Rethinking the Ethics of John: A Review Article

Abstract

The essays in Rethinking the Ethics of John, edited by Jan G. van der Watt and Ruben Zimmermann, make a significant contribution to the study of Johannine ethics. They show that the Gospel’s narrative form with its character portrayal, specific directives, and images, provides critical reflection on human action. The command to ‘love one another’ need not be understood in a narrow sense, for it forms community and engages the world. Themes of ‘life’ and ‘truth’ work together with ‘love’ to create a multifaceted ethical perspective. The Gospel affirms values included in Jewish law, while centering ethical reflection on the action of God in Jesus, which evokes a human response. The critical stance toward opponents in the Johannine epistles stands in tension with the love command, but references to God’s action on behalf of the world opens up possibilities for positive reading.