Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Professional Dissertations DMin Graduate Research 1996 Footwashing as a Means of Reconciliation with God and Man Ronald G. Schmidt Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Schmidt, Ronald G., "Footwashing as a Means of Reconciliation with God and Man" (1996). Professional Dissertations DMin. 698. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/698 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Professional Dissertations DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT FOOTWASHING AS A MEANS OF RECONCILIATION WITH GOD AND MAN by Ronald G. Schmidt Adviser: Robert M. Johnston ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: FOOTWASHING AS A MEANS OF RECONCILIATION WITH GOD AND MAN Name of researcher: Ronald G. Schmidt Name and degree of faculty adviser: Robert M. Johnston, Ph.D. Date completed: June 1996 Problem Presently there are seven major interpretations of the footwashing recorded in the Gospel of John 13. This study attempts to discover the true meaning and function of footwashing that is in harmony with Johannine theology, Christo1ogy, and Sola Sciptura. Method This study was conducted in the following fashion. It traced the function and meaning of footwashing in both secular and sacred history throughout the Bible, as well as Jewish and Greco-Roman history. In particular it focuses on the setting of footwashing in the Gospel of John, and the practice and meaning of footwashing in Church history, with emphasis on the early centuries. Result Footwashing is a very important concept in the Gospel of John, since that Gospel focuses uniguely on cleansing and purification from sin through faith in Jesus Christ. Water plays a significant role in Johannine thought and is intricately connected to the concept of blood and Spirit, both existentially and eschatologically. Philologically, footwashing is tied to baptism as a means of cleansing the believer from post-baptismal sins, while chronologically it is tied to the Lord's Supper, a memorial of Christ's substitutionary death. Therefore footwashing has an important soteriological function in the believer's life as well as congregational life. It is a sign and symbol of cleansing that is central in Scripture, reaching back to the Old Testament, particularly the sanctuary service where blood and water were the two great cleansing agents. Conclusion Footwashing is a means of reconciliation with God and man. It is a constant reminder that man is in great need of continued cleansing from post-baptismal sins and stands in constant need of God's love and grace, which issue forth in forgiveness, justification, and sanctification. At the same time it is a reminder to treat our fellow believer the way Jesus treats us; to forgive and be reconciled so that a community of love, unity, and fellowship will be created and maintained that experiences and reflects the love of God. Thus, footwashing correctly understood and practiced will be the means to accomplish and/or greatly contribute to bring about that kind of community. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary FOOTWASHING AS A MEANS OF RECONCILIATION WITH GOD AND MAN A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Ronald G. Schmidt June 1996 I FOOTWASHING AS A MEANS OF RECONCILIATION WITH GOD AND MAN A dissertation presented in partial fulfullment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Ronald G. Schmidt APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: 7l Adviser,//" Director of D.M Program Robert M. Johnston Bruce L. Bauer / Dean, ogical Seminary Wern Vyhmeister ___ ^ _____ Date approved TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I . INTRODUCTION ............................. 1 II. THE FOOTWASHING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, JUDAISM, GRECO-ROMAN CULTURE, AND ISLAM .............................. 6 Footwashing in the Old Testament ... 7 Footwashing as a Social Custom . 9 Gen 18:4; 1 9 : 2 .................. 9 Gen 24:32; 43:24 11 Judg 19:21 11 1 Sam 25:41-42 12 2 Sam 11:8, 1 1 .................. 15 Ps 60:8 21 Footwashing as a Cultic Function . 22 Exod 30:17-21 .................... 22 Exod 2 9 : 4 ........................ 26 Exod 40 : 30 -32 .................... 27 S u m m a r y .......................... 29 Footwashing in Judaism .............. 29 The Angel Visits Abraham .......... 31 Leah and J a c o b .................... 33 P h i l o .............................. 33 Pap. Oxyrh. 840 .................... 36 The Mishnah ........................ 38 The R a b b i s ........................ 39 Joseph and Asenath ................ 42 S u m m a r y ............................ 43 Footwashing in the Greco-Roman World . 43 The Cultic Function of Footwashing . 43 Footwashing as a Social Custom . 44 O d y s s e u s .......................... 44 A m a s i s ............................ 46 Pompey ............................. 47 Other Examples .................... 47 The Footwashing in Islam .......... 50 The Rite of Wudu and the Forgiveness of Sins after Footwashing.................. 50 i n III. AN EXEGESIS OF JOHN 13:1-17 ............ 57 Text and Comments on John 13:1-11 . 58 Vss. 1 - 3 .......................... 59 Vs. 4 ............................. 65 Vs. 5 ............................. 71 Vss. 6 - 8 .......................... 72 Vs. 9 ............................. 75 Vs. 1 0 ........................... 75 Vs. 1 1 ........................... 84 Text and Comments on John 13:12-17 . 86 Vs. 1 3 ........................... 87 Vs. 1 4 ........................... 88 Vs. 1 5 ................. 89 Vs. 1 6 ........................ 91 Vs. 1 7 ........................ 93 IV. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WATER IN THE GOSPEL OF J O H N .............. 96 The Significance of Water in the Ministry of John the Baptist ................ 96 Old Testament Prophecies Predicting the Messiah's Cleansing Work Using Water.............. 99 Isa 5 2 : 1 0 - 1 5 .................. 100 Ezek 36:24-27 101 Zach 13:1 103 Summary .......................... 104 Water Turned into Wine .............. 105 Christ's Dialogue with Nicodemus . 110 Baptism:The Entrance to Discipleship................ 115 Jesus: The Source of Livng Water . 117 The Old Testament Background of Living Water .................. 118 The Cleansing and Restoration of the Leper .................. 118 The Purifying W a t e r ........ 120 Water as a Symbol of Torah . 124 Water as a Symbol of the Holy Spirit................... 124 Water and the Spirit in Isa 4 4 : 3 ................ 125 Water, Blood, and the Spirit . 126 Jesus, the Water of S a l v a t i o n .... 127 The Gospel of John: Chapters 5 and 9 . 132 The Healing of the Lame M a n .... 132 The Healing of the Blind Man .... 135 The Footwashing ...................... 13 9 IV KA0APOE in General............... 141 KaQapog in the Old Testament .... 142 KaGapog in Hellenistic Judaism . 142 KaGapog in the New Testament .... 143 KaOapop in the Writings of John . 144 John 19:34 148 1 John 5:6-8 151 Summary....................... 154 Water, Blood, and Spirit .... 156 V. A SURVEY OF THE INTERPRETATION AND PRACTICE OF FOOTWASHING IN CHURCH HISTORY .... 158 Footwashing in the New Testament . 158 1 Tim 5:10 159 Tracing Footwashing in the Early Church ..................... 165 Polycarp....................... 166 Clement....................... 167 Tertullian..................... 170 Summary....................... 173 Chrysostom..................... 173 Athanasius..................... 174 Ambrose....................... 176 Augustine..................... 179 The Councils of Elvira and Toledo . 181 The Apostolic Constitution .... 183 Ceasarius of Arles............. 183 The Practice of Footwashing in Gaul And Ireland ................ 185 Footwashing in the Middle Ages .... 187 Bernard of Clairvaux .............. 187 Arnold von Bonneral........... 187 Zacharias Chryssopolitanus ........ 188 Peter Cantor................... 188 Martin von L e o n ............... 188 Two Landmark Studies ................ 189 George Richter .................... 189 N.M. Haring................... 190 Summary .................. 193 Modern Days....................... 194 VI. THE MEANING OF FOOTWASHING........... 196 Footwashing as a Means of Preparation .................. 196 Footwashing as Preparation for Social Events ................ 197 Footwashing as a Means of Preparation for Religious Functions............... 198 In the Sanctuary Service .... 198 v As a Cultic Cleansing in Pagan R e l i g i o n s .................. 199 As a Preparation To Enter God's Presence ............ 199 As a Preparation for Prayer and Forgiveness of Sins in I s l a m ................ 200 Footwashing as a Means of Preparation for Marriage and Intimacy . 200 Footwashing as a Means of Preparation for Burial ........ 201 Footwashing as a Means of Preparation for the Lord's Supper ........ 202 Footwashing as a Means of Preparation to Ready the Disciples to Absorb the Words of Jesus before His Hour ........ 2 02 Footwashing as a Means of Preparation for Preaching and Ministry . 204 Footwashing as a Means of Reconciliation with God and M a n .................... 205 Footwashing as a Symbol of Cleansing from Sin and Reconciliation with God .................