Exegetical Paper Passage and Bibliography

John 7:53- 8:11

The two verses basically talk about the adulterous lady who was brought before Jesus and asked to render a judgement. According to the people, the woman was supposed to be stoned, based on the dictates of Moses’ teachings. However, Jesus did not do according to what they expected, but instead forgave the women and asked her to go. John 7:53 is the initial part which is then continued in chapter 8 of the verse[1]. And every man went unto his own house- there is a mark of confusion and disorder while the men break up. It is consequently possible that some of the Sadducees may have joined Nicodemus in differing with the Pharisees, and hence increased the disorder. It is a most revealing and melancholy exhibition of the influence of pride, envy, disdain, and anger, when brought to bear on an inquiry, and when they are manifestly opposed to candor, to argument, and to truth. So wild and manic are the desires of men when they go against the person and claims of the son of God. It is outstanding, too, how God completes his purposes. They were determined to destroy Jesus, however, their desires were not met. God agonized their passion to be thrilled, a tumult to ensure, the assembly hence to break up in disorder, and Jesus to be safe, for his time and had not yet arrived.

This is also similar to chapter 8, whereby the verse talks about the essence of Jesus into the world. Jesus came into the world so as to act as a civil magistrate, hence he refused to adjudicate a case or to be concerned in dividing inheritance between two brothers. Similarly, he did not also come to the world to convict it, but he came to the world, that through him, it might be saved[2]. He would not therefore pass a sentence against anyone who had committed a crime or a sin. His main aim was to unite all, through his death, thus saving the humankind from destruction. Due to that reason, he did not see the reason as to why he had to pass the sentence to the woman, because his main aim was to pass the message of repentance and to save the world. While the people wanted him to rely on the teachings and commands of Moses, to the point of provoking him to make a ruling which would go hand in hand with Moses’ teachings, Jesus decides to use his own approach, and instead calls her to repentance, and asks her to go and to sin no more.

While Moses’ teachings allowed those found guilty of adultery to be stoned to death, Jesus went contrary to the law, and instead left the woman free. Just as Deuteronomy 13:5 states, Thou shalt put the evil away from the midst of thee”; it was not necessary for Jesus to make a ruling which would affect the life of an innocent woman who could have changed her life through being saved and accepting Jesus as her savior[3]. He therefore taught the people the importance of trusting on the lord and to respect the lives of those who had committed serious mistakes, as it was not necessary to kill them, because that was going against the will of God.             

 

Reference

Ashton, John. Understanding the Fourth Gospel. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991.

Barrett, Charles Kingsley. The Gospel According to St. John. 2d ed. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1978.

Brown, Raymond E. The Gospel According to John. 2 vols. Anchor Bible. Garden City: Doubleday, l966,

1970.

Bultmann, Rudolf. The Gospel of John: A Commentary. Oxford: Blackwell, 1971.

Charlesworth, James H. The Beloved Disciple: Whose Witness Validates the Gospel of John? Valley Forge,

PA: Trinity Press International, 1995.

Culpepper, R. Alan. Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel: A Study in Literary Design. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1983.

Koester, Craig. Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel: Mystery, Meaning, Community. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2003.

Martyn, J. Louis. History and Theology in the Fourth Gospel. New York: Harper & Row, 1968.

Moloney, Francis. The Gospel of John. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1998.

 

[1] Ashton, John. Understanding the Fourth Gospel. Oxford University Press, 1991.

[2] Bultman, Rudolf. The Gospel According to John. 2 vols. Anchor Bible. Garden City: Doubleday, 1966.    

[3] Ashton, John. Understanding the Fourth Gospel.