Did first century Mediterranean readers of the Fourth Gospel have comparable literary examples to inform their comprehension of Moses as a character? In addressing this question, Harstine's study falls into two parts. The first is an analysis of the character Moses as utilized in the text of the Fourth Gospel. The second is an examination of other Hellenistic narrative texts, in which the character of Homer is also considered, as another important legendary figure with whom the readers of the Fourth Gospel would have been familiar.

This book investigates the narrative function of the Old Testament characters in the Gospel of John. The fascinating thesis is that the Hebrew characters in John's narrative uniformly function as a witness for the messianic identity of Jesus. The Jewish scriptural traditions (Hebrew and intertestamental ones) are compared to shed light on John's indebtedness for its formation of his Christology. A compelling argument ensues, which informs our understanding, not only of the Gospel itself, but also of Jesus Christ revealed in the Gospel. COMMENDATION "Dr Ahn's thorough and careful study represents a solid contribution, from which many will benefit. All serious interpreters of the Johannine witness will want to refer to this work." - Mark A. Seifrid, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, USA

The Gospel of John is a magnificent book. Intricate fabrics interweave its beautiful robe and its material is a finely twisted linen of many colors. Throughout the history of the church, interpreters have long been captivated by its loveliness and power. Many modern interpreters, however, would not hesitate to call it puzzling, confusing, or ridden with riddles at least. “What is John?” is therefore a fascinating question that lingers. During the last half century, literary theories have been brought into the study of the Fourth Gospel with varying degrees of success. New analytical lenses are cast over the Gospel to render its secrets, but it feels as if only those who are initiated into its mystery have the knowledge. Reading and rereading strategies are offered, but the path out of the vast labyrinth is difficult to find. The Gospel of John, however, surprisingly reads much like the Old Testament. In fact, its form is deeply imbued in the styles of Old Testament poetry, narratives, and prophets, that when they are properly understood together, John’s message comes across clearly. Taking a comprehensive view of the styles of the Old Testament, this book takes you to see John in its grand design.

This book examines the divine-human union of Jesus Christ in the Gospel and the Epistles of John in light of ancient Mediterranean models of how gods were believed to appear on earth. The book argues that the possession model provides the basis for the Johannine contribution to incarnation.

Friendship in the Graeco-Roman world took a wide variety of forms, with some 'friendships' involving nothing more than a political alliance or patron-client relationship and others involving deep personal intimacy. When Jesus says his disciples are to be called 'friends', what type of friendship does he have in mind? Friendship may seem a relatively insignificant motif in the Gospel of John, since the author does not explicitly set out to provide a philosophical discourse on the nature of friendship, nor does he explicitly state that the narrative is about friendship. In this study, however, Culy, having carefully examined Graeco-Roman literature on friendship, demonstrates that the language of what he calls 'ideal friendship' actually pervades the Fourth Gospel from beginning to end and serves as a primary vehicle for characterizing the relationships that are introduced in the Prologue and fleshed out throughout the course of the narrative. Taking up the friendship motif as a tool of characterization, the Gospel of John points to a striking implication of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus: that followers of Jesus are invited to enjoy a level of intimacy with him that can actually, and perhaps only, be compared to the level of intimacy that he enjoys with the Father. The Johannine Jesus, then, came not just to save the world but also to offer those who would follow him a relationship that Graeco-Roman philosophers only dreamed of, a relationship where all the ingredients of ideal friendship were present.