Borrowing from Paul to Understand John: Exploring the Circularity of Gift in the I Am Sayings

In the wake of John Barclay’s momentous Paul and the Gift, many have begun to explore how grace is defined and deployed in other scriptural texts by making use of his taxonomy of the six perfections of gift—where “perfection” speaks of a particular quality of grace being drawn out to an “end-of-the-line extreme” (Barclay, 4). Among these perfections, the non-circular gift—one offered without expectation of return—is notable for how it tends to align with modern notions of the “pure gift,” which “escapes reciprocity” (Barclay, 74). By contrast, gifts in the ancient world tended to be circular: when gifts were given, reciprocity was anticipated. Barclay significantly observes a quality of circularity in Paul’s writings related to the “obedience of faith.” This paper will identify a similar dynamic of circularity in John, complementing what Paul Trebilco has also observed in his essay featured in the 2023 edited volume, The New Perspective on Grace. He observes that as the Father gives the gift of the Son, there is a response expected. While Trebilco focuses solely on the Farewell Discourse—which he himself acknowledges only captures some of the relevant passages (148n27)—this paper will explore the picture of circularity created over a wider expanse of text. John’s Gospel emphasizes the theme of the response of belief from start to finish (1:12; 3:16; 6:28; 11:25; 20:31). Throughout the Johannine narrative, those who encounter Jesus are repeatedly invited to respond with belief. Furthermore, the response of faith is consistently portrayed as an ongoing action—creating more of a “believing life.” This is particularly evident in the seven I am sayings, where John presents seven animated portrayals of what ongoing belief looks like in metaphorical terms. Each saying uniquely presents a circular response of belief in Jesus. Respondents express faith by eating Jesus, the bread of life (6:51). They see and follow Jesus, the light of the world (8:12). They proceed through Jesus, the gate, as they hear and follow the voice of Jesus the good shepherd (10:7, 9, 11, 14) who calls them from death to life (11:25; 43-44). They are invited to walk the path of Jesus, the way (14:6), and they are invited to abide in Jesus, the vine (15:1-5). This paper will seek to flesh out more fully the reciprocity inherent in each of these animated metaphors, suggesting a quality of circularity not unlike Paul’s obedience of faith.