Jesus as Mirrored in John: The Genius in the New Testament

Abstract

James Charlesworth needs little introduction to those who have been involved in biblical studies, scholarship concerning Second Temple Judaism, and the archaeological finds of the last 50 years. In fact, his research has often dictated the direction of those guilds. In this dense volume, Charlesworth brings together several essays centered around his writing on John’s Gospel.The volume begins with a preface detailing five well-known characteristics of the Gospel of John, followed by nine new insights from recent archaeological discoveries and research. The well-known characteristics include the normal talking points of the Johannine school, multiple editions of the Fourth Gospel, and John’s knowledge of the architecture and topography of Jerusalem. The subject of his “new insights” section permeate the chapters that follow. These include the historical veracity of the Pool of Bethzatha and Siloam, Jesus’s Last Supper and trial, John’s fondness for Samaritans, the dating of John’s Gospel, and the study of the historical Jesus from the perspective of John.The 18 chapters in this volume are cataloged under four main headings. The main headings are: (1) the origin, evolution, and settings of the Gospel of John; (2) John and the historical Jesus; (3) the Gospel of John and other sacred literature; and (4) Symbolic language in the Gospel of John. Charlesworth’s intention is to argue five different theses. First, John is not a late composition. Second, John is not dependent on the Synoptic Gospels. Third, John’s Gospel went through many editions spanning 50 or so years. Fourth, John is not a Gnostic text. Fifth, John is not anti-Jewish. The volume includes several pictures that catalog Charlesworth’s travels and archaeological digs. These pictures are informative and endearing. To use pictures for pedagogical reasons is quite different from being part of the initial discovery and producing the first digital images. Charlesworth has had the privilege of being in the latter category.The conclusion summarizes the essays with an element of charm. Charlesworth switches to the first person in order to speak more causally about his own convictions concerning the breadth of scholarship collected in the preceding chapters. The end matter includes a bibliography for those seeking more study and multiple indexes for ease of use.Charlesworth falls into a category of scholars that have an extensive publishing career. The value in a volume of this nature is bringing together all of this research concerning one topic by one phenomenal scholar. There are essays for everyone who is interested in the continuing research of the Fourth Gospel. Particularly illuminating is the in-depth analysis of archaeological research that validates historical details of the Fourth Gospel. Students of this Gospel will find an intriguing resource on pp. 8–12, where Charlesworth presents 45 new and potentially fruitful questions for further research. To produce a 600-page compendium of your life’s work and still have 45 additional questions is truly remarkable.Notwithstanding these commendations, some readers will find small issues in methodology throughout the volume. As I read through the book, I wondered what effect the recent renewal in oral tradition may have had on some of Charlesworth’s conclusions. As Samuel Byrskog notes in his insightful article (“Jesus the Only Teacher: Further Thoughts,” in Treasure Old and New, p. 44), recent interest in social and collective memory has altered the search for the historical Jesus. Another point of contention with the research presented is a dismissal of literary methodologies and consideration of the Gospel in its final form. Charlesworth admits that he finds these approaches “unscientific and distorted” (p. 19), but that should not completely negate their findings. For example, discourse analysis has shown the internal integrity of John 14–17, a section that Charlesworth argues is disjointed and evidence of John’s editions.As mentioned above, Charlesworth begins the volume with a section on “well-known” characteristics concerning John’s Gospel and its composition. “Well-known” should be more reflective of a history of interpretation than assumed as true. Call me a traditionalist (Charlesworth’s title for those who deny the “well-known,” p. ix), but “new insights” are also being discovered that affirm a singular author and unified Gospel. I am also less than optimistic that John 2 may suggest a marriage between Jesus and Mary Magdalene (see pp. 460–516). I am among those who think the primary purpose of this narrative is to show Jesus’s first “sign” in revealing the glory of God (see John 1:14).Overall, this volume brings together a wealth of knowledge from an avid researcher. Charlesworth mentions in his introduction and conclusion that his love of John began during his third-grade year at Jacksonville Beach Elementary School. It is evident that Charlesworth’s love for the Fourth Gospel has not dissipated, and the reader of this volume will inevitably be encouraged in their own pursuit of the genius of the NT.