
The Symbolic Narratives of the Fourth Gospel
The Interplay of Form and Meaning
- 263 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
The book examines six long narratives of the Fourth Gospel, arguing that they are best understood as 'symbolic narrative'. They display a unique cohesion of symbol and narrative: the narrative unfolds the symbol and the symbol draws out the narrative. This process occurs as the character struggles to understand the symbolic meaning. The structure develops in five Stages: the establishing of a 'sign', image or feast (Stage 1); misunderstood in materialistic terms (Stage 2); the struggle to understand the symbolic meaning (Stage 3); the acceptance or rejection of that meaning (Stage 4); a confession of faith or statement of rejection (Stage 5). The symbolic narratives reveal how material reality becomes symbolic of the divine. Just as the flesh of Jesus is the symbol of divine glory, so material reality now has the potential for symbolizing God. Flesh has no independent existence; its value lies in its symbolic role. This parallels the cohesion between form and meaning. Just as the flesh is given value in symbolizing the divine, so narrative form is of value in disclosing theological meaning. The implied reader is drawn into the drama of the symbolic narratives to make the authentic response of faith.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Editorial Board
- Title
- Copyright
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 FORM AND MEANING: METHODOLOGICAL PRESUPPOSITIONS
- Chapter 2 JOHN 3.1-36 (2.23-3.36): THE STORY OF NICODEMUS
- Chapter 3 JOHN 4.1 -42: THE STORY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
- Chapter 4 JOHN 5.1-47: THE HEALING AT THE POOL
- Chapter 5 JOHN 6.1-71: THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND
- Chapter 6 JOHN 9.1-41: THE HEALING OF THE MAN BORN BLIND
- Chapter 7 JOHN 11.1-12.11: THE RAISING OF LAZARUS
- Chapter 8 REVIEW AND THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
- Bibliography
- Index of References
- Index of Authors