Her Testimony Is True: Women as Witnesses According to John

285 Pages·12.399 MB·English

by  Robert Gordon Maccini

l i b r a r y o f n e w t e s t a m e n t s t u d i e s
Her TeSTimoNy
iS True
Women as Witnesses according to John

RobeRt GoRdon Maccini
JOURNAL FOR THE STUDY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
SUPPLEMENT SERIES
125
Executive Editor
Stanley E. Porter
Editorial Board
Richard Bauckham, David Catchpole, R. Alan Culpepper,
Margaret Davies, James D.G. Dunn, Craig A. Evans, Stephen Fowl,
Robert Fowler, Robert Jewett, Elizabeth Struthers Malbon
Sheffield Academic Press

Her Testimony is True
Women as Witnesses
according to John
Robert Gordon Maccini
Journal for the Study of the New Testament
Supplement Series 125
In honour of my parents
Copyright © 1996 Sheffield Academic Press
Published by Sheffield Academic Press Ltd
Mansion House
19 Kingfield Road
Sheffield, SI 19AS
England
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library
EISBN 9781850755883
CONTENTS
Preface 7
Acknowledgments 9
Abbreviations 10
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION 13
1. Rationale 13
2. Method 15
Chapter 2
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN AS TRIAL 19
1. The Rhetorical Purpose 19
2. The Juridical Character 32
3. Witnesses in the Gospel of John 55
Chapter 3
WOMEN AS WITNESSES IN BIBLICAL CULTURE 63
1. Legal Testimony 70
2. Eyewitness Testimony 77
3. Religious Testimony 83
4. Conclusion 95
Chapter 4
THE MOTHER OF JESUS WAS THERE 98
1. John 2.1-11: The Exegetical Issues 98
2. John 2.1^.54: An Interpretative Frame 107
3. The Mother of Jesus as a Witness 112
Chapter 5
A SAMARITAN WOMAN CAME TO DRAW WATER 118
1. John 4.4-42: The Exegetical Issues 119
2. John 1.35-51: An Interpretative Frame 129
3. The Samaritan Woman as a Witness 131
6 Her Testimony Is True
Chapter 6
THE SISTERS SENT WORD TO JESUS 145
1. John 11.1-46: The Exegetical Issues 146
2. John 6.1 -70: An Interpretative Frame 152
3. Martha and Mary as Witnesses 161
Chapter 7
MARTHA SERVED...MARY POURED 172
1. John 12.1-8: The Exegetical Issues 173
2. John 13.1-17: An Interpretative Frame 175
3. Martha and Mary as Witnesses 176
Chapter 8
STANDING NEAR THE CROSS 184
1. John 19.25-27: The Exegetical Issues 185
2. John 2.1 -11: An Interpretative Frame 191
3. The Women at the Cross as Witnesses 199
Chapter 9
MARY MAGDALENE WENT TO THE TOMB 207
1. John 20.1-18: The Exegetical Issues 207
2. John 20.19-29: An Interpretative Frame 216
3. Mary Magdalene as a Witness 225
Chapter 10
EXCURSUS 234
1. John 7.53-8.11: They Stood her in their Midst 234
2. John 9.1-41: They Summoned his Parents 235
3. John 18.12-27: He Spoke to the Gatekeeper 237
Chapter 11
HER TESTIMONY is TRUE 240
1. Narrative 241
2. History 245
3. Concluding Observations 249
Bibliography 253
Index of References 264
Index of Authors 275
PREFACE
Biblical scholars can either confess or conceal their prejudices, but they
cannot pretend to have none. Because my wife, Rebecca, and I are both
ordained pastors, I have more than an academic interest in the issues of
women in the Bible and the church. I am committed, to the best of my
understanding and ability, to the equality of women and men in all
aspects of church life. I think that I stand somewhere between the 'far
left' and the 'far right' on these matters, and I hope that this shows
circumspection rather than irresolution on my part.
Because of my vested interest in the advancement of women in the
church, I am predisposed to want the New Testament to be favourable
toward women. That predisposition cannot be removed, and so I have
tried to keep it in view if not in check by playing the devil's advocate
against myself throughout the research. Readers will judge for them-
selves whether or not this gambit was desirable, successful, or even
possible.
I once submitted an article to a feminist theological journal. The
editors informed me that the article was excellent but unsuitable because
it was not written from a feminist perspective. The editors urged me to
submit the article to a New Testament publication, or to rewrite it from
a feminist perspective and resubmit it to them. I did the former because I
am incompetent to do the latter. My interest in biblical issues about
women does not qualify me as a feminist. Still, I hope to offer something
of worth to New Testament studies about women, and I am encouraged
by the opinion of I.M. Lindboe: 'Within New Testament research it is
not possible to erase the contributions of male scholars, even if they
apply only traditional methods, without losing valuable and interesting
studies'.1
Shortly after I arrived for three years of study in Scotland, Brian
Keenan was released after more than four years of imprisonment in
1. I.M. Lindboe, 'Recent Literature: Development and Perspectives in New
Testament Research on Women', ST43 (1989), p. 153.
8 Her Testimony Is True
Lebanon at the hands of fundamentalist militants. Keenan authored a
book about his experience, and writes in the first chapter,
I think of the opening lines of the Bible: 'In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God'. Somehow those lines kept ringing back to
me in the long captive silences, with a head full of words, a confusion of
images, a mind not sane enough to find a rational perspective from which
I could understand what was happening to me. Again I recall that ancient
prologue to try to convey to you something of that imprisoned time and
hopefully to explain something of what it meant and how it continues to
have meaning.2
The biblical scholar notices immediately that Keenan has failed to get it
right, that he has confused the opening words of John with those of
Genesis. No matter. Brian Keenan knows, in a way that very few of
us—including biblical scholars—ever do, the power that John's words
have to shine the light of Christ into even the most abysmal darkness.
My hope is that this book will be more than just a scholarly exercise in
trying to get things right, that in some way it will reflect the light which
still shines in the darkness. If that happens, this book will have been
worth the effort that I and those who support me have poured into it.
2. B. Keenan, An Evil Cradling (London: Arrow, 1993), p. 1.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Her Testimony Is True represents the substance of my PhD dissertation
accepted at the University of Aberdeen in 1994.1 am grateful to many
individuals and groups who helped to make possible that dissertation and
therefore this book.
Grants were provided by Clan Donald Trust, by the American Baptist
Churches Board of Educational Ministries, and by the Committee
of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United
Kingdom. Professor I. Howard Marshall and Professor Ruth B. Edwards
gave me the opportunity to teach the Gospel of John to undergraduate
classes, providing me with invaluable experience and financial assistance.
It was my pleasure to work under the supervision of Ruth Edwards.
Her superb scholarship, candid criticism, and warm spirit served to
guide, challenge, and sustain me.
The staff of the Queen Mother Library at the University of Aberdeen
set the standards for efficiency, cordiality, and patience.
I cannot adequately thank the congregation of Crown Terrace Baptist
Church in Aberdeen for all they have done, especially their pastor,
James M. Gordon, and secretary, Nancy Manning. Likewise, the con-
gregation of Queen's Cross Church of Scotland in Aberdeen and their
pastor, Robert F. Brown, gave incalculable support.
Among many other generous friends in the United States, I am
indebted to Bessie Ewen, Eunice Strobel, Roland Regnier, Felicia
Desmarais, and Ken and Kate Downes.
This book reflects only one portion of the loving support I have
received from my family. For them—especially my wife Rebecca—I am
grateful beyond measure.
Above all, thanks be to God.