"Because of the Woman’s Testimony . . .": Reexamining the Issue of Authorship in the Fourth Gospel
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1998
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Abstract
This article combines historical, literary, theological, and feminist criticism to inquire into the identity of the Beloved Disciple (BD) in the Fourth Gospel attempting to mediate between the theory of the BD as pure literary construct and the BD as a single historical individual. It proposes that the BD is a textual paradigm of ideal discipleship which is realized diversely in several characters in the text. This has ramifications for the textual identity of the evangelist and of the foundational Easter witness of the Johannine community. It suggests that women were more significant in leadership of the Johannine community than has been recognised in the past.
Recommended Citation
Schneiders, Sandra Marie “‘Because of the Woman’s Testimony . . .’: Reexamining the Issue of Authorship in the Fourth Gospel.” New Testament Studies 44 (1998): 513-35.
