ErikBuddingh,1060 WesOlmstead,PhD BLST309 1December2010 REMAIN:LIFEANDDEATHINTHEGOSPELOFJOHN Thesis:Johnusestheverbmenw(remain,stay;await)todistinguishbetweenlife anddeathastheaccordingresultsofabidinginJesus(6:56;8:3132,35;15:9)or rejectingHim(3:36;9:41),andtopunctuatekeyteachingpassagesinhisgospel. I. II. III. IV. V. Instancesofmenw A. 6:56;8:3132equallife B. 3:36;9:41equaldeath C.

equaldeath C. Therearenumeroustheologicallyinsignificantoccurrencesof remain Developmentofremainandinstancesthatleadtodeath A. 3:36asitpertainstoMoses(NewCovenantvs.OldCovenant) B. 9:41remainingguiltbecauseofclaimingtosee Occurrencesofremainleadingtolife A. 6:56intimacyandimportanceofmetaphor B. 8:3132obedienceasthedefinitionofremaining John15inlightof6:56and8:3132 A. Similaritiesbetweenbodyandvine B. Similaritiesbetweenfamilyandfriends Finalverdict A. RemaininginChristequalseternallife B. Rejectingequalseternaldeath

Johnusestheverbmenw (men;remain,stay;await)1todistinguish betweenlifeanddeathastheaccordingresultsofabidinginhim(6:56;8:3132, 35;15:9)orrejectingHim(3:36;9:41),andtopunctuatekeyteachingpassages inhisgospel.Occurring40timesinJohnsgospel,2menwisemployedinseveral forms,3toperformincreasinglysignificantfunctions,andcomestobearpotent theologicalsignificancewithinthecontextofJesusteachinginthegospeland HisfinalexhortationtoHisdisciples.4 Withinthegospelnarrativethereareliteral,facevalueinstancesofmenw (Jn.1:38;4:40;7:9;12:24,34;19:23;21:2223)andimportantspiritually significantandincreasinglynuancedoccurrences(1:3233;3:36;5:38;6:56; 8:3132,35;9:41;14:17,23).5Ratherthanbeingacoincidenceoralackof options,Johnintentionallyusesremainagainandagainsothathisreaderswill seeitsmeaningdevelopandcometoappreciatethefullspectrumofits importancethroughoutthenarrative.Becauseitoccurssofrequentlyandisso consistentinitsimplications,readers(andJesusdisciples)willbewell acquaintedwithitsmeaning,6andberemindedofthegravityofremainingor

1H.Hbner,menw,inExegeticalDictionaryoftheNewTestamentVol.2(GrandRapids,

MI:WilliamB.EerdmansPub.Co,1991),407. 2Hubner,ExegeticalDictionary,407. 3menw,inThayersGreekEnglishLexiconoftheNewTestament(GrandRapids,MI: ZondervanPublishingHouse,1975. 4AndreasJ.Kstenberger,JOHN,BakerExegeticalCommentaryontheNewTestament (GrandRapids,MI:BakerAcademic,2004),452. 5Kstenberger,JOHN,452. 6D.A.Carson,TheGospelAccordingtoJohn,ThePillarNewTestamentCommentary (GrandRapids,MI:WilliamB.EerdmansPub.Co.,1991),298.

strayingduringJesusfarewelldiscourse,7theclimaxofHisteachingministry,in John15:117. Whiletheoverwhelmingmajorityoftheologicallysignificantinstancesof menwpertinenttothepurposesofdistinguishingbetweenlifeanddeathare positive,therearetwonotableexceptions:John3:36and9:41.8CraigL. Blombergwritesthat,Whilemen(remain)isoneofJohnsfavouriteverbs,itis alsonewcovenantlanguagefortheinternalizationofGodsLaw.9Weknow thatthebirthofChristmarkstheadventoftheNewCovenantculminatinginthe Passionnarratives,butJohntheBaptistinJohn3:36soundsstrikinglylikeMoses (Deut30:19)whenhesays,whoeverrejectstheSonwillnotseelife,forGods wrathremainsonhim.10 ThecontextofDeuteronomy30:19(anditsparallelcf.Joshua24:19)is theestablishmentof(andthenreferenceto)YahwehsfirstcovenantwithHis chosenpeople,theIsraelites.Withthisinmind,Israeliteswhohadanawareness oftheMosaicCovenantandworshippedothergodsinspiteofthatknowledge wererejectingYahwehinthesamewaythattheJewsinJesustimewere rejectingthegracethatHecametooffer.Demonstrably,thepenaltyforviolating YahwehsrevelationtoldtoMosesintheOldCovenant,whichultimatelyends witheternalestrangementfromYahweh,isthesameconsequenceleviedfor spurningJesusordinancesintheNewCovenant.Itistruethatthelawwas
7Carson,TheGospelAccordingtoJohn,510. 8Ibid.,378. 9CraigL.Blomberg,TheHistoricalReliabilityofJohnsGospel:IssuesandCommentary (DownersGrove,IL:InterVarsityPress,2001),206. 10AllScripturecitationsarefromtheNewInternationalVersion(unlessotherwise indicated).

giventhroughMoses;[and]graceandtruthcamethroughJesusChrist,(Jn. 1:17)butinbothcasesrejectionlead[s]toGodsabidingwrath.11 RemainappearsonthisoccasiontopunctuatetheendofJohnthe Baptistsdiscourseasasoberingremindertothereader.D.A.Carsonsaysthat verse36isafittingclimaxtotheentirechapter[3].Bylayingouttheonlytwo alternatives,genuinefaithanddefiantdisobedience,thisverseoncemorebrings totheforethethreatofloomingjudgment.12Thegravityandpermanenceof Godsabiding(remaining)wrathisunavoidable.Carsongoesontosaythat, Godswrathisnotsomeimpersonalprincipleofretribution,butthepersonal responseofaholyGodwhocomestohisownworld,sadlyfallenintorebellion, andfindsfewwhowantanythingtodowithhim.13ThementionsofGods enduringlovearesonumerousthatitwouldbetediousandunnecessaryto makementionofthemhere,butinlightofJohn3:36,thespecificusageofthe verbmenwremindsusthatHiswrathenduresforeveraswell. ThoughthereisnoambiguityinJohntheBaptistsassertionaboutthe consequencesofspurningJesus,itisworthwhiletonotethedistinctions betweenthefirstandsecondnegativeinstancesoftheverbremain.Thefirst promiseofGodswrathisplacedonthelipsofJohntheBaptist,thesecond occurrencethegospelwriterplacesonthelipsofJesus!Thefirstpromiseof wrathseems,tosomedegree,slightlymoreasaresultofignorance,Whoever believesintheSonhaseternallife,butwhoeverrejectstheSonwillnotseelife
11Blomberg,IssuesandCommentary,98. 13Ibid. 12Carson,TheGospelAccordingtoJohn,214.

(Jn.3:36)whereasthesecondrejectionisblatantandoutrightandGod,inthis case,respondstothoseclaimingtohaveaknowledgeofHimwhomtheyreject: butnowthatyouclaimyoucansee,yourguiltremains(Jn.9:41). ItispainfulforthereadertowatchasthesceneunfoldsandthePharisees areexposedasbeingignorantoftheirownignorance.LeonMorrisexplainsthat, IfthePhariseeshadbeenreallyblind,iftheyhadhadnounderstandingof spiritualthingsatall,theywouldnothavesinnedinactingastheydidThey wouldthennothavebeenactinginrebellionagainsttheirbestinsights.Butthey claimtoseeTheyknowthelaw[which]mean[s]thattheyhaveenough spiritualknowledgetoberesponsibleThereforetheirsinisnottakenaway.It remainswiththem[italicsmine].14 IfthePharisees,withoutthebenefitoftwomillenniaofhindsightand perspective,werenotexemptedfromguiltnorallowedanyrecourseduetotheir lackinghindsightasanadvantage,thenitisimpossibleforanyinformedreader inthemoderncontextwhomakesthesameassertionsasthePhariseesdidto expectarewardthatisinanywaydifferentfromtheonethatJesusguaranteed tothePhariseessolongago.Asisthecaseinchapter3,Johnusesremainto hammerhomethegravityandunalterablenatureofGodswrathandjudgment: inChapter9,remainsisthefinalword.

14LeonMorris,TheGospelAccordingtoJohn(Revised),TheNewInternational CommentaryontheNewTestament(GrandRapids,MI:Wm.B.EerdmansPub.Co.,1995),442.

TheimplicationsandconsequencesofrejectingJesus15havingbeen sufficientlyelucidated,wemustnowtakealookattherichbenefitsandeternal rewardsofremaininginHiminthemannerthatHeprescribes:namely obedience(8:3132;15:10). Fortunatelyforhumanity,Jesusmissionisprimarilyaimedatsalvation andrestorationofrelationship.16Whiletheoppositecanalwaysbeinferredin thecaseofpositiveinstancesofremain,itisawonderfulprospectthat,by remaininginJesusbyobeyinghisteachingsandcommandments,17wecan confidentlyhopeforalifeofservicetoChristandaneternityspentinthe presenceoftheFather,SonandParaclete. Asweturnourattentiontohowweoughttounderstandremainina positivelightwithinJohnsgospel,twopassagesstandoutasbeingparticularly helpful:6:56and8:3132,35. Chapter6begins,aschaptersoftendoinJohnsgospel,withan impossiblesituationthatleadstoamiracle.18Thoughsupernaturalhappenings arenotuncommoninthegospel,chapter6isuniquebecauseofthediscourse thatfollowsandtheexplanationthatJesusoffers,nomatterhowcrypticitmay initiallycomeacrossasbeing.

15AndbyvirtueofrejectingJesusrejectingHisFatheraswellbecauseJesuscamefrom (wassentby)theFather(1:14;3:1617;5:19,23b,37a;6:57;7:1617;8:16,42;10:30,3638; 12:4445,4950;14:7,9b11,20;15:1,9,10b,15b,23,24b,26etc.) 16Carson,TheGospelAccordingtoJohn,298. 17CraigS.Keener,TheGospelofJohn:ACommentaryVol.2(Peabody,MA:Hendrickson Publishers,LLC,2003),974. 18Seealsochapter2:19;9:111;11:144.

EventhedisciplesadmitthateatingJesusfleshanddrinkingHisbloodas themeanstoremaininginHim(6:56)isahardteaching(6:60)andthe disciplesareknownbyJesustobegrumbling(6:61).Despiteknowingthis, JesusisunrelentinginHisexpectationsand,ratherthanacquiescingtothe perturbanceofHisdisciples,Hepressesthemevenharder:Youdonotwantto leavetoo,doyou?(6:67).19 InaddressingtheperplexingconundrumofeatingJesusfleshand drinkingHisblood,andbeingunitedwithChristbywayofthatconsumption AndrewT.LincolnwritesthatthebelieversunionwithJesusnotonlyparallels butparticipatesintheunionbetweentheFatherandtheSon(cf.esp.17.21, 23)ThisintradivinelifeismediatedtobelieversthroughJesus,whobecomes inturntheirsourceoflife.20OfferinganotherhelpfulexpositionD.A.Carson assertsthatJesusfleshandbloodarewhatfoodanddrinkreallyareandgoeson tosaythat,TheyprovideeternallifeTheverbremainsorabides(men)is importanttoJohn,definingnotonlyrelationshipsamongstFather,SonandHoly Spirit(1:3233;14:10;15:10),butbetweenbelieversandChrist(e.g.5:38;8:31; 15:4,7,910).21

19IthinkthattheimplicationsofnotremaininginJesushavealreadybecomecleartothe

disciples,andtheyareunderstandablyfrustratedbecausetheteachingseemstobesocryptic: basedonwhatJesusissaying,remaininginHimisimpossiblebytheirowneffortsandthisdoes notseemtobeastumblingblockforJesus.Clearly,Jesusisnotconcernedwithretainingalarge following,HisonlyconcernisforthosewhomtheFatherhasenabled(6:65);thosewholisten toHisvoice(10:3).PaulmightsaythatJesusintentionisforthosewhohavebeenpredestined accordingtoGodswill(cf.Eph.1:5,11.) 20AndrewT.Lincoln,TheGospelAccordingtoSaintJohn,BlacksNewTestament Commentary(Peabody,MA:HendricksonPublishers2005),233. 21Carson,TheGospelAccordingtoJohn,298.

WhilescholarlycontributionsarehelpfulforinterpretingJesuswordsin 6:56,Jesusownwordsin6:57aremorehelpful.IfJesuswordsaretaken literally,thenJesusaudienceandJohnsreadershipbothknowthatJesuswords cannotbeunderstoodunlesstheFatherenables(6:65)norcanthecoinherent22 relationshipexistunlesstheFatherenablesit,andtheFatherwillonlyenableit ifbelieverspartakeofJesus.NothingispossibleforJesuswithouttheFather (5:19)anditisnotpossibleforanyonetobelieveinJesuswithouttheFather. Thoughtherecanbenomistakingthespiritualconnotation23ofJesus statementin6:56andtheimplicationsthatareinferredfromit,onecouldhardly blameJohnsreadersif,afterengagingthetext,ratherthanfirmassuranceand confidence,confusionandalackofclarityarewhatremain.Thetensionand uneaseofJesusstatementin6:56continuestogounresolvedthroughoutthe followingchapterandHisstatementisnotsatisfactorilyclarifieduntil8:3132. Inlightoftheregularityandsteadilyincreasingsignificanceofmenwin

Johnsgospel,itisnotsurprisingthatJohnplacesthesameverbonthetongueof JesuswhenitcomestimeforHimtoclarifywhathadbeensodisconcertingand abstruseonlytwochaptersbefore.Awareofthisconsistencyandthenotability oftheverb,CraigL.BlombergsaysthatTheheartofJesusappealattheoutset ofthissection(v.30b)isforhishearerstoremainorabidein(NIVholdto; Gk.men)histeaching,acharacteristicJohannineverb.24

22Ibid. 23Kstenberger,JOHN,453. 24Blomberg,IssuesandCommentary,145.

WhenJesussays,Youaretrulymydisciplesifyouremainfaithfultomy

teachings.Andyouwillknowthetruth,andthetruthwillsetyoufree,(8:3132 NLT)itisawatershedmomentinthegospel.D.A.CarsontellsusthatHoldingto Jesusteaching(v.31)notonlyestablishesthegenuinenessoffaith,italsohasits ownauthenticatingpower.Wecometoknowthetruth,notsimplyby intellectualassessment,butbymoralcommitment.25Atlonglastwehavea statementfromJesusthatrequiresverylittleexplanation,andwhichistobe readliterallyandinnootherway;onethatprovidessolidfootingfor understandingthetheologicallyimportantinstancesofremainthatboth precedeandfollowit.Theteachingisbynomeanseasy,butitisunmistakablein meaning;thistime,theonusfallsonthereader;suchfaithcostsnotlessthan everything,andthefreedomitbringspresupposesthatlifebeforesuchfaithis pitifulslavery.26 IntheeventthattherehadbeenanyambiguityinJesusclarification

(8:3132),Hereiteratesoncemorein8:3435sothatHecannotpossiblybe misunderstood:Itellyouthetruth,everyonewhosinsisaslavetosin.Implicit withinthatstatementisitsopposite,ifyouremaininmeyouwillnotsin.And thenin8:35,Nowaslavehasnopermanentplaceinthefamily,butason belongstoit[remainsinit]forever,andwithinthatstatementweunderstand JesustobesayingthatHehastheauthoritytosetsinnersfree.27

25Carson,TheGospelAccordingtoJohn,348. 26Ibid. 27Kstenberger,JOHN,263.

Inchapter8,Johnhasbroughttheuseofremaintoitsclimaxby demonstratingthatitunequivocallydistinguishesbetweenthosewhowillhave lifeandthosewhowillnot;astandardhasbeenclearlyestablishedandthose whonowtransgressthatstandarddosoknowinglyandenterwillinglyintothe fatethatcertainlyawaitsthem.D.A.CarsoncapturesthethrustofJesusteaching inthissectionwhenhesays,Bysketchinggenuinefaithinsuchstarkterms, Jesusisstandingtruetoapatternwefindelsewhere:heisneverinterestedin multiplyingnumbersofconvertsiftheyarenotgenuinebelievers,andtherefore heinsistsonforcingwouldbedisciplestocountthecost.28 Uptothispointinthegospel,menwhasbeenusedtospeakofGods enduringwrathforthosewhorejectHim(3:36),thepermanenceofguiltfor thosewhoclaimtosee(inthespiritualsense)butdonot(9:41),theimageof partakinginamutualindwellingandunionwithGod(6:56),andfinally,asthe verbthatimpliespermanentrelationshipwithJesus(andtheFather)asa functionofobedience(8:3132).Bynow,readerswillunderstandtheimmense weightofremaininginChristandtheunalterabilityoftheoutcomesofboth remainingandnotremaininginHim.Thefullspectrumoftheverbisinviewand thisverbwillbetheonethatJesuschoosestoemploy11times29inchapter15;it willbetheverbthatpervadesthelastteachingportionofJesuslifeonearth,the urgentandimpassionedexhortationtoHisdisciplespriortoHispassion.

28Carson,TheGospelAccordingtoJohn,348. 29Keener,TheGospelofJohn,998.

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Beforeturningtochapter15,onebriefclarificationmustbemade:John 14:31b,Comenow;letusleave,istobereadasanarrativestatement.Andreas J.KstenbergeriscautiousinaddressingJesusstatement,hesaysthatitmay indicatethatJesusandhisfollowersnowleavetheroomofthesupperand embarkonanocturnalwalkthatwouldleadthemtoGethsemane,perhaps passingvineyardsontheway,whichwouldprovideafittingbackdropforJesus teachingonthevineandthebranches.30Inconsiderationofthephysical impossibilitypresentedbymovingfromtheroomwherethePassoverwas served(13:2)totheKidronValley(18:1)withoutsomeintermediatetravel,31 thepresentwriterpositsthatboth14:31band18:1shouldbereadliterally;here wehaveeithertwoaporias32ornone:thepresentwriteroptsforthelatter. BecauseJesusknewthatthehourofHisbetrayalwasimminentlyathand (13:1),JesusfinaladdresstoHisdisciplesastheywalktogether(15:117:26) takesanurgenttone.InsteadofprovidingHisdiscipleswithacomprehensiveto dolistinHisabsence,HeexhortsthemtoremaininHim:11times33in13verses. Presumably,Jesusdisciplesarealreadycleanbecauseoftheword[Jesus had]spokento[them](15:3)becausetheywerealreadyremainingwithHim: theywerealreadyobeyingHisteaching,andhadalreadyshownthemselves faithful,ifthiswerenotthecaseitisimpossibletoimaginethattheywouldhave beenoutwalkingwithJesusduringthiscrucialtime.Jesusdidnotneedtoteach
30Kstenberger,JOHN,4456. 31Ibid. 32WarrenCarter,JOHN:Storyteller,Interpreter,Evangelist(Peabody,MA:Hendrickson Publishers,2006),140. 33Keener,TheGospelofJohn,998.

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Hisdisciplesanythingnewwhiletheywalked;instead,Heneededonlyto encouragethemtostandfastinwhattheyalreadyknew.Kstenberger corroboratesthispointbystatingthattheElevenmustremaininhiminorder forhimtoremaininthementailsfirstandforemosttheirholdingfasttoJesus teaching[theteachingtheyhadalreadyreceived](cf.6:56;8:31).34 BecausethenatureofJesusdiscourseonHisbodyasbreadandHisblood asdrinkinchapter6issoexplicitandsointimate,andtheimplicationsof remaininginHimaresoapparent,thevineandbranchesimageryiscertainly powerful,butitisnotusedtoteachthedisciplesanythingthattheyhavenot alreadybeenmadeawareof. Ashasbeenthecasethroughoutthegospel,thosewhoremaininJesus havepermanentaccessthroughHimtothelifesustainingpoweroftheFather andthosewhodonotremaininHimexperienceGodspermanentwrath.There isnoeffectualdifferencebetweenthosewhoeat[Jesus]fleshanddrink[His] blood(6:54a)andthosewhoremaininthevine(15:4b).Inthesamewaythat manydisciplesdesertJesusafterHisdifficultteachinginchapter6andsealtheir ownfateastheresultofthatrejection,thosewhodonotremaininthevinein chapter15arethrownintothefireandburned(15:6b).Theexactsame parallelisseenbetweenchapter8:3141andchapter15:917:thoughonerefers tothedistinctionbetweenslavesandthosewhohavepermanentplaceswithina family(8:35)andtheotherreferstothedistinctionbetweenservantsand

34Kstenberger,JOHN,453.

12

friends(15:15),againthereisnoeffectualdifferencebetweenthemetaphors andtheimplicationsofbothareidenticalinpracticalapplication. Byusingmenwagainandagainthroughoutchapter15:416,Jesusreminds HisdisciplesofallthatHehasbeenteachingthemupuntilthispointand encouragesthem,asHehasbeendoingallalong,toremainin(obey)whatthey alreadyknow:toremaininHiscommandsasameanstoHislove,andthatasa meanstotheFatherandtheFatherslove. Havingexaminedthetheologicallysignificantoccurrencesofremainin thecontextofJohnsgospel,itisimpossibletoignoreitspotency.InJohns gospelJesuslifeisprimarilyconcernedwithremainingin[HisFathers]love (15:10)andHisministryisprimarilyconcernedwithteachingthosewhothe Fatherhasenabled(6:65)whatisrequiredinordertoremainin[Him](15:4). TheramificationsofremaininginJesushavebeenjuxtaposedagainstthe consequencesofrejectingHimandtheresultsareabundantlyclear:remainin HimbyobeyingHiscommandsandbegrantedaccesstoeternallife,orreject HimandindoingsochoosetobecastawaybyGodpermanentlyandbecome subjecttoHiseternalwrath.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY Abide,Abode.InExpositoryDictionaryofNewTestamentWords.10.London: Oliphants,1975. Blomberg,CraigL.TheHistoricalReliabilityofJohnsGospel:Issuesand Commentary.DownersGrove,IL:InterVarsityPress,2001. Carson,D.A.TheGospelAccordingtoJohnThePillarNewTestament Commentary.GrandRapids,MI:WilliamB.EerdmansPub.Co.,1991. Carter,Warren.JOHN:Storyteller,Interpreter,Evangelist.Peabody,MA: Hendrickson,2006. Hbner,H.menw.InExegeticalDictionaryoftheNewTestamentVol.2.407. GrandRapids,MI:WilliamB.EerdmansPub.Co,1991. Keener,CraigS.TheGospelofJohn:ACommentaryVol.2.Peabody,MA: HendricksonPublishers,LLC,2003. Kstenberger,AndreasJ.JOHN.BakerExegeticalCommentaryontheNew Testament.GrandRapids,MI:BakerAcademic,2004. Lincoln,AndrewT.TheGospelAccordingtoSaintJohn.BlacksNewTestament Commentary.Peabody,MA:HendricksonPublishers,2005. menw.InThayersGreekEnglishLexiconoftheNewTestament.399.Grand Rapids,MI:ZondervanPublishingHouse,1975. Morris,Leon.TheGospelAccordingtoJohn(Revised).TheNewInternational CommentaryontheNewTestament.GrandRapids,MI:Wm.B.Eerdmans Pub.Co.,1995. RogersJr.,Cleon,andCleonRogersIII.TheNewLinguisticandExegeticalKeyto theGreekNewTestament.GrandRapids,MI:ZondervanPublishingHouse, 1998. Zodhiates,SpirosTh.D.TheCompleteWordStudyNewTestament:Bringingthe OriginalTexttoLife.Chattanooga,TN:AMGPublishers,1991.

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