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The Son-Father Relationship and Christological Symbolism in the Gospel of John

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The Son-Father Relationship and Christological Symbolism in the Gospel of John ABSTRACT The Son-Father Relationship and Christological Symbolism in the Gospel of John The relationship between Jesus the Son and God the Father plays a crucial role in the Johannine revelation of Christ. The Gospel of John symbolically portrays Jesus as the Son of God who is relationally inseparable from his Father. This research proposes that the Son-Father Relationship (SFR) is at the center of the network of Christological symbols in the Fourth Gospel. The SFR serves to fulfill the author’s stated purpose of John 20:31 and acts as an organizing principle that integrates and structures the Gospel’s unique symbolism. The uniqueness of Johannine symbolism is illustrated in the definition and theory of symbol formulated in this research using principles from theories propounded by Paul Ricoeur and Wilbur Urban. Two key passages in this study are the Prologue (John 1:1-18) and the Prayer (John 17:1-26). These passages are strategically positioned in the Gospel narrative and contain similar clusters of symbols, symbolic language, and themes centered on the SFR. The Prologue subtly and symbolically introduces the SFR; both SFR and symbolism are then developed through the words and actions of Jesus’ teaching ministry. The Prayer culminates Jesus’ teaching ministry and elevates the SFR to its highest point in the narrative, utilizing most of the symbolism introduced in the Prologue. This research unveils a symbolic network referred to as John’s Christological Symbology, through which the Gospel presents Jesus the Son in close relationship with God the Father. The Symbology, commencing in the Prologue and culminating in the Prayer before ending in the remainder of the Gospel, reveals the centrality of the SFR in Johannine symbolism. i DISSERTATION APPROVAL SHEET This dissertation, entitled The Son-Father Relationship and Christological Symbolism in the Gospel of John written by Adesola Akala and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Biblical Studies has been read and approved by the undersigned members of the Faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary ________________________________ Dr. David Bauer ________________________________ Dr. Tom Thatcher April 2012 ii THE SON-FATHER RELATIONSHIP AND CHRISTOLOGICAL SYMBOLISM IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary Wilmore, Kentucky In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Biblical Studies Dissertation Committee: Dr. David Bauer, Mentor Dr. Tom Thatcher, Reader By Adesola Akala April 2012 iii Copyright 2012 Adesola Akala All rights reserved iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to many who were instrumental in the completion of my doctoral journey in the Gospel of John. Asbury Theological Seminary gave me the opportunity to be part of the charter class and one of first graduates of the PhD Biblical studies program. I therefore wish to express appreciation and sincere thanks to my dissertation committee, my mentor Dr. David Bauer for supervision and careful reading of my drafts, and also to my reader Dr. Tom Thatcher for his expertise and deep insight in Johannine scholarship. I acknowledge with deep gratitude the generous financial support provided by my anonymous benefactors through Asbury United Methodist Church Tulsa, Oklahoma, with special thanks to Mary Ann Smith for her helpful coordination. I would like to thank my many friends at Centenary United Methodist Church, Lexington, Kentucky for their prayers and encouragement. Thanks also to Skye West and Maggie Thomson who helped with editing and proofreading. I am immensely grateful for the loving encouragement and supportive role of my parents and sisters, particularly my mother’s constant and unequivocal support throughout my academic journey. The greatest thanks go to God my Father and His Son of whom I have written, and to the Holy Spirit whose grace carried me through. To God be the Glory. v TABLE OF CONTENT Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………... i Dissertation Approval Sheet …………………………………………...………..…...ii Title Page ……………………………………………………………..………………iii Copyright Page ………………………………………………………………………..iv Acknowledgments …………………………………………………….. …………….v Table of Content …………………………………………………………….………..vi Table of Figures ……………………………………………………………...………xii 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 13 1.2 The Problem of Understanding John’s Figurative World ....................................... 15 1.3 Key Questions and Problem Statements ................................................................. 18 1.4 Symbol Studies in the Gospel of John .................................................................... 22 1.4.1 Defining the Johannine Symbol ....................................................................... 24 1.4.2 Developing Theoretical Frameworks ............................................................... 28 1.4.3 The Semantic Relation between Symbol and Metaphor .................................. 30 1.4.4 The Structure and Function of Johannine Symbolism ..................................... 32 1.4.5 Summary .......................................................................................................... 35 1.6 Research on Figurative Networks in the Gospel of John ........................................ 36 1.6.1 Van der Watt’s Descriptive and Deductive Method ........................................ 37 1.6.2 Ruben Zimmermann’s Network of Images ...................................................... 39 1.6.3 Summary .......................................................................................................... 42 1.7 Working Definitions ............................................................................................... 43 1.7.1 Symbol ............................................................................................................. 45 1.7.2 Symbology ....................................................................................................... 48 1.8 The Prologue and the Prayer ................................................................................... 49 1.9 Chapter Outline ....................................................................................................... 51 CHAPTER 2: THEORY OF SYMBOL ........................................................................... 53 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 53 2.2 The Literary Symbol and Development of Symbol Theory ................................... 54 2.3 Wilbur Urban’s Theory of Symbol ......................................................................... 58 2.3.1 Definition of Symbol ....................................................................................... 59 2.3.2 Classification of Symbols ................................................................................ 60 2.3.3 Principles of Symbolism .................................................................................. 61 2.3.4 Theory of Transcendent Symbols .................................................................... 64 2.3.5 Guidelines for Interpreting Symbols ................................................................ 65 vi 2.3.6 Summary .......................................................................................................... 67 2.4 Paul Ricoeur’s Theory of Symbol........................................................................... 68 2.4.1 Dimensions of Symbolism ............................................................................... 68 2.4.2 Essence of the Symbol ..................................................................................... 70 2.4.3 The Non-Semantic Structure of the Symbol .................................................... 72 2.4.4 Similarity and Dissimilarity in the Symbol ..................................................... 74 2.4.5 Summary .......................................................................................................... 75 2.5 Similarities between Urban and Ricoeur’s Principles of Symbol ........................... 76 2.6 The Dominating Power of Symbols ........................................................................ 77 2.7 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 83 CHAPTER 3: THEORY OF JOHANNINE SYMBOLISM ............................................ 85 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 85 3.2 Symbol and Symbology: Working Definitions....................................................... 86 3.3 Theory of Johannine Symbolism ............................................................................ 92 3.3.1 Principle One: Johannine Symbols are Representational ................................ 93 3.3.1.1 Symbolic Presentation ............................................................................ 94 3.3.1.2 Symbolic Re-Presentation ...................................................................... 95 3.3.1.3 Symbolic Reflection ............................................................................... 96 3.3.1.4 Symbolic Resemblance .......................................................................... 98 3.3.2 Principle Two: Johannine Symbols are Products and Agents of
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