Units timetabled for 2013 and 2014 are provisional only, and details of semester and time will change. The official timetable for each year is released on 1 September of the prior year.

Archived unit descriptions for 2011 are available here.

Johannine Literature

Unit Code: 
BN470
RTI: 
United Faculty of Theology
Unit Value: 
15 points

This unit offers an introduction to the Gospel of John and the three Epistles of John. Most of the unit will be devoted to the narrative and theology of John’s Gospel, with exegesis of selected passages. It will provide a knowledge of: the Gospel’s literary structures and techniques, especially its symbolic framework; its theological themes, particularly glory, eternal life, eschatology, and the person and work of Jesus; the relationship of John’s Gospel to the Synoptic traditions; and the possible concerns and context of the Johannine community. By turning to the Epistles, the unit will examine their structure and themes, focusing particularly on Christology, truth and sin, and raising questions of authorship and context. Some attention will be given to the relationship of the Epistles to the Gospel, and the tensions and possible signs of division within the Johannine community.

Learning Outcomes: 

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

  1. demonstrate a relevant knowledge of the intellectual climate of John’s worldview
  2. demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of John’s literary and narrative techniques, especially where relevant to the core symbols of the Gospel
  3. use critical methodology at an advanced level to exegete a passage from Johannine Literature
  4. articulate a working knowledge of John’s unique theological perspective
  5. analyse the concerns and context of the Johannine community, and the relationship of the Epistles to the Gospel
  6. demonstrate exegetical and theological skills to postgraduate level in their research and writing
Lecturer/s: 
Dorothy Lee
Timetabling
Semester: 
Semester 2
Day: 
Tuesday
Time: 
10 - 1
Location: 
Trinity College Theological School
Unit Frequency: 
Biennial
Years Offered: 
2012
Years Offered: 
2014
Unit Fields
Courses: 
Master of Arts (Theology)
Courses: 
Master of Theological Studies
Courses: 
Postgraduate
Field: 
Field B Biblical Studies
Disciplines: 
Biblical Studies
Disciplines: 
New Testament
Department Name: 
Department of Biblical Studies
Prerequisites: 

30 points of Foundational study in Biblical Studies

Corequisites: 

none

Prohibited Combinations: 

A unit on the Gospel of John, at undergraduate level or beyond.

Mode of Teaching: 
Semester
Teaching Methods: 

Lectures, tutorials and discussions

Workload
Number of timetabled hours per week: 
3
Expected personal study hours per week: 
9
Total workload hours per week: 
12
Total workload hours for unit: 
144
Assessment
Assessment TypeWeightingLearning Outcomes Assessed
Assessment Type: 

1 x 6000-word essay on the Gospel of John and the Epistles of John, incorporating exegetical and thematic dimensions

Weighting: 
100%
Learning Outcomes Assessed: 
1-6
Recommended reading: 

* = set texts recommended for purchase

  • Ashton, John. Understanding the Fourth Gospel. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.
  • * Barrett, C. K. The Gospel According to St. John: An Introduction with Commentary and Notes on the Greek Text. 2nd ed. London: SPCK, 1978.
  • Bauckham, Richard. The Testimony of the Beloved Disciple: Narrative, History and Theology in the Gospel of John. Grand Rapids MI: Baker Academic, 2007.
  • * Brown, Raymond E. The Gospel According to John. 2 vols. New York: Doubleday, 1966.
  • * Brown, Raymond E. The Epistles of John. A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. New York: Doubleday, 1982.
  • Carter, Warren. John and Empire: Initial Explorations. New York/London: T & T Clark, 2008.
  • Culpepper, R. Alan. Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1983.
  • Culpepper, R. Alan. The Gospel and Letters of John. Nashville TN: Abingdon, 1998.
  • Edwards, M. J. John. Blackwell Bible Commentaries. Oxford: Blackwell, 2004.
  • Elowsky, Joel. John. 2 vols. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Downers Grove IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006.
  • Keener, Craig W. The Gospel of John. A Commentary. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2003.
  • Lee, Dorothy A. ‘The Gospel of John’. In The New Interpreter's Bible: One-Volume Commentary, ed. Beverly R. Gaventa & David Peterson, 709-734. Nashville TN: Abingdon, 2010.
  • Lee, Dorothy A. Flesh and Glory: Symbol, Gender and Theology in the Gospel of John. New York: Crossroad, 2002.
  • Levine, Amy-Jill (ed.) with M. Blickenstaff. A Feminist Companion to John. 2 vols. Feminist Companion to the New Testament and Early Christian Writing 4–5. London: Sheffield Academic Press, 2003.
  • Lieu, Judith M. The Theology of the Johannine Epistles. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991.
  • Lincoln, Andrew. The Gospel According to St John. London: Continuum, 2005.
  • * Moloney, Francis J. The Gospel of John. Collegeville MN: Liturgical Press, 1998.
  • Painter, John. 1, 2, and 3 John. Sacra Pagina 18. Collegeville MN: Liturgical Press, 2002.
  • Smalley, Stephen S. 1, 2, 3 John. Word Biblical Commentary 51. Waco TX: Word Books, 1984.
  • * Schnackenburg, Rudolf. The Gospel According to St John. 3 vols. Vols. 1 & 2. London: Burns & Oates, 1966–1982.
  • * Schnackenburg, Rudolf. The Johannine Epistles. Translation and Commentary. ET. New York: Crossroad, 1992.
  • Smith, D. Moody. First, Second, and Third John. Interpretation. Louisville KY: John Knox, 1991.
  • Witherington, Ben. John’s Wisdom. A Commentary on the Fourth Gospel. Louisville KY: Westminster John Knox, 1995.
  • Yarbrough, Robert W. 1–3 John. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids MI: Baker Academic, 2008.

© United Faculty of Theology, 2008-2012.