The book of John, the letters of John and the book of Revelations all seem like they were written by the same author. Revelations and the letters seem like they were written by someone much older than the author of the book. A major experience dividing the book of John from the rest is the destruction of the temple. According to Christian thought, Jesus’ resurrection superseded the temple. And yet the destruction of it wrought great change. There was confidence in permanence prior to the temple’s destruction. The sacrifice of Masada rings through the ages, and was part of the loss for all Jews regarding the fall of the temple. The light house of Alexandria was extant and the image powerful too.
“Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” Via Bible gateway
John’s role in the Book seems pastoral. He is describing the origin of his mission, and connecting it to scripture. It is unlikely John is laughing at scripture, but reworking it within the paradigm given him by Jesus, and forged by the early church. Jesus’ followers had been young, not community leaders. After Jesus’ great commission, John has to tell the young and old what has happened, and so connecting things to established scripture is essential.
Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
===
No comments:
Post a Comment