A Socio-narratological Approach to Johannine Christology through Characterization of Women in the Gospel of John

Abstract

This dissertation examines the role of Johannine women: Mary the mother of Jesus (2:1-11), the Samaritan Woman (4:1-42), Martha and Mary (11:1-44), Mary of Bethany (12:1-8), the Women at the Cross (19:25-27), and Mary Magdalene (20:1-18), thus suggesting an alternative approach to a better understanding of Johannine Christology. Chapter 1 introduces the justification of this study, scholarship and issues related to women's study, the limitations which this dissertation faces, and the methodology, a socio-narratological approach that this dissertation utilizes to draw out the characterization of Johannine women. Chapter 2 provides some of the major key christological concepts in the Gospel of John and introduces various approaches which have been taken for the study of Johannine Christology, pointing out their limitation. Chapters 3 and 4 deal with each pericope related to women specifically. Chapter 3 examines the women who appear in the Book of Signs (chaps. 1-12). Chapter 4 examines the women who appear in the Book of Passion (chaps. 13-21). These two chapters draw out the characterization of women each according to literary aspects and cultural aspects, and through Synkrsis. Then each pericope in these two chapters is concluded with christological implication that the characterization of women bears. Chapter 5 reflects on the result of this study, thus providing an alternative understanding to Johannine Christology.