ζωή in Johannine Gospel and Its Implications for Gender Relation in African Christianity

Abstract

This paper focuses on ζωή in the Johannine Gospel and its implications for gender relations in African Christianity. The Gospel of John is outstanding among the four New Testament gospels. Its emphasis differs significantly from those of the Synoptic Gospels. The perception of life is a recurrent issue in every human community. It is existential that attracts the interests of every gender in society. The sensitivity of gender issues, especially inequality, is a global concern. Differences between people based on gender are known as gender inequality, and it has been characterized differently in various researches. Gender inequality is an accumulation of various interrelated social issues. The researcher argues that God’s life in people is inclusive and encompasses. This implies that life is inclusive and that God owns it. Gender inequality must not be allowed to disrupt the African church’s unity and God's purpose for her. The researcher used the historical-grammatical method to analyze John 5:24; 10:10 and 1 John 5:12. The findings reveal that the Johannine perspective of life is genderless, for, in Christ, there is no Greek or Gentile, no male or female. Again, it presents eschatological dimensions of life, which differ from the Synoptic, and are not mainly to a specific gender. Therefore, the life Christ gives is for all, whether great or small and male or female, and none should be hindered from hearing and receiving the gospel of first importance (ICor.15:3-4).