Caused to Believe: The Doubting Thomas Story at the Climax of John's Christological Narrative (Biblical Interpretation Series)

This work is a literary study of John's gospel focusing upon the doubting Thomas story's role as its climax. It analyzes the Thomas episode in light of the roles played by the characters Jesus encounters throughout the gospel. CAUSED TO BELIEVE: The Doubting Thomas Story at the Climax of John’s Christological Narrative......Page 4 Contents......Page 6 1. Jesus as the Focus of the Thomas Story......Page 8 John’s Tripartite Narrative Structure......Page 9 Jesus Revealed in Terms of Relationships......Page 10 Method of Analysis......Page 12 Historical Criticism......Page 15 The Influence of Bultmann......Page 17 R. Fortna’s Redaction Theory......Page 21 Historical Critics Who Believe that John Upholds the Value of Signs......Page 24 Literary-critical Exegesis......Page 26 Conclusions and Proposal for a New Interpretation......Page 32 Poesis as Mimesis......Page 36 Survey of Other Hermeneutical Approaches......Page 39 Giblin’s Tripartite Narrative Structure......Page 45 Overview of the Prologue (1:1–18) and Part One (1:19–4:54)......Page 46 Literary Analysis of the Prologue (1:1–18) and Part One (1:19–4:54)......Page 47 Definition of Narrator and Reader......Page 48 Identity of the Narrator......Page 49 John’s Reader......Page 50 Detailed Analysis of the Prologue (1:1–18)......Page 51 Problems with Technical Language......Page 52 The Prologue as an Introduction to the gospel......Page 53 The X-Y Structure in the Prologue......Page 54 The Prologue’s Corresponding Concentric Structure......Page 56 The Word’s Identity in the Prologue......Page 57 Summary Regarding Prologue......Page 60 Repetition of Motifs......Page 62 The Baptist Recognizes Jesus......Page 63 The Call of Nathanael......Page 64 The Inaugural Sign at Cana......Page 68 The Temple Cleansing......Page 71 Jesus Knows All Men......Page 74 The Encounter with Nicodemus......Page 78 Jesus’ Encounter with the Samaritan Woman......Page 80 Culpepper......Page 83 O’Day......Page 86 Conclusions Regarding 3:1–41 and 4:7–42......Page 88 Jesus Enables His Disciples’ Success......Page 92 Conclusion......Page 96 Introduction......Page 97 John’s Narrative Style and the Gospel’s Purpose......Page 98 The Relationship between Jesus and Humanity from Several Vantage Points......Page 100 Jesus Revealed in Terms of Anthropology......Page 107 The Healing of the Lame Man and the Discourse that Follows (5:1–47)......Page 111 John’s Purpose in Connecting the Miracle to the Controversy......Page 118 The Miraculous Sea-Crossing......Page 121 The Demand for a Sign......Page 124 The “Suggestion” of Jesus’ Brothers and Jesus’ Response......Page 126 The Feast of Tabernacles......Page 129 Their Father Is Not Jesus’ Father......Page 130 Jesus’ Opponents Are not of His Sheep......Page 134 Conclusion......Page 136 Introduction......Page 138 The Context in which John Introduces Thomas......Page 139 John’s Characterization of Thomas......Page 144 Jesus’ Plan for His Disciples......Page 149 The Context of Jn. 20:24–29......Page 151 Mary Magdalene’s Discovery, the Disciples’ Race and the Appearance to Mary......Page 153 Jesus Appears to His Disciples......Page 162 The Unbeliever (20:24–25)......Page 165 The Appearance to Thomas (20:26–29)......Page 168 The Appearance in Light of Jesus’ Will......Page 171 Jesus Bids Thomas to Change......Page 173 The Beatitude for Future Believers (20:29)......Page 176 Conclusion......Page 179 Bibliography......Page 182 J......Page 190 Z......Page 191 Index of Biblical and Other Ancient Sources......Page 192 Back Matter......Page 200 Annotation Bonney (theology, Providence College) Critically Examines The Gospel Of John As Literature, Focusing Upon The Story Of Doubting Thomas. Seeking To Understand The Story's Meaning In Light Of The Rest Of The Gospel, The Author Looks At John's Narrative As An Integrated Testimonial To The Importance Of Belief In Jesus As The Son Of God. Bonney Then Shows How Thomas' Change From Skeptic To Believer Serves As The Climactic Illustration Of This Idea. Annotation C. Book News, Inc., Portland, Or (booknews.com). Annotation This Book Is A Literary Study Of John's Gospel Focusing Upon The Doubting Thomas Story's Role As Its Climax. The Author Analyses The Thomas Episode In Light Of The Roles Played By The Characters Jesus Encounters Throughout The Gospel. They Serve Primarily To Reveal How Jesus' Identity As God's Life-giving Son Is Perceived In Relation To Humanity. For Those Who Believe, He Is Simultaneously Both The Cause And The Object Of Faith. In John, Faith And Life Are Inseparable. The Life That Faith Engenders Flows From Jesus Alone, And The Faith Achieved By His Followers Comes Only As A Result Of His Causative Action. Thomas' Change From Unbeliever To Believer Is The Climactic Illustration Of This Idea. Jesus As The Focus Of The Thomas Story -- Modern Exegesis Of The Thomas Story -- John's Mimetic Narrative -- Source Of Life -- Divider Of Perspectives -- Enabler Of Faith. By William Bonney. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [175]-182) And Indexes.