University of Denver Digital Commons @ DU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 1-1-2014 A Divine Round Trip: The Literary and Christological Function of the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif in the Gospel of John Susan Elizabeth Humble University of Denver Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd Part of the Biblical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Humble, Susan Elizabeth, "A Divine Round Trip: The Literary and Christological Function of the Descent/ Ascent Leitmotif in the Gospel of John" (2014). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 978. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/978 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. A Divine Round Trip: The Literary and Christological Function of the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif in the Gospel of John _________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the University of Denver and the Iliff School of Theology Joint PhD Program University of Denver ________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy _________ by Susan Elizabeth Humble November 2014 Advisor: Gregory Robbins ©Copyright by Susan Elizabeth Humble 2014 All Rights Reserved Author: Susan Elizabeth Humble Title: A Divine Round Trip: The Literary and Christological Function of the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif in the Gospel of John Advisor: Gregory Robbins Degree Date: November 2014 ABSTRACT The thesis of this dissertation is that the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif, which includes the language of not only descending and ascending, but also going, coming, and being sent, performs a significant literary and christological function in the Gospel of John. The Evangelist’s Descent/Ascent Leitmotif becomes the Gospel’s organizing principal, drawing together a constellation of verbs and a number of themes, including Jesus-Son’s origin, identity, relationship to God, authority, signs and works, life, and glory. In the introductory chapter, after providing a layout of the dissertation, the discussion turns to the spacial dimensions and christological importance of the vertical and horizontal depictions of the descending, ascending, coming, going, and being sent verbs. The focus of chapter two is to explain and illustrate, using a version of the Cinderella story, a method that serves to identify the Leitmotif and the verbs, motifs, and themes the Leitmotif draws within its constellation. This approach, titled a thematic structural method, integrates works from thematic scholars Horst Daemmrich and Eugene Falk with works from literary structural scholars A. J Greimas and Roland Barthes, and is a tool to analyze the influence of the Leitmotif as the Gospel’s organizing principal on the relationships between the Leitmotif and numerous themes from which John’s Christology emerges. The task of chapter three is to explain the rationale for the selection of the Leitmotif’s verbs of descending, ascending, coming, going, and being sent. ii Chapters four and five investigate how the Evangelist, with the repetition of the Leitmotif, constructs his narrative to tell the story of the historical Jesus and shape the Evangelist’s Christology. Additionally, the focus is to analyze the transforming influences of the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif on the themes of Jesus-Son’s origin, identity, relationship to the Father, and authority, through his signs and works, life, and glory. The Descent/Ascent Leitmotif depicts a divine round trip, and the emphasis of chapter six is to examine the role of the Leitmotif in Jesus-Son’s departure from the world and return to God. The Evangelist’s use of the Leitmotif in Jesus’ prayer to the Father (John 17) and the promise of the Paraclete are included in this chapter. Due to the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif’s inherent spatial overtones, elements related to Jesus’ return, including heaven, world, the hour, and his form after his resurrection, are explored from a cosmological and ontological perspective. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Few meaningful projects in life are accomplished without the support from others. This project is no exception. The support began with the faculty of Master’s biblical studies program at the Claremont School of Theology: Greg Riley, Dennis MacDonald, Kristin DeTroyer, and Marvin Sweeney. A special thanks to the biblical and religious program faculties at Iliff School of Theology and University of Denver for their teaching, guiding, and support through the PhD program: Pamela Eisenbaum, Mark George, and Alison Schofield. I am particularly indebted to my dissertation committee: My chair, Gregory Robbins who never ceased to amaze me with his insightful comments regarding the Gospel of John. Ann Graham-Brock for her willingness to be a valuable conversation partner and share her perceptive knowledge on John. Adam Rovner for his patience and guidance in my grasping of narratology, structuralism, and thematics. Carrie Doehring who graciously volunteered her skill and time to chair my dissertation defense. To all of you, your dedication and interest to the success of this project shall always be remembered. My gratitude for the Johannine scholars whose works I have learned so much from and have enjoyed reading. To my family and friends, thank you. To all who always asked about and patiently listened to my wrestling’s and progress with this dissertation, your support is greatly appreciated. A special recognition to my family: my father Omer Humble, sisters Sally Goodnight and Sarah Humble, thank you. I want to thank from the depth of my heart my partner Karen Dumford who has been my support and rock these many years. Blessings dear ones. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter One: Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 The Beginning of the Journey ................................................................................. 1 Steps in the Study of the Divine Round Trip .......................................................... 7 The Spatial Dimensions of the Divine Round Trip and the Relationship between Jesus-Son’s Vertical and Horizontal Movements ..................................... 9 Chapter Two: Methodology—Constructing a Thematic Structural Method .................... 15 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 15 Thematic Structural Method ................................................................................. 16 An Application of the Method to Cinderella ............................................ 18 A Thematic Structural Method: Contributions by Scholars ................................. 24 Contributions by Thematic Scholars ......................................................... 26 Contributions by Structural Scholars ........................................................ 30 A Common Theory of the Relationship Between Motifs and Themes ................. 37 The Importance of a Thematic Structural Method ................................................ 37 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 38 Chapter Three: The Descent/Ascent Leitmotif ................................................................. 39 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 39 Application of a Thematic Structural Model to the Gospel of John ..................... 40 The Descent/Ascent Leitmotif .............................................................................. 43 Reasons for Inclusion of Coming, Going, and Being Sent Actions ...................... 45 Lexical Analysis of the Verbs ............................................................................... 50 Jesus-Son’s Descent .................................................................................. 50 Jesus-Son’s Ascent .................................................................................... 52 Diversity of Perspectives ...................................................................................... 55 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 62 Chapter Four: Christological Function of the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif Related to Jesus’ Origin, Identity, and Relationship to God .............................................................. 64 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 64 The Christology of Jesus-Son’s Origin and the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif .......... 66 Jesus-Son’s Origin Clarified by the Leitmotif ...................................................... 68 Tensions Reconciling Jesus’ Divine Origin and Human Origin ............... 73 Pre-existence: A Component of Jesus-Son’s Origin ................................. 74 Summary of the Theme of Jesus-Son’s Origin and the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif ......................................................................... 76 The Christology of Jesus’ Identity and the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif ................. 76 Jesus-Son’s Identity Clarified by the Leitmotif ........................................ 78 The Evangelist’s Titles for Jesus .............................................................