THE FAITH MOTIF IN JOHN'S GOSPEL: A NARRATIVE AFFROACH

Abstract

The thesis is a study of the faith motif in John's Gospel. A modified narrative criticism has been employed to investigate the faith motif. The theoretical foundation is laid briefly in chapter 2.

The investigation has demonstrated that faith is the main motif in the Book of Belief (chs. 1-12). The structure of the Book of Belief reflects faith as the central concept. The setting not only brings the readers back to the life situation in Jesus' time but also relates closely to the faith motif.

The characters who are the carriers of the faith motif are divided, as the plot shows, into two opposing groups, i.e. the believers and unbelievers. They have exposed the multifarious dimensions of the faith motif. In Chapter 3 the characters dramatize the personal, communal and universal aspects of the faith motif. Chapter 4 shows how the σχίσμα emerges and how the characters dramatize not only the σκάνδαλον το participate in the divine community but also how one's relationship with Jesus who is the object of faith entails transforming his words into deeds. In Chapter 5 the characters dramatize that faith in Jesus entails witnessing about him and is essentially relationship with him.

The characters embedded in the narrative world have dramatized that the Gospel is written to initiate faith and to deepen faith in Jesus. The characters dramatize the evangelistic and edificatory aspects of faith. Faith in Jesus means relating to him and consequently causes a believer to join the universal community of believers and at the same time to be integrated into the divine community. Faith is essentially relationship with new communities in and through one's relationship with Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.