John and the resistant reader: The Fourth Gospel after Nicea and the Holocaust

Abstract

Modern readers of the Fourth Gospel can scarcely ignore the Wirkungsgeschichte of this powerful text. Although its intense polemic against "the Jews" can be understood historically as a not unusual example of intra-Jewish sectarian animosity, its appropriation by Christians has made a sinister contribution to the Holocaust.
Furthermore, although the Fourth Gospel affirms of the disciple everything that it affirms of Jesus, it has served as the starting point for conciliar definitions on christology which have opened up a "divinity gap" between the reader and the central figure in the narrative.
An archetypal reading of this text makes possible an encounter with the author's imaginal world, without being put off by the offensive rhetoric.

Opsomming
Moderne lesers van die Vierde Evangelie kan moeilik die Wirkungsgeschichte van hierdie kragtige teks ignoreer. Hoewel die intense polemiek teen "die Jade" binne die historiese konteks begryp kan word as histories 'n nie ongewone voorbeeld van intra-Joodse sektariese vyandigheid, het die teks se toe-eiening deur Christene 'n sinistere bydrae tot die Groot Slagting gelewer.
Verder, hoewel die Vierde Evangelie alles ten opsigte van die dissipels bevestig wat dit vir Jesus bevestig, het dit gedien as die beginpunt vir versoenende definisies van Christologie wat 'n "Goddelike gaping" tussen die leser en die sentrale figure in die verhaal oopgemaak het.
'n Argetipiese lees van hierdie teks maak 'n ontmoeting met die auteur se verbeeldings­wereld moontlik, sander die gevaar om vervreemd te word deur aanstootlike retoriek.