Reality of death (19:34). B. Logos unique to Jn.'

1
VI. Christology

• Divinity of Christ
• Emphasizes divinity
• Avoids human weaknesses (no temptation agony in
  Gethsemane).
• Divine knowledge (417-18 664 1015 131, 3,
  11).
• Explicit claims of divinity (1030 etc.).
• Without denying true humanity
• The Word became flesh (114).
• Reality of death (1934).

2

• B. Logos unique to Jn.s Prologue (11-18)
• Background four possible influences
• Stoicism divine rational principle pervading
  cosmos.
• OT creative word prophetic word.
• Philo personified attribute of God
  intermediary.
• Jewish Wisdom literature closest background.
• Personified wisdom is pre-existent agent of
  creation descended to reveal heavenly things
  was rejected (Prov. 822-36 Wisd. of Sol. 9).
• WisdomTorahWord.
• Five attributes of Logos (Jn. 11-18)
• Pre-existent (v. 1-2)
• Divine (v. 1)
• Agent of creation (v. 3)
• Agent of revelation (v. 4-5, 18)
• Incarnated in Jesus Christ (v. 14)

3

• C. Messianic titles in Jn. 119-51
• FG explicitly applies messianic titles more
  frequently than Synoptics.
• Lamb of God (v. 29, 36) background of lamb
  imagery
• Sacrificial lamb takes away sins
• Passover lamb liberates from bondage
• Eschatological warrior lamb (ram) defeats evil
  powers
• Suffering Servant (Isa.53) suffers vicariously
  for others
• Messiah/Christ (v. 41) anointed one (OT
  kings)
• Ideal future king to redeem Israel rule over
  golden age.
• Only gospel to preserve Hebrew messiah.
• King of Israel (v. 49)
• Son of God (v. 44)
• OT could designate human beings such as nation
  or king.
• Judaism could refer to Messiah to any esp.
  obedient/righteous person. (To be a son of
  _____ to bear that persons character.)
• Greek world divine being with special powers.
• John may be synonymous with Messiah plus divine
  connotations.
• Son of Man (v. 51)
• Jewish apocalypticism mysterious heavenly man
  appears at end time pronounces judgment ushers
  in kingdom of God.
• John may be most profound title bridges heaven
  and earth.

4

• D. Son/Son of Man Father-Son Relationship
• Son of God (9x) Son of Man (13x) the Son
  (21x).
• Descent-ascent motif (313 662 1628).
• Ascent to heaven is paradoxically by means of
  Cross.
• Glorification (1223 1331 etc.) hour of
  glorification crucifixion.
• Lifted up (314 828 1232-34) hypsoo has
  double meaning
• Lifted up on cross.
• Exalted to heaven.
• Son is sent by Father (334 434 638 826
  etc.).
• Son performs functions of Father (519-23,
  26-27).
• Jesus work is same as Gods giving life and
  pronouncing judgment.
• Dodd parable of carpenters shop (v. 19-20).
• Functional unity derives from total
  dependence/obedience.
• Father and Son are one yet distinct.
• One (1030 1711)
• Distinct (335 434 1428)
• Jesus is only Son (monogenes 316, 18 cf.
  118).
• Only unique one-of-a-kind only begotten.
• Jesus is unique Son of God believers become
  children of God through him.

5

• E. I am sayings (cf. Brown, vol. 1, Appendix
  IV)
• ego eimi 21x emphatic I two types
• Absolute I am. (858 1319 185 etc.)
• Recalls Yahweh - OT personal name of God (Ex.
  314).
• Divine revelation formula (Isa. 4325 4518).
• FG places ineffable name of God on Jesus lips.
• With predicate (I am ____)
• Seven bread of life (635) light of world
  (812) gate (107) good shepherd (1011) res.
  and life (1125) way, truth, and life (146)
  true vine (151).
• Form not found in OT or Jewish lit. closest
  parallels are in Mandaean lit. as claims of
  Gnostic Revealer.
• Images OT/Jewish images of eschatological
  salvation.
• (Some also hellenistic/universal).
• d. These hopes are fulfilled in Jesus.
• Summary
• Signals theophany/appearance/revelation of God.
• Claims Jesus is the one, true Revealer of God.
• Claims for Jesus the very name (identity) of God.

6

• F. Death of Christ
• FG emphasizes that Cross is
• Enthronement of Jesus as King theme of royalty
  runs through passion narrative.
• Ascension and glorification of Jesus
  humiliating death is means by which Christ
  returns to heavenly glory.
• New Passover Passover theme runs through
  passion narrative FGs chronology has Jesus
  crucified at same time that Passover lambs were
  being slaughtered in Temple.
• Supreme revelation of Gods love love is motive
  for sending Son (316) Cross is ultimate
  expression of love reveals Gods love draws
  people to God (1232) creates new family of God
  becomes model of how we should love one another
  (1513).

7
Lifted Up Sayings

• John 314 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent
  in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be
  lifted up,
• John 828 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted
  up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I
  am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I
  speak these things as the Father instructed me.
• John 1232 And I, when I am lifted up from the
  earth, will draw all people to myself. 33 He
  said this to indicate the kind of death he was to
  die. 34 The crowd answered him, "We have heard
  from the law that the Messiah remains forever.
  How can you say that the Son of Man must be
  lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?"

8
I AM (ego eimi) in OT

• Exodus 314-15 God said to Moses, I AM WHO I
  AM. He said further, Thus you shall say to the
  Israelites, I AM has sent me to you. The
  LORD (Yahweh) This is my name forever (LXX
  ego eimi ho on I am the one who is.)
• Isaiah 4518 I am the LORD (Yahweh), and there
  is no other. (LXX ego eimi and there is no
  other.)
• Isaiah 4325 I, I am He who blots out your
  transgressions (LXX ego eimi ego eimi who
  blots out I am IAM )

9
Absolute I Am Sayings

• John 858 Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell
  you, before Abraham was, I am."
• 1319 I tell you this now, before it occurs, so
  that when it does occur, you may believe that I
  am he.
• 184-6 Then Jesus, knowing all that was to
  happen to him, came forward and asked them, "Whom
  are you looking for? They answered, "Jesus of
  Nazareth." Jesus replied, "I am he." Judas, who
  betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus
  said to them, "I am he," they stepped back and
  fell to the ground.

10
I Am Sayings with Predicate

• John 635 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of
  life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
  and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
• Presentation I am
• Identification the bread of life
• Invitation whoever comes to me/believes in me
• Promise will never be hungry/thirsty