A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN AND MARY MAGDALENE IN THE FOURTH GOSPEL, EBIN PAPPACHAN OFM Cap (original) (raw)
Related papers
Mary Magdalene in the Four Gospels
Louvain Studies, 2007
The aim of this article is to give a comprehensive exegetical analysis of the presentation of Mary Magdalene in the four gospels. Our redaction-critical study focuses on the diverse presentations of Mary Magdalene as a follower, a witness, a care-giver/provider, someone who is cured of demons and as a witness of the first resurrection appearance. We provide a synopsis of all the passages in the NT where Mary Magdalene is mentioned (in English) to assist the reader in verifying the similarities and the differences between the versions of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Using redaction-critical, literary-critical and feminist-critical methods, we try to uncover the reasons why the four evangelists each develop their own image of Mary Magdalene. 1. We are grateful to the Fund for Scientific Research Flanders in Brussels (FWO) for the research grant "Mary Magdalene and the touching of Jesus: An intra-and interdisciplinary investigation of the interpretation of John 20:17 in exegesis, iconography and pastoral care." The research and writing of the present article is a part of this project.
Changing Images of the Samaritan Woman in Early Reformed Commentaries on John
Church History, 1996
Medieval Christians were fascinated by the character of the Samaritan woman, whose story is presented in the fourth chapter of the Gospel of John. Numerous legends celebrating her life history recounted in imaginative detail the heroic deeds of this convert to Christ. The Bible itself, of course, gives no information about her following her encounter with Jesus, nor does it even mention her name. But medieval hagiographers named her Photina and recounted her brave witness to the gospel, leading to her ultimate martyrdom. One legend reports that she converted the daughter of Nero and was martyred in Rome. Another places her in Carthage, where she preached the gospel and died in prison. 1 Although ancient and medieval commentaries on the fourth Gospel do not commemorate these extracanonical accomplishments, they portray the Samaritan woman's personality and discipleship in equally flattering ways. Not only does she beautifully model the sinner's conversion to Christ, but she also demonstrates admirable zeal in bearing witness to Christ among her fellow Samaritans. On the basis of her testimony, a host of the citizens of Sychar come to faith in Christ, a feat matched by none of Jesus' disciples in the pages of the Gospels. Sixteenth-century Protestant commentators on this story distinctly and significantly changed the traditional exegetical portrait of the Samaritan woman. 2 Illuminating examples of this come from five sixteenth-century,
Both literary theory and biblical narrative criticism lack an articulate, comprehensive theory of character. Many Gospel critics perceive character in the Hebrew bible (where characters can develop) to be radically different from that in ancient Greek literature (where characters are supposedly consistent ethical types). Most people also sharply distinguish between modern fiction and its psychological, individualistic approach to character and ancient characterization where character lacks personality or individuality. In Part I, we examine concepts of character in ancient Hebrew and Greek literature as well as modern fiction, arguing that although there are differences in characterization, these are differences in emphases rather than kind. It is better to speak of degrees of characterization along a continuum. In Part II, we develop a comprehensive theory of character in the Fourth Gospel, consisting of three aspects. First, we study character in text and context, using information in the text and other sources. Second, we analyse and classify the Johannine characters along three dimensions (complexity, development, inner life), and plot the resulting character on a continuum of degree of characterization (from agent to type to personality to individuality). We observe that many Johannine characters are more complex and round than has been believed so far. Third, we analyse and evaluate the characters' responses to Jesus in relation to the Fourth Evangelist's evaluative point of view, purpose and dualistic worldview.
Three Retellings of the Samaritan Woman Story (John 4:1-30, 39-42
Three Retellings of the Samaritan Woman Story, 2024
In seeking a fresh reading of John 4, the Three Retellings of the Samaritan Woman Story exposes bias and our tendencies to read into the text what may not be there at all. The document is dramatic and serves prosopopeically to illumine John's literary purpose. This document is intended to complement historical exegesis.
Women and Discipleship in the Gospels
Ghana Journal of Religion and Theology
Some reading the canonical Gospels, namely, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are inclined to think that the disciples Jesus called were all men or males because whether it is the names of the apostles or a pronoun used about them, it is either a man’s name or masculine gender. It is a situation that tends to lead some Christian churches to prefer having only male ministers or pastors. The author of this paper argues that the notion or idea is a presentation of the first three Gospels but not the Fourth. The Fourth Gospel presents not only men but also women as disciples of Jesus.
https://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/product/9781451470062/Encountering-Jesus. Applying a comprehensive theory of character to the Gospel of John, Cornelis Bennema provides a fresh analysis of both the characters and their responses to Jesus. While the majority of scholars view most Johannine characters as “flat,” Bennema demonstrates that many are complex, developing, and “round.” John’s broad array of characters and their responses to Jesus correspond to people and their choices in real life in any culture and time. This book highlights how John’s Gospel seeks to challenge its readers, past and present, about where they stand in relation to Jesus.