4-1-24
Andrew Carr
Thesis: This research paper will seek to establish via methodological rigor that there is an allusion to Genesis 2:7 and Ezekiel 37:9 in John 20:19-23(the emphasis will be upon Ezek 37:9), and that an awareness of these allusions helps to clarify the Christological and missional focus of this passage.
Johannine scholars have reached a consensus that there are between 14 and 17 explicit Old Testament quotations in the Fourth Gospel. However, when it comes to Old Testament allusions the numbers vary widely — with most estimates falling between 22 and 79. At least part of the reason for such a wide divergence is due to a lack of clear definitions and methodological rigor. This paper will seek to bring definitional clarity to this issue and employ Richard Hays’ seven-step methodology for detecting an echo to John 20:19-23 as a test case. By applying Hays’ method this paper will seek to demonstrate that there is an allusion to Genesis 2:7 and Ezekiel 37:9 in John 20:19-23 (though the emphasis will be on Ezek 37:9), and that an awareness of these allusions helps to clarify the Christological and missional emphasis of this passage.
Keywords: Intertextuality; Use of the OT in the NT; Johannine Studies, Christology, early Christian mission.