Water as an Image of the Spirit in the Johannine Literature (Studies in Biblical Literature)

The central aim of Water as an Image of the Spirit in the Johannine Literature is to propose two sets of indicators that can be used to assess the symbolic reference of water imagery in the Johannine literature. The first set, comprised of five indicators, can be used to decide whether a given instance of water imagery in the Johannine literature represents the Spirit. The other set, comprised of six indicators, can be used to determine whether a given instance of water imagery has a symbolic meaning instead of or in addition to its literal meaning. The validity of these indicators is demonstrated by applying them to six disputed water passages (1 John 5:6–8; Rev. 22:1–2; John 3:5, 4:10–14, 6:35, and 19:34). The author draws on narrative and exegetical methodologies to stage new claims that will incite further debate and discussion regarding the role of water imagery—and symbolic devices more broadly—in the Johannine texts. Cover Table of Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction Relation Between the Gospel, 1 John, and Revelation 1 Water Passages in Johannine Literature 2 Johannine Water Imagery in Ancient and Recent Writers Johannine Water Imagery in Early Church Writers Including the Apostolic Fathers Johannine Water Imagery in More Recent Writers Summary 3 A Survey of Water Imagery in the Old Testament and Ancient Jewish Writings Water Imagery in the Old Testament Water Imagery Relating to the Spirit Water Flowing from God’s Temple Water as Human Words or Wisdom Water as an Image of Life or Salvation Purification Living Water in the Old Testament Water Imagery in the Second Temple Literature Water Imagery Relating to the Spirit Water Flowing from God’s Temple Water as Human Words or Wisdom Water as a Symbol of Torah Water as an Image of Life Purification or Atonement Living Water in Ancient Jewish Writing Conclusion 4 Symbolism in Johannine Literature The Definition and Nature of Symbol Symbolism in the Gospel Classification of Symbols in the Gospel Relationship and/or Tension Between Literal and Symbolic Readings Symbolism in Revelation Summary 5 Identifying Exegetically Significant Indicators Relating to Johannine Water Imagery Identifying Exegetically Significant Indicators from Passages Where Scholars Generally Agree That Water Represents the Spirit John 7:37–39 John 1:33 Identifying Exegetically Significant Indicators from Passages Where Scholars Generally Agree That Water Does Not Represent the Spirit Passages in the Gospel Where the Water Image Has a Possible Symbolic Meaning, But Not Relating to the Spirit Passages in Revelation Where the Water Image Has a Specific Symbolic Meaning Passages in the Gospel Where Scholars Agree the Water Imagery Is Purely Literal Passages in Revelation Where the Water Image Has No Specific Independent Symbolic Sense Even Though It Occurs within a Larger Symbolic Vision Conclusion 6 Exegesis of the Six Disputed Water Passages 1 John 5:6–8 Exegetical Analysis How the Indicators Identified in Chapter Five Relate to 1 John 5:6–8 Revelation 22:1–2 Exegetical Analysis How the Indicators Identified in Chapter Five Relate to Revelation 22:1–2 John 3:5 Exegetical Analysis How the Indicators Identified in Chapter Five Relate to John 3:5 John 4:10–14 Exegetical Analysis How the Indicators Identified in Chapter Five Relate to John 4:10–14 John 6:35 Exegetical Analysis How the Indicators Identified in Chapter Five Relate to John 6:35 John 19:34 Exegetical Analysis How the Indicators Identified in Chapter Five Relate to John 19:34 7 Summary and Conclusion Summary and Implications with Respect to the Exegetically Significant Indicators Summary and Implications with Respect to My Exegetical Conclusions on the Six Disputed Water Passages Bibliography Index "The central aim of this book is to propose two sets of indicators. One is related to deciding when water imagery in the Johannine literature represents the Spirit. The other is related to determining whether or not instance of water imagery has a symbolic level of meaning instead of or in addition to its literal meaning. For the former I identified five indicators: (1) the water is given by Jesus; (2) the giving of water is linked to Jesus' crucifixion; (3) the water involves parallels to OT passages relating to the Spirit; (4) the presence of suggestive vocabulary in close connection with the Spirit; and (5) the Spirit is mentioned in the immediate context. For the latter I discerned six indicators: (1) whether the water or water-related imagery makes sense literally; (2) whether the proposed interpretation (literal or symbolic) coheres well with its immediate context; (3) whether other symbolic expressions are present; (4) whether water is highlighted in the narrative in which it belongs; (5) whether relatively detailed geographic or chronological information is present in the immediate context; and (6) whether vocabulary suggesting the use of symbols is present. The validity of these indicators was proved by applying them to six disputed water passages (1 John 5:6-8, Rev. 22:1-2, John 3:5, 4:10-14, 6:35 and 19:34)"-- Provided by publisher