The Literary Devices in John's Gospel

As an interdisciplinary forerunner of the new literary approaches to gospel narratives over the last four decades in New Testament scholarship, the revised and expanded monograph by David Wead makes a timely contribution to the advancement of those studies. Rooted in comparative analyses of contemporary Hellenistic and Jewish literary techniques, and drawing from the best of Continental scholarship, Wead not only points Johannine scholars to relevant ancient resources, but his analyses prepare the way for fresh interpretations of John's story of Jesus today. Published originally in Switzerland, this book was overlooked by many scholars, to the detriment of their work. However, in addressing such themes as John's post-resurrection point of view, the Johannine sign, the Johannine double meaning, irony in the Fourth Gospel, and metaphor in the Fourth Gospel, Wead's work is now available to new generations of scholars, who will find his work both instructive and provocative. This newly revised and expanded edition, edited by Paul Anderson and Alan Culpepper, not only includes a new epilogue by David Wead, featuring new reflections and insights, but it also includes an expansive overview of the literature--before and after Wead's work--including a helpful assessment of Wead's monograph in service to ongoing Johannine scholarship. No serious study of Gospel literary features, devices, and strategies can afford to overlook this important book! Wead's work was a historic contribution to the field of New Testament studies, one of the very earliest sustained attempts to apply emerging narrative-critical models to established problems in biblical scholarship. Preceding Alan Culpepper's Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel by more than a decade, the book remains essential to any history of research in Johannine studies and also serves as a window into the dawn of literary-critical study of the Gospels. --Tom Thatcher, Professor of Biblical Studies, Cincinnati Christian University This revised and expanded version of Wead's classic study showcases his prescient insights into John's connection to ancient methods of communication--particularly Greek drama--as well as how interpretation can be aided by means of more contemporary literary criticism. Propelling his work into a much-deserved place in the continuing conversation, this book shows how students of John's literary artistry are also in Wead's debt! --Alicia D. Myers, Assistant Professor of New Testament and Greek, Campbell University Divinity School In this important but often overlooked volume, David Wead's analysis of Johannine literary devices beautifully articulates the Fourth Gospel's literary and theological distinctiveness while anticipating what would become foundational to Johannine critics working with narrative criticism in the decades that followed. I am delighted to see this revised and expanded edition from the Johannine Monograph series. --Christopher W. Skinner, Associate Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, Loyola University Chicago David Wead completed his PhD in New Testament at the University of Basel in 1968, under the supervision of Bo Reicke and Oscar Cullman, which this book represents. He also taught and served at a number of institutions, including Minnesota Bible College and Emmanuel School of Religion, and a number of churches in Tennessee.