Studien zum Corpus Iohanneum, Band II

In twelve revised and expanded essays on the Johannine writings, Michael Theobald takes up central debates – the genesis of the Corpus Iohanneum, the Johannine Lord’s Supper – and turns his attention to questions of reception history, such as the interpretation of the Gospel in mysticism.

The Gospel of John and the Epistles of John have been the focus of New Testament research for quite some time. In twelve updated and expanded recent studies on the Corpus Iohanneum, Michael Theobald addresses key issues in recent research, but also draws attention to aspects that have received little attention to date. He first examines the spatial and temporal construction of the Gospel, reads Johannine sayings as metatextual reflections of synoptic Jesus traditions, compares the interrogation scenes of the Passion with their synoptic versions, and inquires into the genesis of the Corpus Iohanneum as a whole. Central texts are reinterpreted exegetically and theologically: 2 Kings 17 appears as a formative background for Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman. The paradigm of a “sacramental forgetfulness of rites” is corrected in favor of a differentiated view of pneumatology and incarnation of the Lord’s Supper. Pilate’s words, “Behold, the man!” gain Christological depth, and the narrative figures of the Gospel illustrate what mature faith means. At the same time, the ecclesial reality of the Johannine communities, especially in the theme of hospitality, emerges clearly. In terms of reception history, the spectrum ranges from the ascetic interpretation of the miracle at Cana to a reinterpretation of John 17 based on the distinction between “holy” and “sacred” to the question of the appropriateness of the concept of mysticism. Furthermore, the paradigm of a “mysticism of the word” proves useful, which understands faith as an existential gift from God fulfilled in Christ.

Literarische Fragen - synchron und diachron
1. Raum- und Zeitkonstruktion im Johannesevangelium. Zugleich ein Beitrag zur expositionellen Funktion der Erzählung von der Tempelreinigung Joh 2,13-22
2. Johannine Dominical Sayings as "Metatexts" of Synoptic Sayings of Jesus. Reflections on a New Category within Reception-History
3. Gattungswandel in der johanneischen Passionserzählung. Die Verhöre Jesu durch Pilatus (Joh 18,33-38; 19,8-12) im Licht der Acta Isidori und anderer Prozessdialoge
4. Eine Gemeinschaft von „Zeugen" (von Joh 1,7.15 bis 3Joh 12). Beobachtungen zur Genese des Corpus Iohanneum auf der Basis des Prologs
Vertiefungen - exegetisch und bibeltheologisch
5. 2Kön 17,24-41 als Prätext des Gesprächs Jesu mit der Samaritanerin (Joh 4,4-26)
6. Eucharistie in Joh 6.Vom pneumatologischen zum inkarnationstheologischen Verstehensmodell
7. Ecce homo - Christus und der entehrte Mensch (Joh 19,4-7). Zu einer rätselhaften Christusprädikation
8. „Wir haben geglaubt und erkannt [...]" (Joh 6,69). Selbstverantworteter Glaube nach dem Johannesevangelium
9. Gastfreundschaft im Corpus Iohanneum. Zur religiösen Transformation eines kulturellen Grundcodes der Antike
Rezeptions- und Wirkungsgeschichte
10. Die Hochzeit zu Kana (Joh 2,1-11) - ein Problem für Asketen?
11. Das sogenannte hohepriesterliche Gebet Jesu (Joh 17). Eckpfeiler der sazerdotal-kultischen Wahrnehmung der Passion Jesu durch Joseph Ratzinger / Benedikt XVI.
12. „An der Brust Jesu" (Joh 13,23) - Christusmystik bei Johannes? Ein rezeptionsgeschichtlicher Zugang

• By (author) Michael Theobald