Drawing and Transcending Boundaries in the Dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus: Fresh Perspectives from John's Hellenistic Background and Chrysostomic Reception

This article offers fresh perspectives on the dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3 by considering both the dynamic interaction of the author(s) of the Gospel of John with ancient Mediterranean philosophical and religious traditions and the Homilies of John Chrysostom on the Fourth Gospel....

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
1. VerfasserIn: Despotis, Athanasios 1979- (Verfasst von)
Medienart: Elektronisch Aufsatz
Sprache:Englisch
Verfügbarkeit prüfen: HBZ Gateway
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Veröffentlicht: [2018]
In: Journal of early Christian history
Jahr: 2018, Band: 8, Heft: 1, Seiten: 68-87
RelBib Classification:HC Neues Testament
KAB Kirchengeschichte 30-500; Frühchristentum
VA Philosophie
weitere Schlagwörter:B Hellenistic Philosophy
B John Chrysostom
B Religious Conversion
B John 3
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:This article offers fresh perspectives on the dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3 by considering both the dynamic interaction of the author(s) of the Gospel of John with ancient Mediterranean philosophical and religious traditions and the Homilies of John Chrysostom on the Fourth Gospel. The current analysis demonstrates that the idea of "being begotten from above" refers to a transcending of ontological and epistemological borders by the power of the Spirit, which presupposes a ritual baptism. The way the Fourth Gospel describes the "process of being begotten from above" answers contemporary Jewish and Greco-Roman questions in an unconventional way. This is due to the fact that it links the convert's transformation to the narrative regarding the descent of the Logos from above (v.31): A birth anothen ontologically transforms the believer, for he/she receives the same origin with Jesus who comes anothen. Lastly, the Chrysostomic exegesis helps the modern reader to read the Johannine text anew from the perspective of the discussions regarding human union (henosis) with God and divine condescension (synkatabasis) in late antiquity.
ISSN:2471-4054
Enthält:Enthalten in: Journal of early Christian history
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/2222582X.2018.1491320