Rhetoric and Theology: Figural Reading of John 9 (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift fur die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der Alteren Kirche, 165)

This monograph on John 9 makes extensive use of premodern Christian exegesis as a resource for New Testament studies. The study reframes the existing critique of the two-level reading of John 9 as allegory in terms of premodern exegetical practices. It offers a hermeneutical critique of the two-level reading strategy as a kind of figural exegesis, rather than historical reconstruction, through an extensive comparison with Augustine’s interpretation of John 9. A review of several premodern Christian readings of John 9 suggests an alternative way of understanding this account in terms of Greco-Roman rhetoric. John 9 resembles the rhetorical argumentation associated with chreia elaboration and the complete argument to display Jesus’ identity as the Light of the World. This analysis illustrates the inseparability of form and content, rhetoric and theology, in the Fourth Gospel. John 9 as a two level drama in contemporary scholarship Louis Martyn's analysis of John 9 in history and theology in the Fourth Gospel The starting point for history and theology in the Fourth Gospel John 9 as a two-level drama Setting a new course for Johannine studies Martyn's contribution in context Martyn's influence in historical studies Martyn's influence in social oriented studies Martyn's influence in literary critical studies The critique of Martyn's hypothesis Historical critique Hermeneutical critique The critique of the two-level reading strategy as allegory Substance of the critique Deficiencies in the allegory critique The two-level reading strategy as figural exegesis Improving the allegory critique Recent scholarship on premodern Christian exegesis : a resource for new categories Figural reading Grammatical reading Reframing the allegory critique Augustine and J. Louis Martyn reading John 9 Augustine's tract. Ev. Jo. 44 in context Augustine's figural interpretation of John 9 in tract. Ev. Jo. 44 Comparing the reading strategies of Martyn and Augustine Implications and possibilities Four premodern interpretations of John 9 The value of premodern exegetes for New Testament studies John Chrysostom (ca. 349-407) Chrysostom's homilies 56-59 on the Gospel of John in context Chrysostom on the place of John 9 within the Gospel Chrysostom on the internal dynamics of John 9 Chrysostom's theological interpretation of John 9 Cyril of Alexandria (378-444) Cyril's commentary on the Gospel of John in context Cyril on the place of John 9 within the Gospel Cyril on the internal dynamics of John 9 Cyril's theological interpretation of John 9 Bruno of Segni (ca. 1050-1123) Bruno's commentary on John in context Bruno on the place of John 9 within the Gospel Bruno on the internal dynamics of John 9 Bruno's theological interpretation of John 9 Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Aquinas' lectures on John in context : exegesis in the medieval university Aquinas on the place of John 9 within the Gospel Aquinas on the internal dynamics of John 9 Aquinas' theological interpretation of John 9 Figural argumentation in John 9 Elaborated chreia and symbolic expression in Greco-Roman literary composition Chreia composition and elaborated argument Symbolic literary composition in Greco-Roman antiquity The figural argument in John 9:1-41 John 9:1-7 John 9:8-12 John 9:13-17 John 9:18-23 John 9:24-34 John 9:35-38 John 9:39-41 Narrative rhetoric, theology, and figural reading The narrative and rhetorical dimensions of John 9 The narrative dynamics of john 9 An integration of epideictic and forensic rhetoric The figural dynamic and John's theology The inseparability of form and content in John's theology The figural dynamic and the incarnation Reading John's figural dynamic. John 9 as a two-level drama in contemporary scholarship J. Louis Martyn's analysis of John 9 in history and theology in the Fourth Gospel The starting point for history and theology in the Fourth Gospel John 9 as a two-level drama Setting a new course for Johannine studies Martyn's contribution in context Martyn's influence in historical studies Martyn's influence in social oriented studies Martyn's influence in literary critical studies The critique of Martyn's hypothesis Historical critique Hermeneutical critique The critique of the two-level reading strategy as allegory Substance of the critique Deficiencies in the allegory critique Coclusions The two-level reading strategy as figural exegesis Improving the allegory critique Recent scholarship on premodern Christian exegesis : a resource for new categories Figural reading Grammatical reading Reframing the allegory critique Augustine and J. Louis Martyn reading John 9 Augustine's tract. Ev. Jo. 44 in context Augustine's interpretation of John 9 in tract. Ev. Jo. 44 Comparing the reading strategies of Augustine and Martyn Implications and possibilities Four premodern interpretations of John 9 The value of premodern exegetes for New Testament studies John Chrysostom Chrysostom's homilies 56-59 on the Gospel of John in context Chrysostom on the place of John 9 within the Gospel Chrysostom on the internal dynamics of John 9 Chrysostom's theological interpretation of John 9 Cyril of Alexandria Cyril's commentary on the Gospel of John in context Cyril on the place of John 9 within the Gospel Cyril on the internal dynamics of John 9 Cyril's theological interpretation of John 9 Bruno of Segni Bruno's commentary on John in context Bruno on the place of John 9 within the Gospel Bruno on the internal dynamics of John 9 Bruno's theological interpretation of John 9 Thomas Aquinas Aquinas' lectures on John in context : exegesis in the medieval university Aquinas on the place of John 9 within the Gospel Aquinas on the internal dynamics of John 9 Aquinas' theological interpretation of John 9 Conclusions Figural argumentation in John 9 Elaborated chreia and symbolic expression in Greco-Roman literary composition Chreia composition and elaborated argument Greco-Roman symbolic literary composition The figural argument in John 9:1-41 John 9:1-7 John 9:8-12 John 9:13-17 John 9:18-23 John 9:24-34 John 9:35-38 John 9:39-41 Conclusion Narrative rhetoric, theology, and figural reading The narrative and rhetorical dimensions of John 9 The narrative dynamics of John 9 An integration of epideictic and forensic rhetoric The figural dynamic and John's theology The inseparability of form and content in John's theology The figural dynamic and the incarnation Reading John's figural dynamic Conclusion. This monograph on John 9 makes extensive use of premodern Christian exegesis as a resource for New Testament studies. It draws on ancient Christian ways of reading Scripture in a "more-than-literal" or "figural" way to critique the modern trend to understand John's Gospel as recounting the history of the evangelist's community. This study also examines a variety of premodern interpretations of John 9 for insight into the chapter's theological and rhetorical dimensions. Building upon the premoderns' observations, it argues that John 9 resembles a mode of Greco-Roman rhetorical argumentation and expression to present Jesus as the Light of the World. This analysis illustrates the inseparability of form and content, rhetoric and theology, in the Fourth Gospel Frontmatter 1 Table of Contents 9 Chapter 1. John 9 as a Two-Level Drama in Contemporary Scholarship 13 Chapter 2. The Two-Level Reading Strategy as Figural Exegesis 69 Chapter 3. Four Premodern Interpretations of John 9 111 Chapter 4. Figural Argumentation in John 9 155 Chapter 5. Narrative Rhetoric, Theology, and Figural Reading 207 Backmatter 229 Biographical note: William M. Wright IV, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA