Johannine Epistles

NT 618/718

September 18-22, 2000
Instructor: Russell Morton, Th.D.
Office number: (419) 289-5434
Email: rmorton2@ashland.edu

Course Description:

Authorship, background, purpose, intended readers, methodology and theology will be the focus of this analysis of the Johannine letters. Special attention will be given to the relationship of the letters’ style and vocabulary to that of the Gospel, the situation presupposed in the letters, particularly 2nd and 3rd John, the eschatology of the letters, and their place within the context of the Johannine community.

Course Rational

Although the letters of John have been deeply appreciated throughout the history of the Christian Church, and have played a formative role in the development of pietistic and Methodist theological traditions, the rise of the historical critical method has brought certain traditional assumptions into question. These include the authorship of the Johannine Epistles, whether the love they speak of, especially in 1 John 2:9-11; 3:1-2, 11-18, is universal or particularistic, and if the church order, particularly that presupposed in 2nd and 3rd John, reflects “Early Catholicism.” Questions have also arisen with regard to the eschatology of the Johannine letters (see 1 Jn. 2:18-25; 2 Jn. 7-8).

In light of these questions, can we maintain that the author of the epistles is the same as the author of the Gospel of John? Furthermore, what relevance do these letters have for present day Christians, especially if they reflect an emerging hierarchical church order or a particularistic view of love? For example, how does the vision of these letters correspond to Jesus’ demand Christians love not only their friends and fellow believers, but also their enemies (Mt. 5:43-48).

It is the purpose of this course to explore these and other issues. By examining the argument of the Johannine Epistles, especially 1 John, we will look at the rhetorical tools the author is employing, such as repetition, irony, and hyperbole to the epistles’ argument.

Class Structure.

It is impossible to sit in lectures for six hours per day. Furthermore, to facilitate students in their research, between two and two and on half hours of class time will be devoted to library research on topics. The students will be given an introduction to research in the library by the professor, who is also available to help them with their research projects in his role as research librarian. Students will be expected to use the Religion Data Base as well as the catalog in collecting their bibliography, and will be provided instruction and assistance in using this tool. Thus, the class format will be:

8:30-12:00: Morning Lecture

12:00-1:00: Lunch

1:00-1:30: Summary, if needed

1:30-3:30: Library Research.

Enabling Activities.

1. Thorough preparation is necessary. It is expected that each student in NT 640 will read the Johannine letters at least three times in English (or other modern language) during the course. Students in NT 740 are expected to read the letters twice in English, or some other modern language, and once in Greek.

2. Students will be expected to do the daily readings from the secondary texts assigned below.

3. Class attendance and participation is expected and required.

4. Students will be required to take a final exam.

5. A preliminary report of progress will be given during the final class, either in a one to two page summary to the professor, or in a brief (10 minute) class presentation (depending upon size of the class). In addition, students will fill out a brief log listing works referred to during their library research. This log may also be the basis of the select bibliographies of student papers.

6. An exegetical paper, of 7-10 pages, due October 1, 2000. Students in NT 740 are expected to use Greek language tools, such as TDNT, BAGD, Robinson, Greek Grammar, Moulton and Milligan, BDF, etc. At the same time, it is recognized that due to the restrictions of time, that a long paper cannot be completed. It is expected that students will pick a short passage to exegete, in consultation with the instructor.

Preliminary Class Schedule. For outline, see Raymond E. Brown, The Epistles of John (AB 30; Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1982), xx-xxi.

September 18, 2000: Class opening
   Introductory issues.
    Authorship, can it be determined?
    Date
    Johannine community
    Relationship between the epistles, is 1 John an epistle?
    Opponents, i.e. secessionists
    Theology
    Ecclesiology, especially as reflected in 3 John.
    Outline
    Introduction to Library Research

September 19, 2000: 1 John 1:1-2:17
    Prologue: 1 Jn 1:1-4
    God is light, three boasts.0pposite three antitheses: 1 Jn
1:5-2:2
    How do we know that we have knowledge of God? Three      tests: 1 Jn 2:3-1 1
    Resist the world: 1 Jn. 2:12-17.
    Research on Topics

September 20, 2000: 1 John 2:18-3:24
Who is the antichrist, but who denies the Son and the
Father? 1 Jn 2:18-27
    Children of God vs. Children of the Devil: 1 Jn 2:28-3:10
    Loving one Another: 1 Jn. 3:11-24.
    Research on Topics

September 21, 2000: 1 John 4:1-5:21
    Spirits of truth and error: 1 Jn. 4:1-6
Loving one another as a demonstration of abiding in
and loving God: 1 Jn:4:7-5:4a
    Faith conquers the world: 1 Jn. 5:4b-12
    Conclusion: 1 Jn 5:13-21.
    Research on Topics

September 22, 2000: 2 John
   3 John
   Summary and Conclusions
   Student Progress Reports.
   Final exam

Breakdown of Assignments

The percentage breakdown of assignments and attendance are as follows:

Attendance and participation at lectures:   20%
Progress Reports and logs:    10%
Final:       40%
Papers:       30%

Grading Scale

Course work will be evaluated according to the Ashland Theological Seminary Grading scale, listed on p. 25 of the catalog:

A    97-100    4.0
A-   92-96    3.7
B+   89-91    3.3
B     86-88    3.0
B-    83-85    2.7
C+   80-82    2.3
C     77-79    2.0
C-    74-78    1.7
D+ 71-73     1.3
D     68-70    1.0
D-    65-67     0.7
F      0-64       0

Texts.

All Students are expected to purchase or own the following:

1. Meeks, Wayne, ed., HarperCollins Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version, With the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books. New York: HarperCollins, 1993

2. Rensberger, David K. 1 John, 2 John, 3 John. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville: Abingdon, 1997.

3. Smalley, Stephen S. 1, 2, 3 John. Word Biblical Commentary 51. Waco, Tex.: Word, 1984.

Students in NT 740 are also expected to own and purchase one of the following:

Aland, Kurt, … [et al.], eds. The Greek New Testament, 4th ed. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelstiftung; United Bible Societies, 1994.

Aland, Kurt, ed. Novum Testamentum Graece, 27th ed. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelstiftung, 1993. The 26th edition (1979) is also acceptable.

Note on citation format.

Students will be expected to follow the format outlined by Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (rev. John Grossman and Allice Bennett; 6th ed.; Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing; Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996). While I personally prefer footnote and bibliography style, reference list style will be accepted. The student is, however, expected to be consistent and correspond to form.

Abbreviations for commentary series, reference works, Dead Sea Scrolls, and Biblical books to be those used in Patrick H. Alexander … [et al.], eds. The SBL Handbook of Style: for Ancient Near Eastern, Biblical, and Early Christian Studies (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1999. Biblical Studies majors may wish to substitute this citation style for Turabian, and may with the instructor’s permission. Again, however, consistency is expected.

Select Bibliography

(The following list is a guide, not prescriptive or restrictive. Students are certainly encouraged to look for items not on this list. Bibliography may be acquired through subject searches in the library catalog (for books) or through the Religion Data Base for articles. Other resources include the Elenchus of Biblica, New Testament Abstracts, and the bibliographies of books and articles).

Bibliographies:

Just, Felix, “Johannine Bibliography,” accessed at: http://clawww.lmu.edu/faculty/fjust/John/Bibliog-Main.html

Wagner, Günter, An Exegetical Bibliography of the New Testament: John and 1, 2, 3, John. Macon, Ga.: Mercer University Press, 1987

Also see the bibliographies of major commentaries, especially: Brown, Raymond E., The Epistles of John. Anchor Bible 30. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1982.

Commentaries:

Brooke, A. E. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Johannine Epistles. International Critical Commentary. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1964. FQ 58 B79c and CH 5 In85R Ep. of John

Brown, Raymond E. The Epistles of John. Anchor Bible 30. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1982. FQ 58 B814e and CH 5 An21 v.30 R

___________. Gospel and Epistles of John: A Concise Commentary. Collegville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1988. FL8 B814go

Bultmann, Rudolf, The Johannine Epistles: A Commentary on the Johannine Epistles. Translated by R. Philip O’Hara with Lane G. McGaughy and Robert Funk. Edited by Robert Funk. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1973. FQ 58 B879j. Second copy on Pfeiffer Library

Dodd, C.H. The Johannine Epistles. Moffatt New Testament Commentary. New York: Harper, 1946. FQ 58 D661j

Grayston, Kenneth, The Johannine Epistles: Based on the Revised Standard Version. New Century Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1984. FQ 58 G795j

Hobbs, Herschel H. The Epistles of John. Nashville: T. Nelson, 1983. FQ 58 H652e

Houldon, J. L. A Commentary on the Johannine Epistles. Black’s New Testament Commentaries. New York: Harper & Row, 1973. FQ 58 H81c

Johnson, Thomas Floyd, 1, 2, and 3 John. New International Biblical Commentary 17. Peabody, Mass: Hendrickson, 1998. FQ 58 J637f

Kysar, Robert, First, Second, and Third John. Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament. Minneapolis, Minn.: Augsburg Pub. House, 1986. FQ 58 K998f

Marshall, I. Howard. The Epistles of John. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1978. FQ 58 M356e and FH 5 N42 v. 18 R

Plummer, Alfred, Epistles of S. John: With Notes, Introduction and Appendicies. Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges. Cambridge [Eng.]: The University Press, 1938. FQ 58 P736e 1938

Schnackenburg, Rudolf, The Johannine Epistles: Introduction and Commentary. Translated by Reginald and Ilse Fuller. New York: Crossroad, 1992. FQ 58 Sch57j

Sloyan, Gerhard Stephen, Walking in Truth: Preservers and Deserters: The First, Second and Third Letters of John. New Testament in Context. Valley Forge: Pa.: Trinity Press International. FQ 58 S159w

Smalley, Stephen S. First Second , Third John. Word Biblical Commentary 51. Waco, Tex.: Word, 1984. FQ 58 Sm18f and CH 5 W891w v. 51 R

Smith, D. Moody. First, Second , and Third John. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: John Knox Press, 1991.FQ 58 Sm54f

Stott, John R. W. The Letters of John: An Introduction and Commentary. 2nd ed. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1988. FQ 58 St 761 and FH 5 T97n v. 19 1988 R

Strecker, Georg, The Johannine Letters: A Commentary on 1, 2, and 3 John. Translated by Linda M. Maloney. Edited by Harold Attridge. Hermeneia: A Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible. Minneapolis, Minn.: Fortress Press, 1996. FQ 58 St83j

Talbert, Charles H. Reading John: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the Fourth Gospel and the Johannine Epistles. New York: Crossroad, 1992. FL 8 T142r

Thompson, Marianne Meye. 1-3 John. IVP New Testament Commentary Series. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1992. FQ 58 T375f

Wescott, Brooke Foss, The Epistles of St John: The Greek Text. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Macmillan, 1886 FQ 58 W522e 1886 PF LIB. See also 1st, 1883 ed. At FQ 58 W522e

Studies

Brown, Raymond E. Community of the Beloved Disciple. New York: Paulist Press, 1979. UA 42 B814c

Burge, Gary M., The Annointed Community: The Holy Spirit in the Johannine Tradition. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1987. FX 94 B91a

Charlesworth, James H., ed. John and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Christian Origins Library. New York: Crossroad, 1990. DF 15 C38j

Crane, Thomas E. The Message of St. John: The Spiritual Teaching of the Beloved Disciple. New York: Alba House, 1980. FX 70 C85m

Culpepper, R. Alan. The Gospel and Letters of John. Interpreting Biblical Texts. Nashville: Abingdon, 1998. FL C899g

Hengel, Martin, The Johannine Question. London: SCM Press; Valley Forge: Trinity Press International, 1989. FL 5 H387j

Lieu, Judith, The Theology of the Johannine Epistles. New Testament Theology. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1991. FQ 50 L625t

Selected Articles

1 John

Baylis, Charles P., “The Meaning of ‘Walking in Darkness,’” Bibliotheca Sacra 149 (1992): 214-222.

Boer, Martinus C. de, “The Death of Jesus Christ and His Coming in the Flesh,” Novum Testamentum 33 (1991): 326-346.

Breck, John, “Biblical Chiasmus: Exploring Structure for Meaning,” Biblical Theology Bulletin 17 (1987): 70-74.

Bruns, J. Edgar, “Note on John 16:33 and 1 John 2:13-14,” Journal of Biblical Literature 86 (1967): 451-453.

Clavier, Henri, “Notes sur un mot-clef du Johannisme et de la soteriologie biblique: HILASMos,” Novum Testamentum 10 (1968): 287-304.

Dammers, A. H. “Hard Sayings,” Theology 66 (1963): 370-372.

Edwards, M. J. “Martyrdom and the First Epistle of John,” Novum Testamentum 31 (1989): 164-171.

Griffith, Terry, “’Little Children, Keep Yourselves from Idols,’” Tyndale Bulletin 48 (1997): 187-190

Gunton, Colin, “Christus Victor Revisited,” Journal of Theological Studies. New series. 36 (1985) 425-463.

Hills, Julian, “Little Children, Keep Yourselves From Idols: 1 John 5:21 reconsidered,” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 51 (1989): 285-310.

Hodges, Zane Clark, “Fellowship and Confession in 1 John 1:5-10,” Bibliotheca Sacra 129 (1972): 48-60.

Kubo, Sakae, “1 John 3:9: Absolute or Habitual?” Andrews University Seminary Studies 7 (1969): 47-56.

Levine, Joseph M. “Erasmus and the problem of the Johannine Comma,” Journal of the History of Ideas 58 (1997): 573-596.

Lieu, Judith M. “Blindness and the Johannine Tradition,” New Testament Studies 34 (1988): 83-95.

Noac, Bent, “On 1 John 2:12-14,” New Testament Studies 6 (1960) 236-241.

Painter, John, “The ‘opponents’ in 1 John,” New Testament Studies 32 (1986) 48-71

Posset, Franz, “John Bugenhagen and the Comma Johanneum,”Concordia Theological Quarterly 49 (1985): 245-251.

Scholer, David M. “1 John 4:7-21,” Review and Expositor 87 (1990): 7-21.

Schweizer, Eduard, “Zum religionsgechichtlichen Hintergrund der Sedungformel,” Zeitschrift für die neutestamentlich Wissenschaft und die Kunde der Altern Kirche 57 (1966): 199-210.

Suggit, John N. “1 John 5:21: Teknia, Phlaxate Heauta apo to Eidolon,” Journal of Theological Studies. New Series. 36 (1985) 386-390.

Trudinger, L. Paul, “Concerning Sins, Mortal and Otherwise: A Note on 1 John 5:16-17,” Biblica 52 (1971) 541-542.

Watson, Duane F. “1 John 2:12-14 as distributio, conduplicatio, and expolitio,” Journal for the Study of the New Testament 35 (1989) 97-110.

Witherintgon, Ben, III, “The waters of Birth: John 3:5 and 1 John 5:6-8,” New Testament Studies 35 (1989): 155-160.

2 John

Von Wahlde, Urban C., “The Theological Foundation of the Presbyter’s Argument in 2 Jn (2 Jn 4-6),” Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der Altern Kirche 76 (1985): 209-224.

3 John

Hiebert, D. Edmond, “Studies in 3 John,” Bibliotheca Sacra 144 (1987) 53-65, 194-207, 293-304 (a series of three studies on 3 Jn 1-4; 5-10; and 11-14).

Horvath, Tibor, “3 John 11b: An Early Ecumenical Creed?” Expository Times 85 (1974): 339-340.

Mitchell, Margaret M. “’Diotrophes Does Not Receive Us”: The Lexicogaphal and Social Context of 3 John 9-10,” Journal of Biblical Literature 117 (1998): 299-320.