A key pillar of New Testament empire studies is the inseparability of religion and politics in the Roman Empire. Yet, most scholars within this sub-discipline fail to integrate John’s theological claims with the gospel’s capacity to subvert Roman political rule. Instead, the traditional presumptions of a “high Christology” are thought to blind the reader from … Read more
The Fourth Gospel (FG) opens with the expression Ἐν ἀρχῇ which coheres exactly with the LXX of Genesis 1:1. The explicit lexical and thematic correspondence between the FG and Genesis has long been noted by scholars like C.K. Barret, D.A. Carson, Craig Keener, Andreas Köstenberger, Brandon Crowe, and Edward Klink III among others. I believe … Read more
In John 9, Jesus encountered the only congenital blind man in Scripture and performed an unusual act. Extending past his customary healing method through spoken word alone, Jesus created the man’s ability to see using secondary natural causes saliva, dirt, and physical touch. The miracle, or “sign” in Johannine register, distinguishes itself in the use … Read more