Ethnic Reading of ‘The Jews’ in John 8:31–59 Through Durkheimian and Barthian Sociological Lenses

Abstract

This study undertakes an ethnic analysis of ‘the Jews’ in John 8:31−59, using Durkheimian and Barthian sociological lenses. What social roles are associated with ‘the Jews’ ethnic markers, and how do they shape their collective behavior or distinguish them from Jesus? Informed by Emile Durkheim’s functionalist approach to social facts and Frederick Barth’s theory of social organization and ethnic boundaries, the paper proposes that in John 8:31−59, the ethnic criteria of ‘the Jews’ operate both as external forces uniting them as a collective and as norms dictating their hostile behavior against Jesus. These markers create boundaries between Jesus and ‘the Jews,’ shaping their interactions within the narrative. Furthermore, by presenting these ethnic indicators as social facts and ethnic boundaries, the study portrays ‘the Jews’ as a social entity beyond mere ethnicity. The paper enhances understanding of identity formation and intergroup dynamics globally.