Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman What's the Point of John's Gospel?
7 snips
Aug 5, 2025 Hugo Mendez, an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at UNC Chapel Hill, dives deep into the Gospel of John, a text he's passionately explored for over a decade. He discusses the motivations behind its writing, revealing the author's awareness of earlier gospels. Mendez highlights John’s unique theological insights, including concepts of spiritual rebirth and eternal life, and how they differ from other gospels. The conversation also uncovers the symbolic language John employs, particularly around themes of light, dwelling, and the evolution of narratives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
John's Gospel Builds on Synoptics
- The author of the Gospel of John likely knew and was influenced by the Synoptic Gospels Mark, Matthew, and Luke.
- John builds on this tradition but makes unique theological moves to address gaps in the existing gospel literature.
John's Unique Theological Emphases
- The Gospel of John introduces a unique theology of spiritual transformation, divine indwelling, eternal life now, and deification.
- These ideas represent a significant theological gap John sought to fill beyond the Synoptic Gospels' teachings.
Diverse Influences on John's Theology
- John's theology reflects influences from Hellenistic Jewish philosophy like Philo's Logos and Pauline Christian thought.
- Concepts of divine indwelling and deification show integration of diverse intellectual traditions into John's gospel.
