The Courageous Gospel. Robert Allan Hill

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The Courageous Gospel - Robert Allan Hill


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from the rest of the gospel the beautiful and lofty affirmations that led to the persecution in the Johannine community in the first place—that Jesus was in the beginning, and all things were created through him; that he is the Light that has come into the world and the darkness did not overcome it; that Jesus and the Father are one. These remain the foundation of the Christian faith, and the Gospel of John contains the most beautiful statements of them that are found anywhere in Scripture.

      The Paraclete

      Throughout the Gospel, Spirit is associated with images of breath and water. The linking of Spirit and breath is consistent with the Hebrew scripture’s use of ruah YHWH to indicate the powerful spirit (breath) of God that authorized and informed prophets. The linking of Spirit and water suggests baptism, and in fact the first chapter of the gospel contrasts John’s baptism with water to the baptism of the spirit that Christ will provide.

      However these and other pneumatological questions about the Paraclete are resolved, it is clear that the presentation of the Paraclete in the Fourth Gospel is a very particular view of the Spirit. The Final Discourses describe the Paraclete as Spirit of Truth, Advocate, Teacher, Comforter.

      Organization of This Text

      This is not a comprehensive commentary. Readers will see from a glance at the table of contents that this book does not address every chapter of the Fourth Gospel. Some readers may be surprised, for example, to notice that the passion story is not included here. Rather, the chapters 2–8 revolve around two major issues discussed above: the disappointment that the Johannine Christians faced in the delay of the second coming, and their dislocation after being expelled from the synagogue. Then chapters 9–12 examine the gifts of the Paraclete, Spirit of Truth.

      Each of the following chapters selects a key passage from the Gospel and wrestles with it in different ways. Each begins with a sermon. Most also include some class notes from a course taught by Raymond Brown at Union Theological Seminary in 1978. The chapters close with other related materials.

      Readers become lovers of this Gospel by wrestling with it. This book is intended to lead students into a just such a passionate interaction.


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