Overview

"This study argues that the Gospel of John's anti-Judaism can be well understood from the perspective of trends apparent within the context of broader Greco-Roman culture. It uses the paradigm of collective memory and aspects of social identity theory and self-categorization theory to explore the theological and narrative functions of the Johannine Jews. Relying upon a diverse range of historical testimony drawn from Greco-Roman literature, inscriptions, and papyri, this work attempts to understand the social identities and social locations of Diaspora Jews as a first step in reading John's Gospel in the context of the political and social instability of the first century CE. It then attempts to understand John's theology, its portrayal of Jewish social identity, and the narrative and theological functions of """"the Jews"""" as a group character in light of this historical context. This work attempts to demonstrate that while John's treatment of Jews and Judaism is multivalent at both social and theological levels, it is primarily focused upon strengthening a Christologically centered Christian identity while attempting to mitigate the attractiveness of Judaism as a religious competitor."

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9781725298163

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Jonathan Numada offers a brave and fascinating study of Jewish self-categorizations found in Hellenistic Diaspora Jewish literature. Using social identity theory and self-categorization theory, Numada asks--What did it mean to be a 'jew' in Egypt, Asia Minor, and Rome. He then turns to John's Gospel to examine the presentation of 'the Jews' in this text. At a time when Judaism was still attractive to the Jewish believers in Jesus, the Gospel's polemic sets up a clear choice for Jews--choose Jesus and his fidelity to ancestral teaching, or choose Caesar. This study changes the usual 'two-level drama' paradigm. --Mary Coloe, University of Divinity, Melbourne How can John's Gospel so frequently speak of 'the Jews' overall in a negative light, especially as those who rejected Jesus? Numada applies social identity theory to this vexed question, making substantial progress toward a solution. While still using thoroughly Jewish categories, the Fourth Gospel selects different elements (or at least refocuses existing elements) from those individuals who most opposed Jesus, in order to depict what most constituted Judaism. In so doing, he shows that those truest to their Jewish heritage have good reasons for following Jesus, while the differences between unbelieving Jews and Gentiles diminish in the process. This is an important study that repays careful reading. --Craig L. Blomberg, Denver Seminary

"""Jonathan Numada offers a brave and fascinating study of Jewish self-categorizations found in Hellenistic Diaspora Jewish literature. Using social identity theory and self-categorization theory, Numada asks--What did it mean to be a 'jew' in Egypt, Asia Minor, and Rome. He then turns to John's Gospel to examine the presentation of 'the Jews' in this text. At a time when Judaism was still attractive to the Jewish believers in Jesus, the Gospel's polemic sets up a clear choice for Jews--choose Jesus and his fidelity to ancestral teaching, or choose Caesar. This study changes the usual 'two-level drama' paradigm."" --Mary Coloe, University of Divinity, Melbourne ""How can John's Gospel so frequently speak of 'the Jews' overall in a negative light, especially as those who rejected Jesus? Numada applies social identity theory to this vexed question, making substantial progress toward a solution. While still using thoroughly Jewish categories, the Fourth Gospel selects different elements (or at least refocuses existing elements) from those individuals who most opposed Jesus, in order to depict what most constituted Judaism. In so doing, he shows that those truest to their Jewish heritage have good reasons for following Jesus, while the differences between unbelieving Jews and Gentiles diminish in the process. This is an important study that repays careful reading."" --Craig L. Blomberg, Denver Seminary"

Author Information

Jonathan Numada is Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Northwest Seminary and College in Langley, British Columbia, Canada.

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