Allusion and Meaning in John 6: Dissertationsschrift

248 Pages·2005·10.176 MB·English

by  Susan Hylen

Susan Hylen
Allusion and Meaning in John 6
Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die
neutestamentliche Wissenschaft
und die Kunde der älteren Kirche
Herausgegeben von
James D. G. Dunn · Carl R. Holladay
Hermann Lichtenberger · Jens Schröter
Gregory E. Sterling · Michael Wolter
Band 137
W
DE
G
Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
Susan Hylen
Allusion and Meaning in John 6
W
DE
G
Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
Printed on acid-free paper which falls within the guidelines of the \\S[
to ensure permanence and durability.
ISBN-13: 978-3-11-018577-5
ISBN-10: 3-11-018577-6
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
I IVILII, Susan.
Allusion and meaning in John 6 / Susan Hylcn.
p. cm. — (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamcntlichc Wissen-
schaft und die Kunde der älteren Kirchc ; Bd. 137)
Includes bibliographical refcrenccs (p. ) and indexes.
ISBN 3-11-018577-6 (hardcover 23 X 15,5 cm : alk. paper)
1. Bible. N.T. John VI — Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2. Allusions in
the Bible. 3. Meaning (Philosophy) — Biblical teaching. I. Tide. II. Bei-
hefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutcstamcntlichc Wissenschaft und die Kunde
der älteren Kirchc ; Beiheft 137.
BS410.Z7 Heft. 137
|BS2615.52]
225.6 s — dc22
1226.5/
2005027707
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Die Deutsche Bibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed
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© Copyright 2005 by Walter de Gruytcr GmbH & Co. KG, D-10785 Berlin
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Printed in Germany
Cover design: Christopher Schneider, Berlin
Acknowledgements
Many resources—financial and emotional as well as intellectual—
have contributed to the completion of this project, which is a revised
version of my dissertation. I am grateful to Emory University for the
funding provided during my five years of graduate study. Beyond its
monetary contributions, I also want to recognize the collegia 1 environ-
ment that is intentionally cultivated at Emory. My education and
development as a scholar have benefited greatly from the lack of
competition between students for financial resources, attention to
interdisciplinary engagement, and an institutional environment in
which scholarly disagreement is not necessarily acrimonious.
I am grateful on many counts to particular individuals who have
shaped this project. My advisor, Gail O'Day, carefully read multiple
drafts of my work. Her feedback helped me to sharpen my questions
and deepen my analysis. The other members of my committee, Luke
Johnson, Walter Wilson, and Brent Strawn, helped me to shape the
project at an early stage as well as to improve its final form. All four
showed a willingness to ask pointed questions but also to allow my
own answers to emerge. In its latter stages, my work received support
and constructive feedback from the editors of the BZNW series. I am
especially grateful to Carsten Burfeind for his timely and gracious
assistance. Julie M. Meadows edited the final draft of the work, and I
am thankful for her thorough and insightful comments.
The completion of a dissertation is as much a matter of will as of
intellect, and I am especially grateful for the feedback and support of
my colleagues and friends. Dave Garber and Shelly Rambo read some
of the roughest drafts of my work. Their generous responses helped me
to clarify my ideas and my writing. Dan Mathewson and Rob von
Thaden, along with many others in the Graduate Division of Relig-
ion, sustained me with conversation and encouragement. My family,
friends, and the people of Oakhurst Presbyterian Church reminded me
of important arenas of my life outside of academic achievement. I am
especially thankful for Ted Smith, who in every aspect of this process
has been a partner and friend.

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Allusion and Meaning in John 6: A History 1
1.1. Patristic and Medieval Interpretation 2
1.1.1. John Chrysostom 3
1.1.2. Augustine 8
1.1.3. Thomas Aquinas 9
1.1.4. Summary 13
1.2. The Reformation 14
1.2.1. Martin Luther 15
1.2.2. John Calvin 17
1.2.3. Summary 19
1.3. Modern Interpretation of John 6 20
1.3.1. Rudolf Bultmann 22
1.3.2. Charles Harold Dodd 25
1.3.3. Peder Borgen 28
1.3.4. Summary 32
1.4. Recent Trends in Scholarship on John 6 33
1.4.1. Summary 39
1.5. Conclusion 40
Chapter Two
Interpreting Allusions in John 6 43
2.1. Understanding Relationships between Texts 44
2.1.1. Allusion 44
2.1.2. Typology 46
2.1.3. Intertextuality 49
2.1.4. Echo 52
2.1.5. Identifying Allusions 53
viii Table of Contents
2.2. Reading Allusions as Metaphors 59
2.2.1. Metaphor 60
2.2.2. Allusion as a Transformation of Meaning 68
2.2.3. Multiple Allusions 72
2.3. Conclusion 74
Chapter Three
Allusions to Exodus in Ancient Jewish Writings 77
3.1. Ezekiel the Tragedian 78
3.2. Jubilees 86
3.3. Wisdom of Solomon 93
3.4. Philo 102
3.4.1. On the Change of Names 253-263 105
3.4.2. Allegorical Interpretation of Genesis 3.163-168 107
3.4.3. Allegorical Interpretation of Genesis 3.169-173 110
3.5. Conclusion 113
Chapter Four
Allusions to Exodus in John 6 119
4.1. Moses 120
4.2. Crossing the Red Sea 131
4.3. Manna 135
4.4. The Israelites 146
4.5. Conclusion 152
Chapter Five
Allusion and Meaning 157
5.1. Meaning in Relationship 157
5.2. John 6 in the Context of Early Christian Interpretation 162
5.2.1. Melito's Peri Pascha 164
5.2.2. Origen's Peri Pascha 169
5.2.3. Origen's Homilae in Exodum 174
5.3. Reading John 6 in Relation to Exodus 176
5.3.1. Continuity with Jewish Scriptures 178
5.3.2. Dualism 181
5.3.3. The Metaphorical Nature of John's Language 186
5.4. Conclusion 194
Table of Contents IX
Bibliography 197
1. Primary Sources 197
2. Commentaries 199
3. Books 200
4. Articles 209
Index of References 225
1. Hebrew Bible/Old Testament 225
2. Apocrypha/Pseudepigrapha 228
3. Philo 230
4. Josephus 231
5. New Testament 232
6. Rabbinic and Other Jewish Literature 234
7. Later Christian Literature 235
Index of Subjects 236
Index of Modern Authors 238