Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel: A Study in Literary Design

by R. Alan Culpepper

Overview

This book is an attempt to make some initial tracing of what the gospel looks like through the lens of "secular" literary criticism. As an interdisciplinary study, the work is an effort to contribute to that dialogue by studying the narrative elements of the Fourth Gospel while interacting occasionally with current Johannine research. It is intended not as a challenge to historical criticism or the results of previous research but as an alternative by means of which new data may be collected and readers may be helped to read the gospel more perceptively by looking at certain features of the gospel. This process is to be distinguished from reading the gospel looking for particular kinds of historical evidence.

Our aim is to contribute to understanding the gospel as a narrative text, what it is, and how it works. The emphasis will be upon the construction of hypotheses or critique of methods. The gospel as it stands rather than its sources, historical background, or themes is the subject of this study.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780800620684
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	01/01/1987
Series:	Foundations and Facets Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

R. Alan Culpepper is Professor of Religion at McAfee School of Theology, Atlanta, and one of the leaders in Gospel of John research.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

Preface to the Paperback Edition

Introduction

Narrator and Point of View

Definitions

Expositional Mode

Point of View

Relationships within the Text

Narrative Time

Order

Duration

Frequency

Plot

What is Plot?

Does a Gospel Have a Plot?

What is John's Plot?

Plot Development in John

Conclusion

Characters

Characterization in Contemporary Criticism

Characterization in the Gospel of John

Jesus and the Father

The Disciples

The Jews

The Minor Characters

Conclusion

Implicit Commentary

Misunderstanding

Irony

Symbolism

Conclusion

The Implied Reader

Readers and Narratees

John's Readers

Synthesis of the Portrait

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index of Authors

Index of Primary Texts

Index of Subjects