g at a well have

a ny th in g t o d o w it h b ap ti sm , o r t ha t S on g 1 :1 2 s ho ul d b e i nt er pr et edi n l i g h t o f J o h n 1 2 : 3 . I n d e e d , o n l y a f e w w o u l d u n d e r s t a n d t h e S o n g o f

So ng s as an yt hi ng b ut er ot ic p oet ry t ha t f ou nd i ts w ay i nt o t he c an on

b ec au se i t w as a tt ri bu te d to S ol om on , i n te rp re te d a ll eg o ri ca ll y, a nd

c ha mp io n ed b y R . A ki b ah .8

R ec en t d ev el o pm en t s, h ow e ve r, h av e o pe ne d t h e w ay f or a r en ew ed

a pp re ci at io n o f a nc ie nt i nt er pr et at io ns . W it hi n t he l as t f ew d ec -

a de s , s o me e xe ge te s h av e c ha ll en ge d m an y o f t he p re su pp os it io ns o f

e i gh t ee n th - c en t ur y r a ti o n al i s m, a s w e ll a s o f n i ne t ee n t h- a n d t w en t i et h -

c en t ur y h i st o ri ca l c ri t ic is m. C hi ef a mo n g t he s e i s t h e a ss um pt i on t h at

t he Bi bl e i s s ub jec t t o o bj ec ti ve i nt er pre ta ti on t hr ou gh an al ys is o f

h is t or ic al a nd l i te ra ry e vi d en ce , a lo ng w it h t h e r el at e d a ss u mp t io n t ha t

o nl y m od er n c ri ti cs w ho p er fo rm s uc h a na ly se s d es er ve a h ea ri ng . I t

has bee n p er su as iv el y a rg ue d t ha t o bj ec ti ve i nt er pr et at io n i s i mp os -

sible.9 I n l ig ht o f t hi s r ea li za ti on , t he a ca de my n ow w el co me s c on tr i-

b u ti o n s f r om r e ad e r- r es p o ns e c r it i cs , p o st - mo d er n e x eg e t es , a n d m a nyw ho se p ol it ic al a ge nd as r en de r t he ir r ea di ng s o ve rt ly s ub je ct iv e. A s

A . K . M . A d a m o b s e r v e s , “ I f . . . t h e r e a r e n o t t r a n s c e n d e n t c r i t e r i a f o r

i nt er pr et at io n, b ut o nl y l oc al c us to ms a nd g ui ld r ul es , t he r el uc ta nc e

m od er n N ew T es t am e nt t he ol og i an s e xp re s s a bo ut a dm it t in g t he p os -

s ib le l eg it im ac y o f o th er a pp ro pr ia ti on s o f t he N ew T es ta me nt is an

e x pr e ss i o n o f c u lt u r al i m pe r i al i s m a n d i n t el l e ct u al x e no p h ob i a. ”10

T hi s s ug g es t s t ha t t he r ea d in gs o f s o -c al le d p re -c ri t ic al i nt er p re te rs

s ho ul d n ot b e d is mi ss ed o ut o f h an d. I n t hi s mo no gra ph , I w il l a rg uet ha t O ri g en a nd H ip p ol y tu s w er e o n t h e r ig ht t ra ck i n s ev er a l r es p ec t s.

Fo r o ne, t he y w er e n ot h ea ri ng t hi ng s w he n t he y d et ec te d e ch oe s o f

wel l betrot hal storie s and the Song of So ngs i n the Fourth Gos pel.

I w i l l m a k e t h e c a s e t h a t J o h n i n d e e d a l l u d e s t o f o u r b i b l i c a l t e x t s a b o u t

m ar ri ag e . O ne i nv ol v es s i mi l ar i ti es b et we e n J es us ’ e nc ou n te r w it h t he

S am ar it a n w o m an i n J oh n 4 : 4 – 4 2 a nd t he s to ry a bo ut J ac ob a nd R ac he l

i n G e n . 2 9 : 1 – 2 0 . T w o o t h e r s e v o k e t h e S o n g o f S o n g s . M a r y o f B e t h a n y

p er fu me s t he r ec li ni ng J es us i n a s ce ne r em in is ce nt o f S on g 1 :1 2, a nd

8 M a r v i n P o p e b r i e f l y d i s c u s s e s t h e S o n g ’ s c a n o n i c a l s t a t u s i n S o n g o f S o n g s ( A B 7 C ;Ga r d en C i t y : Do u b le d a y , 1977) , 1 8 –1 9 .

9 S ee , e .g ., M ar y A nn T ol be rt , “ De fi ni ng t he P ro bl em : T he B ib le a nd F em in is tHermeneutics,” Semeia 28 (1983) : 1 1 3– 2 6.

10 A . K . M . A da m, M a ki n g S e ns e o f N e w T e st a me n t T h eo l og y : “ M od e rn ” P r ob l em sa n d P r o sp e c t s ( S tA B H 1 1 ; M a co n , G a .: M e rc e r U n iv e rs i ty P r es s , 1995) , 1 7 9 .

Allusions to biblical texts about marriage 3


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M a r y M a g d a l e n e s e e k s a n d f i n d s h e r m i s s i n g m a n a s d o e s t h e w o m a n i n

Song 3:1 – 4 . A fourth allusi on is the first to occur in the Gos pel

n ar ra ti ve . I n J oh n 3 :2 9, John the Baptist decl are s, “He who has t he

b ri de i s t he b ri de gr oo m.11

T he f ri en d o f t he b ri de gr oo m, w ho s ta nd sa nd h ea r s h i m, re joices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice (tZ‘ n f o n Z‘ n

tou Ð numfi* ou).”12 T h i s s a y i n g r e c a l l s J e r . 3 3 : 1 0 – 1 1 : “ I n . . . t h e t o w n s o f

J u d a h a n d t h e s t r e e t s o f J e r u s a l e m . . . t h e r e s h a l l o n c e m o r e b e h e a r d t h e

v oi ce o f m ir th a nd t he v oi ce o f g la dn es s, t he vo i ce o f t he b ri de gr o om

(fonZ‘ numfi* ou) a n d t h e v o i c e o f t h e b r i d e . ”13

O ri ge n w as a ls o r ig h t t o a tt ri b ut e s om e f ig u ra ti v e m ea n in g t o J oh n’ s

w el l a nd a no in ti ng s to ri es . I n m y i nt er pr et at i on o f t he f ou r a ll us io ns ,

I w il l s ho w h ow t he y d ev el op a m ar ri ag e m et ap ho r, i nt ro du ce d i n t he

C an a w ed d in g s ce ne ( Jo hn 2 : 1– 11 ), t ha t d es cr ib es J es us a s t h e M es si a h

a nd d ep ic ts h i s r el at i on sh i p w it h t he b el i ev i ng c om mu n it y . I w i ll s t re ss

t h a t a l l C h r i s t i a n s s h o u l d b e a b l e t o a c c e p t a n d a p p r e c i a t e t h i s m e t a p h o r

s in ce J o hn d o es n ot u se i t t o r ei nf or c e o pp re s si v e g en de r r ol e s.

F in al ly , O ri ge n’ s a nd H ip po ly tu s’ b el ie f i n t he t he ol og ic al u ni ty o f

t h e S c r i p t u r e s i s r e l e v a n t b e c a u s e i t c l o s e l y r e s e m b l e s t h a t o f t h e F o u r t h

E va ng el is t. I w il l a rg ue t ha t t he G os pe l’ s i mp li ed a ut ho r c on si de re dJ er . 3 3: 10 – 11 , G en . 2 9: 1– 20 , a nd t he So ng o f S on gs a pp ro pr ia te f or

i ll us tr at in g t he l if e, d ea th , a nd r es ur re ct io n o f J es us b ec au se o f t he ir

m es si an i c s i gn i fi ca nc e. A cc o rd in g t o t h e c on ve n ti o ns o f f ir st - ce nt ur y

ex eg es is – c on ve nt io ns b as ed o n a b el ie f i n t he t he ol og ic al u ni ty o f

Sc ri pt ure – t hey c an b e i nt er pr et ed a s m es si an ic p ro ph eci es i n l ig ht

o f P s. 4 5 , w hi ch c el e br at es t he w ed d in g o f G od ’ s a no i nt ed k i ng .

A t u mu l t o f r e ve r be r at i o ns

I am c er ta in ly n ot t he fi rs t p os t- En li gh te nm en t c ri ti c t o h ea r ec ho es

o f b ib li cal t ex ts a bo ut ma rr ia ge i n t he F ou rt h G os pel . I n f ac t, e ar ly

trad iti ons of int erpret in g Joh n 4:4 – 4 2 and 20:1– 18 i n ligh t o f well

b et ro th al n ar rat iv es a nd t he So ng o f So ng s h av e b ee n p er pe tu at ed

t hr ou gh t he E nl ig ht en me nt a nd i nt o t he p re se nt . B ot h T he V en er ab le

B ed e ( 67 3– 73 5) a nd S t. J oh n o f t he C ro ss ( 15 42 –9 1) l in k J oh n’ s t om b

11 T h e a p p e l l a t i o n “ J o h n t h e B a p t i s t ” n e v e r a p p e a r s i n t h e F o u r t h G o s p e l . I u s e i t h e r et o d i st i ng u is h J o hn t h e B a pt i st f r om J o hn t h e E v an g el is t .

12 T he G re ek te xt o f t he F ou rt h G os pel i s t ak en f ro m N A27. I d is cu ss s ig ni fi ca ntv a ri a nt s i n t h e f o ot n ot e s.

13 T he p as sa ge r ec ko ne d a s J er . 3 3: 1– 13 i n H eb re w a nd E ng li sh B ib le s a pp ea rs a tJ er . 4 0: 1– 13 i n t he L X X.

4 The Bridegroom Messiah and the People of God


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s to ry w it h S on g 3 :1 – 4 .14 T hi s e xe ge ti ca l t ra di ti on h as f ou nd i ts w ay

i nt o t he R om an C at ho li c l ec ti on ar y: S on g 3 :1 –5 i s r ea d o n t he F ea st o f

S t . M a r y M a g d a l e n e ( J u l y 2 2 ) . A s i m i l a r t r a d i t i o n h a s b e e n p r e s e r v e d i n

t he w or k o f a t l ea st o ne n in et ee nt h- ce nt ur y P ro te st an t s ch ol ar . I n h ism a gn u m o p u s, T he L if e o f J es u s C ri t ic a ll y E xa mi n ed , D av i d F ri ed ri c h

Strauss ex pl or es t he c on ne ct io n b et we en J oh n 4 a nd t he G en es is w el l

stories.15

I n t h e w ak e o f t h es e t ra di t io n s, s ev er al t we nt i et h -c en tu ry e xe ge te s

h av e p ro po se d a ll us io ns t o G en . 2 9: 1– 20 , S on g 1 :1 2; 3 :1 – 4 , a nd J er .

3 3: 10 – 11 . T he y h av e a ls o d et ec te d r ef er en ce s t o a w ho le h os t o f o th er

t e x t s , m o s t o f w h i c h h a v e s o m e t h i n g t o d o w i t h m a r r i a g e . F o r e x a m p l e ,

Michel Cambe hear s several echoe s i n John 3:29 . He affirms t hat

J oh n t he B ap ti st ’s b ri de gr oo m s ay in g m ay a ll ud e t o J er . 3 3: 10 – 11 .16

H e a ls o a gr ee s w it h J oh n H . B er na rd a nd W al te r B au er , w ho n ot e t he

s i mi l ar i t y b e t we e n J o h n’ s p h ra s e “ t he b r id e gr o o m’ s v o i ce (tZ‘ n f o n Z‘ n

to u Ð numfi* ou)” and “the voic e o f the bridegro om (fonZ‘ numfi* ou)”

me nt io ne d i n J er . 7 :3 2– 34 , 1 6: 9, an d 2 5: 10 .17 T he se p ro ph e ci es d e-

s cr ib e h ow “ th e v oi ce o f t he b ri de gr oo m, ” a lo ng w it h “ th e v oi ce o f t he

b ri de ” an d t he s ou nd o f m ir th a nd g la dn es s, w il l e ve nt ual ly c ea se i nJ e r u s a l e m . I n a d d i t i o n , C a m b e n o t e s t h a t o t h e r s h a v e d e t e c t e d e c h o e s o f

the Song o f So ngs in Joh n 3: 29. André F eu il le t ma ke s t he c as e f or

a ll us io ns t o S on g 2 :8 –1 4 a nd 5 :2 – 6 , p assag es t ha t d es cr ib e t he b ri de ’s

e ag er r es po ns e t o h er b el ov ed ’s v oi ce .18 E ve n m or e c on vi nc in g f or

14 T h e V e ne r ab l e B e de , I n C a n ti c a C a n t ic o r u m A l l eg o r i ca E x p os i t i o, i n P L 9 1: 11 20 ;S t . J o h n o f t h e C r o s s , D a r k N i g h t o f t h e S o u l 2 . 1 3 . 6 , i n D a r k N i g h t o f t h e S o u l ( t r an s . a n d

e d. E . A ll is on P ee rs ; 3 v ol s; 3 rd r ev . e dn .; N ew Y or k: D o ub le da y, 1990) , 14 0 – 4 2.15 D av id F ri ed ri ch S tr au ss , T he L if e o f J esu s C ri ti ca lly Ex am in ed ( ed . P et er C . Ho d g s on ; t r a ns . Ge o r ge E l i o t; P h i l ad e l ph i a : F o r t r e s s , 1972) , 3 08 .

16 M i c h e l C a m b e , “ L ’ i n f l u e n c e d u C a n t i q u e d e s C a n t i q u e s s u r l e No u v e a u T e s t a m e n t , ” RThom 62 (1962) : 1 4. S ee a ls o J ac qu es W in an dy , “ Le C an ti qu e d es C an ti qu es e t l e

No u v e au T e s t am e n t, ” RB 7 1 ( 1 9 6 4) : 1 6 8 – 6 9 ; F r a n ço i s - M a ri e B r a u n , Jean le thé ologien 2: Les grandes traditions d’Israë l e t l ’ ac c or d d e s éc r it u re s s e lo n l e q u at r ieme évangi le( Ebib; P a r i s : Ga b a l d a , 1964) , 1 9 7 a n d Jean le théologien 3.1: Sa théologie: Le myster e d e

Jésus-Christ ( Ebib; P a r i s : G a b a l d a , 1966) , 1 0 1 ; M a r t i n H e n g e l , “ T h e I n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h eW i n e M i r a c l e a t C a n a : J o h n 2 : 1 – 1 1 , ” t r a n s . Ge r h a r d S c h m i d t , i n T h e G l o r y o f C h r i s t i n t h e

New Testament ( ed . L . D . H ur st a nd N . T . W ri gh t; O xf or d: C la re nd on , 1987) , 1 01 –2 ;M i rj a m Z i mm e rm an n a n d R u be n Z i mm e rm an n , “ D er F r eu n d d e s B r äu t i g am s ( J o h 3 , 2 9 ):De f l or a t io n s - o d e r C h r i st u s z eu g e ? ” ZNW 90 (1999) : 1 26 – 27 .

17 J o h n H . B e r n a r d , A C r i t i c a l a n d E x e g e t i c a l C o m m e n t a r y o n t h e G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t oS t. J oh n ( e d. A . H . M cN ei le ; I CC ; E di nb ur gh : T &T C la rk , 1928) , I : 13 1 ; W a lt e r B a ue r ,

Das Johannes-Evangelium ( 3 r d e d n . ; H N T 6 ; T ü b i n g en : M o h r S i e b ec k , 1933) , 6 3 .18 André F e ui ll et , “ Le s ym bo li sm e d e l a c ol om be d an s l es r éci ts évangél iq ue s d u

Baptême,” RSR 46 (1958) : 5 40 ; “ Le C an ti qu e d es c an ti qu es e t l ’A po ca ly ps e, ” RSR 49( 19 61 ): 3 34 , n . 8 ; “ La r ec he rc he d u C hr is t d an s l a n ou ve ll e a ll ia nc e d ’a pr ès l a c hr is to -phanie de Jo 20,11–18: Comparaison avec C ant. 3,1– 4 et l’épisode des pèlerins



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C a m b e i s P . J o ü o n ’ s b e l i e f t h a t J o h n 3 : 2 9 a l l u d e s t o S o n g 8 : 1 3 : “ O y o u

w h o d w e l l i n the g a rd e ns , m y c om pa ni o ns a re l i st e ni n g f or y o ur v oi ce ;

l e t m e h e a r i t . ”19

A ll us io ns t o ma rri ag e t ex ts a re a ls o d is ce rn ed i n t he w el l s ce ne o f J oh n 4 :4 – 4 2. J er ome H . N ey rey a nd C al um M . Ca rmi ch ae l c on te nd

w it h m e tha t t hi s s ce ne al lu de s t o t he J ac ob an d Ra ch el s to ry i n G en .

29:1–20.20 O th er s h ea r d i ff er en t e ch o es . S ch o la rs s uc h a s F ra nço i s -

M ar i e B ra un a nd M ar i e- Ém il e B oi s ma r d p oi n t o ut s ev er al v er ba l s i mi -

l ari ti es b et wee n J oh n 4 :4 – 4 2 a nd t he s ce ne w it h A br ah am ’s s er va nt

and Reb ekah in Gen . 24:1 – 6 7, while E. C. Hos kyns and Gerh ard

F ri ed ri ch r ec og ni ze a n a ll us io n t o t he e nc ou nt er b et we en Mos es a nd

Z ip po ra h ( Ex od . 2 :1 5– 22 ) a s t ol d b y J os ep hu s ( Ant . 2 .2 5 7) .21 Aileen

G ui ld in g s ug ge st s t ha t J oh n r ef er s t o E xo d. 2 :1 5– 22 a lo ng w it h o ne o f

t he G en es i s s to ri es ; f or A nnie J au be r t, t he r el ev an t p as sa g es a re E x od .

2 :1 5– 2 2 a nd G en . 2 9: 1 –2 0 .22

d’Emmaü s ,” in L ’ ho m me d e va n t D i eu (Théo lo gi e 5 6 – 58 ; P ar is : A u bi er , 1963) , I :1 06 ; Le Myster e d e l ’ a m ou r d i v i n d a n s l a t h éo l o g ie j o h a nn i q ue ( Ebib; P a ri s : G a ba l da , 1972),

2 3 1 ; a n d J e s u s a n d H i s M o t h e r : T h e R o l e o f t h e V i r g i n M a r y i n S a l v a t i o n H i s t o r y a n d t h e

Place of Woman in the Church ( t r a n s . L . M a l u f ; S t i l l R i v e r , M a s s . : S t . B e d e ’ s , 1974) , 1 2 ;C a mb e , “ I nf l ue n ce d u C a nt i qu e ,” 1 3 .

19 P . J oüon, L e C a nt i qu e d e s c a nt i qu e s ( P a r i s: B e a u ch e s n e, 1909) , 3 3 1– 3 2; C a mb e ,“ In fl ue nc e d u C an ti qu e, ” 1 5. S ee a ls o B ra un , J e a n l e t h éol o g i en 2, 198 and J ea n l ethéologien 3.1, 9 3, 1 01 –2 ; F eu il le t, “ Sy mb ol is me d e l a c ol om be ,” 5 40 ; “ Ca nt iq ue e tl ’A po ca ly ps e, ” 3 34 n . 8 ; “ Re ch er ch e d u C hr is t, ” 1 06 ; Myster e d e l ’a mo ur d iv in, 23 1;and J e s u s a n d H i s M o t h e r , 1 2 . F o r a c r i t i q u e o f t h i s p o s i t i o n , s e e W i n a n d y , “ C a n t i q u e e t l eN T ,” 1 6 7, 1 7 2.

20 J e r o m e H . N e y r e y , “ J a c o b T r a d i t i o n s a n d t h e I n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f J o h n 4 : 1 0 – 2 6 , ” CBQ41 (1979) : 4 2 5 – 2 6 ; C a l u m M . C a r m i c h a e l , “ M a r r i a g e a n d t h e S a m a r i t a n W o m a n , ” NTS 26

(1980) : 3 3 2– 3 7.21 Braun, J e a n l e t h éo l og i en 3 . 1, 9 3– 95 ; M ar ie -Ém il e B oi sm ar d, “ Ae no n p rès deS a l e m: J e a n I I I .2 3 , ” RB 8 0 ( 1 97 3 ): 2 2 5; M a ri e -Ém i le B o is m ar d a n d A r na u d L a mo u il l e,

L’É v a n g i l e d e J e a n ( S y n o p s e d e s q u a t r e é v a n g il e s e n f r a n ça i s I I I ; P a r i s: C e r f , 1 9 7 9 ), 1 3 6 ;E . C . H os ky ns , T h e F o ur t h G o sp e l ( ed . F ra nc is N oe l D av ey ; L on do n: F ab er & F ab er ,1940) , 2 6 3 ; Ge r h a r d F r i e d r i c h , W e r i s t J e s u s ? D i e V e r k ü n d i g u n g d e s v i e r t e n E v a n g e l i s t e n ,d ar ge st ell t a n J oh 4 ,4 – 4 2 ( S t u t t ga r t : C a l we r, 1967) , 2 5. I n a gr ee me nt w it h B ra un a ndB o is m ar d a r e P h il i pp e D a go n et (S el on S ai nt J ea n: U ne f em me d e S am ar ie [ P a r is : C e r f ,1979] , 4 7 – 5 3 ) a n d M a r c G i r a r d ( “ J és u s e n S a ma r ie [ J ea n 4 , 1 – 4 2 ]: A n al y se d e s s t r uc t ur e ss t yl i st i qu e s e t d u p r oc ès d e s y m b ol i s at i o n ,” EgT 1 7 [ 1 98 6 ]: 3 0 2– 3 ).

22

Ai l e e n Gu i l d i n g , T h e F o u r t h G o s p e l a n d J e w i s h W o r s h i p : A S t u d y o f t h e R e l a t i o n o f S t. J oh n’ s G os pe l t o t he A nc ie nt J ew is h L ec ti on ar y S ys te m ( Ox f or d : Ox f o rd Un i v er s i tyPress, 1960) , 2 31 ; A nn ie J au be rt , “ La s ym bo li qu e d u p ui ts d e J ac ob : J ea n 4 ,1 2, ” i n

L’homme devant Dieu, I : 63 – 73 ; A p pr oc he s d e l ’É v an gi le d e J ea n ( P a ri s : S e ui l , 1 9 76 ) ,5 8 – 6 3 ; a n d “ L a s y mb o li q ue d e s f e mm e s d a ns l e s t r ad i ti o ns r e li g ie u se s : U n e r e co n si d ér-a ti on d e l ’Év a ng i le d e J e an , ” RUO 5 0 ( 19 80 ): 1 18 –1 9. N or ma nd R . B on ne au b ui ld s o nG ui ld in g’ s w or k ( “T he W om an a t t he W el l, J oh n 4 a nd G en es is 2 4, ” TBT 6 7 [ 1 97 3 ]:1 2 5 2 – 5 9 ) , a s d o e s E u g e n e D . S t o c k t o n ( “ T h e F o u r t h G o s p e l a n d t h e W o m a n , ” i n E s s a y s i n

Faith and Culture [ ed . N ei l B ro wn ; F ai th a nd C ul tu re 3 ; C at ho li c I ns ti tu te o f S yd ne y,1 9 7 9 ] , 1 4 2 ) . B i r g e r Ol s s o n d e v e l o p s J a u b e r t ’ s t h e s i s ( S t r u c t u r e a n d M e a n i n g i n t h e F o u r t h

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T h e s e c r i t i c s w e r e j o i n e d b y m a n y m o r e f o l l o w i n g t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f

R o b e rt A lte r ’s T he A r t o f B ib l ic a l N ar ra t iv e i n 1 9 8 1 . O n e o f t h e m a n y

c on tr ib ut io ns t o l it er ar y c ri ti ci sm o f t he B ib le p ut f or wa rd b y A lt er i n

t h at v o lu m e i s h i s h y p ot h e si s c o nc e rn i n g c o nv e n ti o na l t y pe - s ce n es . T oi l lu st ra te t h ei r f un ct i on , h e p re s en t s a d et ai l ed a na ly si s o f t he s o- c al l ed

“ be tr ot ha l t yp e- sc en e” i n w hi ch a m an o n a j ou rn ey m ee ts a maid e n a t

a w el l, w at er i s d ra wn a nd s ha re d, a nd a m ar ri ag e i s a rr an ge d.23

A s a p ro fe ss or o f H eb re w a nd C om pa ra ti ve L it er at ur e, A lt er n ev er

e x t e n d s h i s o b s e r v a t i o n s t o i n c l u d e t h e s t o r y o f J e s u s a n d t h e S a m a r i t a n

w om an . N ew T es t am en t s ch o la rs , h ow e ve r, h av e n ot h es i ta te d t o a va il

t he ms el ve s o f h is i ns ig ht s i n i nt er pr et in g t hi s p as sa ge . A ft er a ll , J oh n

4 :4 – 4 2 f ol lo ws t he s ta nd ar d f or ma t o f a “ be tr ot ha l t yp e- sc en e” : J es us

journeys to Samaria, meets a woman at a well, and engages her in a

c on ve rs at io n a bo ut w at er . A mo ng t he m an y w ho r ea d J oh n 4 :4 – 4 2 a s

a “ be t ro th al t y pe -s ce ne ” a re P . J os ep h C ah i ll , R . A la n C ul p ep p er , P au l

D . D uk e, a nd J ef fr ey L l oy d S ta le y.24

G o sp e l: A T e xt - Li n gu i st ic A n al y si s o f J o hn 2 : 1– 1 1 a n d 4 : 1– 4 2 [ t ra n s. J e an G r ay ; CB 6;L u n d : Gl e e r u p , 1974] , 1 6 9 – 7 3 , 2 5 6 – 5 7 ) . F o r m o r e g e n e r a l r e f e r e n c e s t o e c h o e s o f b i b l i c a l

w el l b et ro th al n ar ra ti ve s i n J oh n 4 , s ee J os ep h C ol so n, “ Le s n oc es d u C hr is t ( No uv ea uT e s t am e nt ) , ” i n Un r oi f it d es n oc es à s on f il s ( B r u ge s : De s c lée d e B ro uw er , 1961) , 1 34 – 35 ;J o h n B l i g h , “ J e s u s i n S a m a r i a , ” HeyJ 3 (1962) : 3 3 2 ; J . N . S a n d e r s , A C o m m e n t a r y o n t h eG o sp e l A c co r di n g t o S t . J o hn ( e d . B . A . M a s t i n ; B N T C ; L o n d o n : B l a c k , 1968), 1 40 – 4 1,1 44 ; J am es D . P ur vi s, “ Th e F ou rt h G os pe l a nd t he S am ar it an s, ” NovT 17 (1975) : 1 94 ;J . Du n c a n M . De r r e t t , “ T h e S a m a r i t a n W o m a n ’ s P i t c h e r , ” DRev 1 0 2 ( 1 9 8 4 ) : 2 5 2 – 6 1 .

23 R o b e rt Al t e r, T h e A r t o f B i b l i c a l N a r r a t i v e ( N e w Y o r k : B a s i c B o o k s , 1981) , 5 1 – 5 8 .A l t e r f o l l o w s t h e l e a d o f R o b e r t C . C u l l e y , w h o c o n c l u d e s t h a t t h e s i m i l a r i t i e s b e t w e e n t h eG e ne s is a n d E x od u s w e ll b e tr o th a l n a rr a ti v es s u gg e st t h e p o ss i bi l it y t h at “ a t r ad i ti o na le pi so de . . . h as b ee n e mp lo ye d i n a nd a da pt ed t o d if fe re nt c on te xt s” (S tu di es i n t he

S t r u ct u re o f H e b r ew N a r r at i v e [Philadelphia: Fortress, 1976] , 4 1– 4 3) .24 P . J os ep h C ah il l, “ Na rr at iv e A rt i n J oh n I V, ” R e l ig i o u s S t u d ie s B u l le t i n 2 (1982):4 1– 4 8; R . A la n C ul pe pp er , A na to my o f t he F ou rt h G os pe l: A S tu dy i n L it er ar y D es ig n(Philadelphia: Fortress, 1983) , 1 36 ; P au l D . D uk e, Irony in the Fourth Gospel ( At l an t a : J o h nKnox, 1985) , 1 0 1– 3 ; J e ff r ey L l oy d S t al e y, T h e P ri n t’ s F i rs t K i ss : A R h et o ri c al I n ve s ti -g at io n o f t he I mp li ed R ea de r i n t he F ou rt h G os pe l ( S B LD S 8 2 ; A t la n ta : S c ho l ar s P r es s ,1988) , 9 8 –1 0 2. F o r a d d i ti o na l r e f e re n ce s t o J o hn 4 : 4 – 4 2 a s a “ b et r ot h al t y pe - sc e ne , ” s e eW a l te r R e b e ll , G e me i nd e a l s G e ge n we l t: Z u r s o zi o lo g is c he n u n d d i da k ti s ch e n F u nk t io n d e s

Johannesevangelium ( F r a nk f u r t: L a n g , 1987) , 1 89 ; L yl e E sl in ge r, “ Th e W oo in g o f t heW o ma n a t t h e W e ll : J e su s , t h e R e ad e r, a n d R e ad e r- R es p on s e C r it i ci s m, ” Li t e ra t u r e a n d

Theology 1 /1 (1987) : 1 67 –8 3; r ep r. i n T he G os pe l o f J oh n a s L it er at ur e ( ed . M ar kW . G . S ti bb e; L ei de n: B ri ll , 1993) , 1 65 –8 2; P au l T ru di ng er , “ Of W om en , W el ls , W at er po tsa nd W in e! R ef le ct io ns o n J oh an ni ne T he me s ( Jo hn 2 :1 –1 1 a nd 4 :1 – 4 2) ,” S t . M a rk ’ s R e vi e w1 5 1 (1992) : 1 0 – 1 6 ; M a r k W . G . S t i b b e , John ( S h e f f i e l d : J S OT P r e s s , 1993) , 6 8 – 6 9 ; A d e l eR ei nh ar tz , “ Th e G o sp el o f J oh n, ” i n S e ar c hi n g t h e S c ri p tu r es : A F em i ni s t C o mm e nt a ry (ed.E l i s ab e t h S c h üs s le r F i or e nz a , e t a l .; N e w Y o rk : C r os s ro a d, 1994) , I I :5 7 2– 7 3; C . C l if t onB l ac k , “ R he t or ic a l C r it i ci s m a n d t h e N e w T e st a me n t, ” i n H e ar i ng t h e N e w T e st a me n t:Strategies for Interpretation ( e d . J o e l B . G r e e n ; G r a n d R a p i d s : E e r d m a n s , 1995) , 2 7 0 – 7 1 ;J oa n E . C oo k, “ We ll s, W om en , a nd F ai th ,” i n P ro c ee d in g s, E a st e rn G r ea t L a ke s a n d

Midwest Biblical Societies 17 (1997) : 1 1– 18 ; L ar ry P au l J on es , T he S ym bo l o f W at er i n



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T he m os t s us ta i ne d t re at me n t t o d at e o f J oh n’ s a ll us i on s t o m ar r ia ge

t e x t s i s t h e w o r k o f A n n R o b e r t s W i n s o r . S h e d e v o t e s h e r b o o k , A K i n g

Is Bound in the Tresses, t o t he n um er ou s e ch oe s o f t he S on g o f S on gs

she detect s i n Jo hn 12: 1–3 an d 20:1 , 11–18. Winso r cont ends thatJ o h n ’ s “ a l l u s i o n s t o t h e S on g f o l lo w t h e i n t er t ex t u al p r ac t ic e c h ar a ct e r-

i s t i c o f b i b l i c a l n a r r a t i v e . ”29 S h e f i n d s t h i s p r a c t i c e d e s c r i b e d b y M i c h e l

R if fa te rr e a nd Z iv a B en -P or at , s o s he u se s t he ir t he or ie s t o d ev el op a

m et h od f or i d en t if yin g a nd i nt er pr et in g a ll us io ns i n J oh n’ s a no in ti ng

a nd g ar de n s ce ne s.30 F ir st , W in so r n o te s t h e p re se nc e i n J oh n ’s n ar ra -

t iv e o f w ha t R if fa terr e t er ms “ un gr a mm at i ca li t ie s” ; t h at i s , d et a il s t h at

seem out o f p lace.31 Su ch d etai ls s ig na l a n a ll us io n t o a no th er t ex t

w her e t hey a re mo re a t h om e.32 N ex t, W in s or d et er mi n es t h e e vo ke d

t ex t b y e xa mi n in g i t s v er ba l a nd t he ma t ic s im i la ri ti es w it h t h e o ri gi n at -

i ng t ex t .33 O nc e t he e vo ke d t ex t i s r ec og ni ze d, i t c ha ng es t he c on te xt

of the origi nating t ex t such t hat al l el eme nts of bot h text s begi n to

interact.34

U si n g t hi s m et h od , W in s or f in ds t ha t t hi rt ee n w or ds o r i d ea s i n J oh n

1 2: 1– 3; 2 0: 1, 1 1– 18 c or re sp on d w it h a bo ut s ix ty v er ba l a nd t he ma ti c

p ara ll el s i n t he So ng o f S on gs . I n J oh n 1 2: 1– 2, f or e xa mple , J es us a tt ab le i s r emi ni sc en t o f t he re cl in in g k in g o f S on g 1 :1 2.35 T he t er m

pistikZ

B i n J o h n 1 2 : 3 m a y b e a c o r r u p t i o n o f tZ

B s t a k t Z

B, m e n t i o n e d

in So ng 1:1 3: “My belo ved is to me a bag of myrrh (tZ

B s ta kt Z

B)

t ha t l i es b et we en m y b re a st s. ”36 M ar y o f B et ha ny ’s w i pi n g J es us ’ f ee t

w i t h h e r h a i r i n J o h n 1 2 : 3 c a l l s t o m i n d t h e k i n g o f S o n g 7 : 5 ( 6 ) w h o i s

h el d c ap ti ve i n h is l ov er ’s t res se s, a lo ng w it h t he b at hed f ee t o f t he

a r o u s e d w o m a n i n S o n g 5 : 3 a n d t h e g r a c e f u l f e e t o f t h e q u e e n l y m a i d e n

r e c k o n e d a s 6 : 1 3 i n E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n s b u t a s 7 : 1 b y t h e M T a n d L X X . S i m i l a r n o t a t i o ne l se w he r e i n di c at e s s i mi la r v a ri a ti o ns o f v e rs e a n d c h ap t er n u mb e rs i n S o ng 6 – 7 .

29 An n R o b e r t s W i n s o r , A K i n g I s B o u n d i n t h e T r e s s e s : A l l u s i o n s t o t h e S o n g o f S o n g si n t h e F o ur t h G o sp e l ( S tu d ie s i n B i bl i ca l L i te r at u re 6 ; N e w Y o rk : L a ng , 1999) , 1 .

30 S e e M i c h el R i f f at e r re , S e m io t ic s o f P o et r y ( Adv a n c es i n S e m i ot i c s; B l o o mi n g t on :I n d i an a Un i v er s i ty P r e s s, 1978; Z i v a B e n - P o r a t , “ T h e P o e t i c s o f L i t e r a r y A l l u s i o n , ” PTL:

A Journal for Descriptive Poetics and Theory of Literature 1 (1976) : 1 0 5– 2 8.31 Winsor, A K i n g I s B o u n d , 8 ; R i ff a te r re , Semiotics, 5.32 Winsor, A K i n g I s B o u n d , 8 – 9 ; R i f f a t e rr e , Semiotics, 1 6 4 – 6 5 .33 Winsor, A K i n g I s B o u n d , 1 0 ; B e n- P or a t, “ P oe t ic s, ” 1 0 7– 8 .34 Winsor, A K i n g I s B o u n d , 1 1 ; B e n- P or a t, “ P oe t ic s, ” 1 1 6.35 Winsor, A K i n g I s B o u n d , 2 2 .36 Ibid., 2 3. T he i de a o f a p os si bl e c or ru pt io n o ri gi na te d w it h P au l- Lo ui s C ou ch ou d

( “N ot es d e c ri ti qu e v er ba le s ur S t. M ar c e t S t. M at th ie u, ” JTS 34 [1933] : 1 28 ). S ee a ls oR a ym on d E . B r ow n , T h e G o s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o J o h n I – X I I ( A B 2 9 ; G a rd e n C i ty : D o ub l e-day, 1966) , 2 20 – 21 .



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i n S o n g 7 : 1 ( 2 ) .37 T h e f r a g r a n t p e r f u m e o f J o h n 1 2 : 3 a l l u d e s t o t h e b a g

o f m y r r h i n S o n g 1 : 1 3 a n d t h e s c e n t o f S o n g 1 : 3 , 4 , a n d 1 2 – al o n g w i t h

t we nt y- e ig ht o t he r r ef er en ce s t o s ce nt i n t he S on g o f S on gs .38

S i m i l a r p a r a l l e l s l i n k t h e S o n g t o J o h n 2 0 : 1 , 1 1 – 1 8 . F o r i n s t a n c e , t h etomb (mnZmei

on) in Jo hn 2 0:1, 11 is remin iscen t o f th e chamber

(tami* eio n) in Song 1:4; 3 :4; and 8 :2, wh ile the ga rd en ( Jo hn 1 9: 41 )

e vo ke s t he S on g’ s s et ti ng ( 4: 12 , 1 6; 5 :1 ; 8 :1 3) .39 Mar y M a gd a l en e ’s

n oc tu rn al s ea rc h ( Jo hn 2 0: 1, 1 5) e ch oe s S on g 3 :1 – 4 .40 H er t wo e ni g-

ma ti c t ur ns i n J oh n 2 0: 14 , 1 6 a re u ng ra mm at ic al it ie s t hat sig nal an

a ll us i on t o t he t u rn i ng S hu la mm i te m ai d en o f S on g 6 : 13 ( 7: 1) .41 Jesus’

ad dre ss i n J oh n 2 0: 16 a ll ud es t o t he b el ov ed ’s v oi ce i n S on g 5 :2 , 6 ,

wh il e M ar y’ s t es ti mo ny i n J oh n 2 0: 18 r es emb les t he v oi ce f ro m t he

g ar de n i n S on g 8 :1 3.42 F in al ly , J es us ’ p ro hi bi ti on “ Do n ot h ol d m e”

( Jo h n 2 0: 1 7) m ar ks a r ef er en ce t o S on g 3 :4 .43

W i ns or c on cl ud es t h at t h e F ou rt h G os p el a ll ud es t o t he e nt i re S on g.

“ Un de rs ta n di n g t h e J oh an n in e a no i nt i ng a nd r es ur re c ti o n a pp ea ra nc e

n ar ra ti ve s r eq ui re s a g ra sp o f t he [ So ng o f S on gs ] a s w el l, ” s he w ri te s,

“f or t he Song i s a ll ud ed t o n ot j us t o nc e o r i nc id en tal ly , b ut c om pr e-

hensively.”

44

S h e s u p p o r t s t h i s a r g u m e n t b y p o i n t i n g o u t t h a t t h e F o u r t hG os pe l a nd t he S on g o f S on gs s ha re s im il ar t en de nc ie s a nd m ay h av e

e me rg ed f ro m s im il ar s oc ia l s et ti ng s. T he S on g s ta nd s “ as a s in gu la r

af fi rma ti on o f w om en ’s e xp er ie nc e an d au th or it y, ” a nd the Fo ur th

Go sp el s har es t he So ng ’s u nd er st an di ng o f g en der r ol es .45 Winsor

t he or iz es t h at “ th o se w ho c om p os ed , p re se rve d , a nd h an de d d ow n t he

s on gs t hat b eca me t he S on g” w er e w ome n.46 S he t he n s ug ge st s t ha t

J o h n ’ s a l l u s i o n s t o t h e S o n g m a y h a v e o r i g i n a t e d i n a n e a r l y s t r a t u m o f

t h e J o h a n n i n e c o m m u n i t y . S h e p o s t u l a t e s a g r o u p i n f l u e n c e d l a r g e l y b yw om en w ho v al ued t h e S on g’ s e mp ha si s o n h um an r el at io ns hi ps a nd

p h y s ica l s e n s atio n .47

M ak i ng s en se o f t he e ch oe s

T he e ch oe s h ear d b y O ri ge n a nd H ip po ly tu s h av e ce rt ai nl y n ot d ie d

a w a y . S c h o l a r s s t i l l d e t e c t t h e m , a l o n g w i t h a w h o l e t u m u l t o f r e v e r b e r a -

t io n s t h at t ho s e t wo v en er ab l e t h eo lo gi an s w ou l d n ev er h av e i ma gi n ed .

37 Winsor, A K i n g I s B o u n d , 2 0 – 2 2 , 2 3 – 2 5 .38 Ibid., 2 2 –2 3 , 2 5 –2 7 . S e e a l so D e rr e tt , “ M ir i am a n d t h e R e su r re c ti o n, ” 1 7 8.39 Winsor, A K i n g I s B o u n d , 4 1– 4 2.40 Ibid., 4 1– 4 3. 41 Ibid., 3 7 –3 9 . 42 Ibid., 4 3– 4 4.43 Ibid., 4 0 – 4 1 . 44 Ibid., 4 9 . 45 Ibid., 6 1 – 6 2 .46 Ibid., 6 5 . 47 Ibid., 8 9 –9 0 .



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T h e e c h o e s a r e r a r e l y h e a r d i n c o n c e r t , h o w e v e r . A l t h o u g h m a n y d e t e c t

r ef er en ce s t o m ar ri ag e t ex ts i n t h e F ou rt h G os pe l , f ew l i st en f or e ch oe s

i n mo re t ha n o ne o r t wo p as sag es . N o o ne h as y et at te mp te d t o m ak e

s en se o f p ro po sed a ll us io ns t o ma rr ia ge t ex ts i n J oh n 3 :2 9, 4 :4 – 4 2,1 2: 3, a nd 2 0: 1– 18 t og et he r, a nd i t h as n ev er b ee n s ug ge st ed t ha t J oh n

i nt er pr et s t h e m ar ri ag e t ex ts a s m es si a ni c p ro p he ci e s i n l i gh t o f P s. 4 5.

O nl y re ce nt ly h as a ny on e p ub li sh ed a n a cc ou nt o f t he f ac t t hat m or e

t ha n t wo o f t he se G os pe l p as sa ge s, n ot t o me nt io n t he Cana w ed d in g

s c e n e i n J o h n 2 : 1 – 1 1 , m a y r e f e r t o m a r r i a g e i n s o m e w a y .48

O ne s uc h s ch ol ar i s G il be rt e B ar il , w ho c on so li da te s p re vi ou s r e-

s e a r c h i n t o a b r i e f y e t b r o a d s u m m a r y o f m a r r i a g e i m a g e r y i n J o h n . S h e

d ev ot es f iv e p ag es o f h er b oo k, Th e F em in in e F ace o f t he P eo pl e o f

God , t o “ Th e e sp ou se d c om mu ni ty i n S t J oh n. ”49 R el yi ng o n t he w or k

o f B o i s m a r d , B a r i l c o n t e n d s t h a t J o h n t h e B a p t i s t ’ s s a y i n g i n J o h n 3 : 2 9

e st ab li sh es J es us a s “ th e b ri de gr oo m o f t he M es si an ic n up ti al s. ” A s

t he fr ie nd o f t he b ri de gr oo m, J oh n t he Ba pt i st p ur if i es t he e sp ou s ed

c om mu ni ty a nd p re se nt s t he m t o J es us .50 T he w ed di ng s ce ne i n J oh n

2 :1 –1 1 a ls o r emi nd s h er o f “ th e ete r na l n up t ia l f ea s t” c el eb ra t in g t he

u ni on o f J es us a nd h is f ol lo we rs .

51

B ar il a ff ir ms B ra un ’s t he or y t hatJ oh n 2 :1 –1 1 a nd J oh n 3 :2 9 a re l in ked t he ma ti ca ll y t o J oh n 4 :4 – 4 2.52

F ol l ow i ng J au be rt , s he i dent if ie s a ll us io ns t o G en . 2 9: 1– 20 a nd E xo d.

2 :1 5– 22 i n J oh n 4 :4 – 4 2.53 S he al so c onced es t ha t J oh n 2 0: 1– 18 m ay

e ch o S on g 3 :1 – 4 , a s p ro po se d b y C am be .54 T h e S a ma r i ta n w o ma n a n d

M a ry M a gd a l ene, B ar i l c o nc l ud e s , r e pr e se n t t h e b e li e vi n g c o mm u ni t y

u ni t ed t o C hr is t .55

48 A mo ng t ho se w ho b ri ef ly s ke tc h t he c on ne ct io ns b et we en J oh n 2 :1 –1 1, 3 :2 9, a nd4 :4 – 4 2 a re B li gh ( “J es us i n S am ar ia ,” 3 32 ), B ra un ( Jean le théologien 3.1, 9 3) , J oh nMa rsh (S ai nt J oh n [ W e s tm i ns t er P e li c an C o mm e nt a ri e s; P h il a de l ph i a: W e st m in s te r ,1968], 1 42 – 4 7, 1 96 , 21 4 – 16 ), J au ber t ( Approches, 6 1) , N ey re y ( “J ac ob T ra di ti on s, ”4 2 6) , C a rm i ch a el ( “ Ma r ri a ge a n d t h e S a ma r it a n W o ma n ,” 3 3 2– 3 3) , C a hi l l ( “ Na r ra t iv eA rt ,” 4 5) , D uk e ( Irony, 1 01 ), S ta le y ( Print’s First Kiss, 9 0 , 1 0 1 n . 3 5 ) , S t i b b e ( John, 6 1 ,6 9) , M an ns ( Lumier e d u j u d a ı̈s m e, 1 34 – 35 ), a nd J on es (S y mb o l o f W a te r , 9 2 ). W i na n dys e p a r a t e l y e v a l u a t e s p r o p o s e d a l l u s i o n s i n J o h n 3 : 2 9 ; 1 2 : 8 ; 2 0 : 1 – 1 8 ( “ C a n t i q u e e t l e N T , ”1 6 6 – 7 3 ) .

49

Gi l b er t e B a r i l, T he F em in in e F ac e o f t he P eo pl e o f G od : B ib li ca l S ym bo ls o f t heC hu rc h a s B ri de a nd M ot he r ( t ra n s . F l o r es t i ne Au d e tt e ; C o l l eg e v il l e , M i n n .: L i t u rg i c alPress, 1990) , 9 2 –9 7 .

50 Ibid., 9 3; c f. Ma ri e-Ém il e B oi sm ar d, “ L’ am i d e l ’ép ou x ( Jo ., I II , 2 9) ,” i n A lar e nc o nt r e d e D i eu ( P a r i s: M a p p us , 1961) , 2 8 9– 9 5.

51 Baril, F e m in i n e F a c e, 9 3 .52 Ibid.; c f. B ra un , Jean le théologien 3.1, 9 3 .53 Baril, F e m in i n e F a c e, 9 4 – 9 5 ; c f . J a u b e r t , Approches, 6 1 .54 Baril, F e m in i n e F a c e, 9 6 – 9 7; c f . C a mb e , “ I n f lu e nc e d u C a nt i qu e ,” 1 7 –1 9 .55 Baril, F e m in i n e F a c e, 9 7 .



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S ch ne id er s a ls o s ke tc he s t he d ev el op me nt o f a n up ti al t he me i n t he

F ou rt h G os pe l. I n h er b oo k, W ri tt en T ha t Y ou M ay B el ie ve, she com-

p il es s om e o f h er p re vi ou s w or k o n t he C an a m ir ac le , t he b ri de gr oo m

s ay in g, t he S am ar it an s to ry , a nd t he r es ur re ct io n n ar ra ti ve . S he s ee sJ oh n 2 :1 –1 1 a s t he i nt ro du ct io n o f J es us a s t he t ru e B ri de gr oo m w ho

s up pl ie s t he w in e f or t he w ed di ng f ea st . I n J oh n 3 :2 9, J esus i s agai n

i d e n t i f i e d a s a B r i d e g r o o m w h o s e b r i d e i s t h e N e w I s r a e l .56 Schneiders

affirms Cahil l’ s theo ry t hat J ohn 4 :4 – 42 i s a “t ype-st or y.”57 The

S am ar it a n w om an r ep re se nt s h er p eo pl e , “ wo o[ ed ] . . . t o f ull covenant

fi de li ty i n t he N ew I sr ae l b y J es us , t he n ew B ri de gro om. ”58 Finally,

S ch ne id er s a rg ue s t ha t J oh n 2 0: 1– 18 e ch oe s v ar io us s ce ne s f ro m t he

So ng o f So ng s. M ar y M ag da len e s ear ch es fo r J es us ( Jo hn 2 0: 1– 2,

1 1– 18 ) j us t a s t he S on g’ s b ri de s ea rc he s f or h er m is si ng m an ( 3: 1– 4 ;

5 :1 –8 ); f ir st t he B el ov ed D is ci pl e, t he n M ar y l oo k (paraku * pto) i nto

t h e t o m b ( J o h n 2 0 : 5 , 1 1 ) j u s t a s t h e S o n g ’ s b e l o v e d l o o k s ( paraku * pto)

i nt o t he b ri de ’s c ha mb er ( So ng 2 :9 ); J es us a nd M ar y p ro no un ce e ac h

o th er ’s n am es ( Jo hn 2 0: 1 6) j us t a s t he S on g’ s l o ve rs c la im o ne a no t he r

(S on g 2 :1 6) ; t he e nt ire s ce ne t ak es p la ce i n a g ard en ( Jo hn 1 9: 41 ) a s

d o e s m u c h o f t h e S o n g ( e . g . S o n g 4 : 1 2 ) . S i n c e f i r s t - c e n t u r y i n t e r p r e t e r su nd er st oo d t he S on g o f S on gs t o c el eb ra te t he c ov en an t b et we en G od

a nd I sr ae l, J oh n’ s M ar y M ag da le ne s ym bo li ze s “ th e J ohann i ne C om -

m un it y a s t he N ew I sr ae l, s po us e o f t he N ew C ov en an t. ”59 E ch oe s o f

the Song o f So ngs in Jo hn 20 t hus form t he culminat ion of John’s

nupti al theme, ill ustrati ng th e New Co venant between Jesus and

b e li e ve r s m a de p o ss i b le b y t h e r e su r re c t io n .60

B ar il ’s a nd S ch nei der s’ wo rk i s s ug ges ti ve , b ut t oo c ur so ry t o b e

c o n v i n c i n g . T h i s i s b e c a u s e e a c h o f t h e m s t u d i e s J o h n ’ s m a r r i a g e m o t i f as p art o f a l ar ge r p ro je ct . A de li ne Fe hr ib ac h d is cu ss es t he m ot if i n

m or e d et ai l. S he o ff er s a n e xt e ns iv e a na l ys i s o f J oh n’ s f em al e c ha ra c-

t ers i n h er b oo k T he W om en i n t he L if e o f t he B ri de gr oo m. F e hr i b ac h

asserts that “t he i mpl ied aut hor o f t he Fo urt h Gos pel drew on t he

lit erary and cu ltur al con ven tion s of the day t o po rtray t he female

56

Schneiders, W ri tt en T ha t Y ou M ay B el ie ve, 3 5, 1 35 . S ee a ls o h er “ Re su rr ec ti onN a rr a ti ve , ” I : 35 9 a n d T h e R ev el at or y T ex t: I nt er pr et in g t he N ew T es ta me nt a s S ac re d Scripture ( 2 n d e d n . ; C o l l e g e v il l e, M i n n .: L i t u rg i c a l P r e s s, 1999) , 1 8 7 .

57 Schneiders, W r i t t e n T h a t Y o u M a y B e l i e v e, 1 3 5 – 3 6 , 1 3 8 ; c f . C a h i l l , “ N a r r a t i v e A r t , ”4 1 – 4 8 . S e e a l so S c hn e id e rs , “ R es u rr e ct io n N a rr a ti v e, ” I : 36 0 a n d R e v e l at o r y Te x t , 1 8 7 .

58 Schneiders, W r it t en T h at Y o u M a y B e li e ve, 1 4 1 .59 S c hn e id e rs , “ R es u rr e ct i on N a rr a ti v e, ” I : 33 8 . S e e a l so h e r “ E as t er J e su s ,” 1 6 1 a n d

W r it t en T h at Y o u M a y B e li e ve, 3 5 .60 Schneiders, W r it t en T h at Y o u M a y B e li e ve, 3 5 , 1 9 5– 9 9. S e e a l so h e r “ R es u rr e ct i on

N a rr a ti ve , ” I : 33 8 , 3 9 4 – 4 3 9 a n d “ E as t er J e su s ,” 1 6 1.



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ch aract ers i n su ch a way as to have th em s u p p or t t h e c h ar a ct e r iz a ti o n

o f J es us a s t h e m es s ia ni c b ri de gr o om .”61 T he “ li t er ar y c on ve n ti o ns o f

t he d ay ” i nclud e c ha ra ct er t y pe s , t yp e -s ce ne s, a nd t ec hn iq u es o f c ha r -

acterization.62

T h e s e c a n b e f o u n d f i r s t o f a l l i n t h e H e b r e w B i b l e , “ o n eo f t he m os t i mp or ta nt l it er ar y r es ou rc es f or und e r st a nd i n g t h e F o ur t h

G os pe l” a nd t he s o ur ce f or s ev er al a ll u si on s.63 I m p o r ta n t b a c k g ro u n d

l i te ra tu re a ls o i n cl u de s H el l en i st i c- Je wi s h w ri t in g s s uc h a s t he b o ok s

o f J ud it h an d Su sa nn a, a s we ll as p op ul ar G re co -R oma n n ov el s l ik e

Xenophon’s A n E p h e s i a n T a l e a n d C h a r iton ’ s C h a e r e a s a n d C a l l i r h o e.

Fe hr ib ac h a ls o r ef ers t o c ul tu ral co nv en ti on s, l ik e t he o per at io n o f

honor and sham e i n g end er rel at ions and th e social s ta tu s o f f ir st -

c e n t u r y w o m e n , a s r e c o n s t r u c t e d b y m o d e r n s c h o l a r s .64 S h e a r g u e s t h a t

J oh n u se s t he se l it er ar y a nd c ul tu ra l c on ve nt io ns t o p or tr ay J es us a s

t he m es si an ic b ri de gr oo m. T he m ot he r o f J es us a ct s a s t he “ mo th er o f

a n i mp or ta nt s on ” a nd M ar th a o f B et ha ny f un ct io ns a s t he m es si an ic

b ri de gr oo m ’s s is t er -i n- la w . T h e S am ar it a n w om an , M ar y o f Beth a n y ,

a nd M ar y M ag da le ne a re a ll d ep ic te d a s h is b et ro th ed o r b ri de .65

In s up po rt o f h er a rg ume nt a bo ut t he S ama ri ta n w om an , M ar y o f

B e t h a n y , a n d M a r y M a g d a l e n e , F e h r i b a c h m e n t i o n s a l l u s i o n s t o b i b l i c a lt ex ts a bo ut m ar ri ag e . S he s h ow s h ow t h e a ll u si on s i nd i ca te t h e l i te ra ry

a n d e x eg e ti c al c o nv e n ti o n s t h at J o hn u s es t o p o rt r ay f e ma l e c h ar a ct e rs .

A cc or di ng t o F eh r ib ac h, J oh n 4 :4 – 4 2 a ll ud es t o t he “ be tr ot ha l t yp e-

s c e n e ” c o n v e n tio n .66 J e s u s ’ s y m b o l i c b e t r oth a l t o t h e S a m a r i t a n w o m a n

i s f or es ha do we d b y J oh n 2 :1 –1 1 a nd 3 :2 9.67 A n a ll us io n t o S on g 1 :1 2

i n J o h n 1 2 : 3 l i k e n s M a r y o f B e t h a ny t o t h e S o n g ’ s b r i d e , c o n v e n t i o n a l l y

u nd er st oo d a s t he p eo pl e o f G od .68 A n a l l u s i o n t o S o n g 3 : 1 – 4 i n J o h n

2 0: 1– 18 a ll ow s M ar y M ag da le ne t o a ss um e th e c on ve nt io na l r ol e o f t h e w o m a n i n s e a r c h o f h e r d e a d l o v e r ’ s b o d y .69 J o hn ’ s f e ma l e c h ar a c-

t er s b ec om e p ar ad ig ms o f f ai th b ec au se t he y r ep re se nt th e b el i ev i ng

c om mu ni ty , a s d o c ha ra ct er s l ik e J ud it h a nd S us an na .70 A pa rt f ro m

t he ir r ep re se nt at iv e f un ct io n, h ow ev er , t he y a re m ar gi na li ze d. T he y

suffer t he fate of all w om en i n t he p at ri ar ch al s oc ie ty t ha t p ro du ce d

t he F ou rt h G os pe l.71 F eh ri ba ch l am en ts t he f ac t t ha t h er h is to ri ca l-

li terary analysi s offers so l itt le hope to her femi nist read ers . She

61 Adeline Fehribach, T h e W o m e n i n t h e L i f e o f t h e B r i d e g r o o m : A F e m i n i s t H i s t o r i c a l - Literary Analysis of the Female Characters in the Fourth Gospel ( C o l l e g ev i l le , M i n n .:

Liturgical Press, 1998) , 2 0 .62 Ibid., 7 – 8 . 63 Ibid., 9 – 1 0 . 64 Ibid., 1 0 – 1 7 .65 Ibid., 2 0 . 66 Ibid., 4 9 –5 2 . 67 Ibid., 4 7– 49 .68 Ibid., 9 3 . 69 Ibid., 1 50 , 1 60 . 70 Ibid., 1 06 – 7, 1 75 –7 8.71 Ibid., 3 2– 4 2, 6 9– 79 , 1 07 –1 1, 1 40 – 4 1.



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s ug ge st s t h at a r ea d er -r es p on s e a pp ro ac h o r a p er fo rm at i ve f ai t h p er s-

p e ct i v e m i gh t e n ab l e i n t er p re t ers t o v ie w J oh n’ s f em al e c ha ra ct er s a s

a s s e rtiv e , c o u r a g eo u s d is c ip les .72

A l t h o u g h F e h r i b a c h p r o v i d e s a d e t a i l e d t r e a t m e n t o f m a r r i a g e t h e m e si n J oh n 4 :4 – 4 2, 1 2: 1– 8, a nd 2 0: 1– 18 , h er c hi ef c on ce rn i s w it h J oh n’ s

s im il ar it ie s t o p op ul ar G re co -R om an n ov el s a nd c on fo rm it y t o f ir st -

c e n t u r y c u l t u r a l c o n v e n t i o n s . S h e p a y s s c a n t a t t e n t i o n ( f e w e r t h a n s e v e n

p ag es ) t o J oh n’ s s cr ip tu ra l a ll us i on s. F or t he m os t s us t ai n ed t re at m en t

t o d at e o f J oh n’ s a ll us io ns t o b ib li ca l t ex ts a bo ut m ar ri ag e, w e mu st

r ef er t o W in so r’ s b oo k, A King Is Bound in the Tr ess es.73 Winsor

c on ce nt ra te s h ea vi ly o n t he ir n at ur e a nd s ig ni fi ca nc e – a t l ea st w it h

r e s p e c t t o a l l u s i o n s t o t h e S o n g o f S o n g s i n J o h n 1 2 a n d 2 0 . S h e a p p l i e s

t he t h eo ri e s o f R if fa te rr e a nd B en - Po ra t i n i d en t if yi ng a nd i nt er p re ti ng

t he m, a nd s he s ug ge st s h ow t he y m ig ht h av e f ou nd t he ir w ay i nt o t he

narrative.

W i ns or ’s a ns we r s f ai l t o s at i sf y, h o we ve r . F or o ne t hi n g, h er m et h od

d oe s n ot g en er at e c on si st en tl y c om pe ll in g c on cl us io ns . S om e o f h er

pro posed allu si on s are based onl y o n a remot e si mi lar ity . Joh n’s

mnZmei

on s ca rc el y r es em b le s t he S on g ’s tami* eion, J oh n’ s r ef er en cet o J es u s’ f ee t h ar dl y e ch oe s t he S on g ’s d es cr i pt io n s o f f em al e f ee t, a nd

t he s up p os ed c or ru p ti o n o f tZ

B s ta kt Z

B to pistikZ

B i s p ur e s pe cu l a-

t io n. F ur th er mo re , a ll b ut s ix o f h er p ro po se d a ll us iv e l in ks c on si st o f

o nl y o n e v er ba l s im i la ri t y, s uc h a s “ fe et ” o r “ sc en t .” T h is w ea k en s h er

a rg um en t t ha t J oh n 1 2: 1– 3 a nd 2 0: 1, 1 1– 18 a ll ud e t o t he e nt ir e S on g

o f So ng s. T hi rt ee n J oh an ni ne w or ds o r i de as w it h o nl y a bo ut s ix ty

p ar al le ls i n t he S on g ( in cl ud in g t hi rt y- on e r ef er en ce s t o s ce nt a lo ne )

h a r d l y c o n s t i t u t e a n a l l u s i o n t o a p o e m o f n e a r l y t w o t h o u s a n d w o r d s ( i nG re ek ). P ut a no t he r w ay , J oh n ’s a no i nt i ng a nd r es u rr ec ti on s ce ne s d o

not readily evoke the Son g as a wh ole, with its pasto ra l setti ngs,

w e d d i n g p r o c e s s i o n s , a n d m e t a p h o r i c a l d e s c r i p t i o n s o f t h e h u m a n b o d y .

Scat tered v erbal an d themati c si mi lari ti es al on g with a coupl e of

“ u ng r am m at i ca l i ti e s ” p r ov e t o b e i n s uf f ic i en t i n di c a to r s. M o re c r it e ri a

a r e n e ed e d.

M o r e c r i t e r i a a r e p r o v i d e d b y R i c h a r d B . H a y s . I n h i s b o o k E c h o e s o f

S cr ip tu re i n t he L et te rs o f P au l, H ay s l i st s s ev en g ui d el i ne s f or i d en t i-

f yi ng a nd i nt er pr et in g P au l’ s a ll us io ns t o S cr ip tu re .74 L ik e W in s or ,

72 Ibid., 1 7 5– 8 4.73 F or a s um ma ry o f W in so r’ s a rg um en t, s ee a bo ve , p p. 9 – 10 .74 R ic ha rd B . H ay s, E ch oe s o f S cr ip tu re i n t he L et te rs o f P au l ( Ne w H av en : Y al e

Un i v er s it y P r e ss , 1989) , 2 9 –3 2 .



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H ay s c on si de rs v er ba l p ar al le ls b et we en t he o ri gi na ti ng t ex t a nd t he

ev oked text as well as the sig n ificance of th e evoked tex t for the

a ll ud in g a ut ho r. U nl ik e W in so r, H ay s a ls o s tr es se s t he f re qu en cy o f

v erb al p ar al le ls a nd t he r het or ic al e mp has is l ai d o n t he a ll us io n. I nad di ti on , Ha ys ’ g ui del in es a ss es s t he i mp ac t o f t he a ll us io n o n t he

o ri gi n at i ng t ex t, a cc ou n t f or t h e p l au si b il i ty o f t he a ll u si on i n i t s h is t or -

i ca l c on te xt , a nd e va lu at e i ts r ec ep ti on b y a c on te mp or ar y a ud ie nc e.

A lt ho ug h t he y w er e c om pi le d f or u nd er st an di ng a ll us io ns i n P au l’ s

e pi st le s, t he y c an b e e as il y a da pt ed f or u se w it h t he F ou rt h G os pe l.

In this stu d y, I adapt and then adopt Hays’ criteria in ord er to

i nv es ti ga te p os si bl e a ll us io ns t o m ar ri ag e t ex ts i n J oh n t he B ap ti st ’s

b ri de gr oo m s ay i ng ( Jo hn 3 :2 9 ), t he S am ar i ta n s to ry ( Jo hn 4 : 4 – 4 2) , t he

a no in ti ng s ce ne ( 12 :1 –8 ), a nd t he r es ur re ct io n a pp ea ra nc e t o M ar y

M ag da le ne ( 20 :1 –1 8) . M y f ir st c on ce rn i s w it h J oh n’ s a ll us io ns a s a n

a c t o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n a n i m p l i e d a u t h o r a n d i m p l i e d a u d i e n c e .

A s to ry ’s i mp li ed a ut ho r i s t he au th or ’s p er so na as p ro je ct ed i n t he

t ex t. I ts i mp li ed au di en ce co ns is ts o f t ho se ex pec te d t o u nd er st an d

t h e stor y, i nc lu d in g i t s d ir e ct d i sc ou rs e a s w el l a s i t s i mp li ci t c om me n -

tary.

75

S in ce b ot h i mp li ed a ut ho r a nd i mp li ed a ud ie nc e m us t b e c on -s tr uc te d p ri mar il y o n t he b as is o f e vi de nc e fr om t he t ex t, I f oc us m y

i ni t ia l i n ve st ig at i on o n t h e t ex t o f t h e F ou rt h G os p el w it h ou t c on si d er -

i ng o th er l it er ar y o r h is to ri ca l s ou rc es . W he n I a pp ly H ay s’ c ri te ri a t o

J oh n’ s n ar ra ti ve , f ou r a ll us io ns a re c on fi rm ed : J er . 3 3: 10 – 11 i n J oh n

3 :2 9, G en . 2 9: 1– 20 i n J oh n 4 :4 – 4 2, So ng 1 :1 2 i n J oh n 1 2: 3, a nd So ng

3 :1 – 4 i n J oh n 2 0: 1– 18 .

A l it era ry a na ly si s i n a cc or da nc e w it h H ay s’ c ri te ri a s ho ws t ha t

J oh n’ s i mp li ed a ut ho r u se s e ac h a ll us io n t o d ev el op a m ar ri ag e m et a-p ho r d es cr i bi n g J es us a s t he M es s ia h a nd d ep i ct i ng J es us ’ r el at i on s hi p

w it h t he b el ie vi ng c om mu ni ty . I n J oh n 3 :2 2– 30 , J er . 3 3: 10 – 11 h el ps

t o c ha ra ct er iz e J es us a s a b ri de gr oo m- Me ss ia h w ho i ns pi re s j oy a nd

w ho se p ro gen y w il l i ncr eas e. T he a ll us io n t o G en . 2 9: 1– 20 i n J oh n

4:4 – 42 ill us trates t he orig in of th is famil y o f fait h. Her e, Jesus is

p or tr ay ed a s a b ri de gr oo m g re at er t ha n J ac ob w ho o ff er s e te rn al l if e,

a nd t he S am ar it an w om an a s t he b ri de w ho se t es ti mo ny c au se s m an y

o f h er fe ll ow -ci ti ze ns t o b el iev e. I n J oh n 1 2: 1– 8, S on g 1 :1 2 d ep ic ts

75 T he c on ce pt o f i mp li ed a ut ho r a nd a ud ie nc e i s b or ro we d f ro m W ay ne B oo th (The Rhetoric of Fiction [ C hi c a g o: Un i v e rs i t y o f C h i c ag o P r e s s, 1961] , 7 0 – 7 1 ), a s e la bo ra te d

b y S ey mo ur C ha tm an (S to ry a nd D is co ur se : N ar ra ti ve S tr uc tu re i n F ic ti on a nd F il m[ I th a ca , N . Y. : C o rn e ll U n iv e rs i ty P r es s , 1978] , 1 48 –5 1, 2 67 ) a nd C ul pe pp er ( Anatomy,6 – 8) . I u se t he t er m “ im pl ie d a ud ie nc e” i ns te ad o f “ im pl ie d r ea de r” b ec au se J oh n a dd re ss esa g r o u p o f p e o p l e , a s i n d i c a t e d b y t h e s e c o n d - p e r s o n p l u r a l p r o n o u n i n J o h n 2 0 : 3 1 .



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J es us as t he k in g o n t he c ou ch e ve n a s h e co nt emp la tes h is i mmi ne nt

cr uc if ix io n. F in al ly , t he s ea rc h o f t he b ri de fo r h er b el ov ed i n So ng

3 :1 – 4 p ro v id es a f or ma t f or M ar y M ag da l en e’ s r ec o gn i ti o n o f t he r is en

a n d a s ce n d in g L o rd .T hi s i nt er pr et at io n r ai se s a q ue st io n a dd re ss ed b y m an y p re vi ou s

e xe ge te s: d oe s J oh n’ s c as ti ng f em al e c ha ra ct er s i n t he r ol e o f b ri de s

i nd i ca te t ha t t h ey a re r ep re se n ta t iv e f ig u re s? S p ec if ic al ly , d o t he b ri d e

of John 3:29, t he Sa mari tan woman, Mary of Bethan y, and Mary

M a g d a l e n e s y m b o l i z e t h e p e o p l e o f G o d ?76 T h i s i s s u e c a n b e a d d r e s s e d

w it h t he h el p o f s om e r ec en tl y d ev el op ed g ui de li ne s f or i de nt if yi ng

a nd i nt er pr et in g J oh n’ s s ym bo ls . C ra ig R . K oe st er d ev ot es a n e nt ir e

c ha pt er o f h is b oo k, S ym bo li s m i n t he F o ur t h G os p el, t o s ym bo li c a nd

r e p r es e n ta tiv e f ig u r es .77 A cc or di ng t o K oe st e r, m an y o f J oh n ’s c ha ra c-

t er s c an f un ct io n n ot o nl y a s i nd iv id ua ls i n t he ir o wn r ig ht b ut a ls o a s

r e pr e se n ta t i ve s o f p a rt i c ul a r g r ou p s o f p e op l e. E s pe c ia l l y p e rt i n en t a r e

K oe st er ’s i ns ig ht s i nt o t ec hn iq ue s b y w hi ch J oh n i mp ar ts s ym bo li c

v al u e. F or e xa mp l e, J oh n m i gh t d ir ec tl y i d en t if y i nd i vi d ua l c ha ra ct er s

wi th a c er ta in g ro up , en do w t he m w it h t he d is ti nc ti ve t ra it s o f t hat

g ro u p, o r r ef er t o t h em w it h p l ur al p ro n ou n s.

78

A s I i nv es ti ga te J oh n’ s a ll us io ns t o m ar ri ag e t ex ts , t he n, I a ls o e x-

p lo re h ow t he G os pe l i nc or po ra te s t he se a nd o th er t ec hn iq ue s t o l en d

v ar io us d eg re es o f r ep re se nt at iv e v al ue t o t he w om en w ho a ss um e t he

rol e of the bri de. In t he proces s, I am careful to d isti ngui sh among

d if fer en t au di en ce s. T her e i s n o ex pl ic it e vi de nc e i n t he G os pe l t o

s ug ge st t ha t i ts i mp li ed a ud ien ce wo ul d h av e u nd er st oo d e it he r t he

b r i d e o f J o h n 3 : 2 9 o r M a r y o f B e t h a n y i n J o h n 1 2 : 1 – 8 a s a r e p r e s e n t a -

t iv e f ig ur e. T her e i s, h ow ev er , s om e i nd ic at io n t ha t t he Sa ma ri tanwo ma n s ym bo li ze s t he Sa mar it an p eo pl e an d t hat M ar y M ag da lene

e xe mp li fi es J es us ’ f ol lo we rs a s d es cr ib ed e ls ew he re i n t he G os pe l.79

M o re o ve r , h i s to r i ca l e v id e nc e s h ow s t h a t J o h n’ s o r i gi n a l a u di e nc e m a y

h av e a tt ri bu te d e ve n m or e r ep re se nt at iv e v al ue t o t he se f ou r f em al e

76 S ch ol ar s w ho r ai se t hi s q ue st io n i nc lu de B ra un ( Jean le théologien 3.1, 9 3– 95 ),

B o is m ar d ( “ Ae n on p r e`

s d e S ale m, ” 2 25 ), G ir ar d ( “J e´

s us e n S am ar ie ,” 3 04 ), N ey re y( “ Ja c ob T r ad i ti o ns ,” 4 2 5– 2 6) , J a ub e rt ( “ Sy m bo l iq u e d u p u it s ,” 6 3 –7 3 a n d “ S ym b ol i qu ed e s f e m m e s , ” 1 1 8 – 1 9 ) , C a m b e ( “ I n f l u e n c e d u C a n t i q u e , ” 2 5 ) , a n d F e u i l l e t ( “ R e c h e r c h e d uC h ri s t, ” 1 0 3– 7 a n d Myster e d e l ’a mo ur d iv in, 2 31 ), a s w el l a s F eh ri ba ch , S ch ne id er s,B a ri l , a n d O r ig e n.

77 C r ai g R . K o es t er , S ym b ol i sm i n t h e F o ur t h G o sp e l (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1995),32–73.

78 Ibid., 3 5 –3 6 .79 K oe st er r ea ch es si mi la r co nc lu sio ns a bo ut th e S am ari ta n w om an a nd Ma ry

M a g d al e n e ( i b id . , 4 8 – 5 1, 6 9 – 7 0) .



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c ha ra ct er s – r ep re se nt at iv e v al ue a ls o r ec og ni ze d b y c on te mp or ar y

au di en ce s f ami li ar wi th c on ve nt io ns w her eb y b ri des r ep res en t t he

p eo pl e o f G od .

T hi s c al l s i nt o q ue st i on W in s or ’s p ro po s al t h at t h e G os p el a ll u de s t ot he So ng o f So ng s b eca us e t he J oh an ni ne t ra di ti on v al ue s w om en ’s

e x p e r i e n c e . I n l i g h t o f t h e w o m e n ’ s r o l e s a s b r i d e s , i t s e e m s m o r e l i k e l y

t ha t t he s ig ni fi ca nc e o f J oh n’ s a ll us io ns t o m ar ri ag e t ex ts l ie s i n t he ir

co nt ri bu ti on t o s om e o th er as pe ct o f J oh n’s m es sa ge . I n t hi s s tu dy ,

I i nv es ti gat e t he p os si bi li ty t hat t he y h el p t o a dv an ce t he G os pe l’ s

c en tr al a im , “ th at y ou m ay c om e t o b el ie ve t ha t J es us i s t he M es si ah ,

the Son of Go d, and th at t hr ou gh b el ie vi ng y ou m ay h av e l ife i n h is

n a me ” ( J oh n 2 0 :3 1 ).80

T ha t W in so r n ev er c on si d er s t hi s p os si b il i ty i s p er ha ps u nd er s ta nd -

a bl e, s in ce J oh n’ s c on ce rn w it h b el ie f t ha t J es us i s t he M es si ah i s n ot

r ea di ly a pp are nt e it her i n t he a no in ti ng s to ry o r i n t he r es ur re ct io n

a p p e a r a n c e ( t h e t w o p

Bridegroom in the 4th Gospel

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Transcript of Bridegroom in the 4th Gospel