The Fourth Gospel : tales of a Jewish mystic / John Shelby Spong.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Spong, John Shelby, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. John--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible. John.

Physical Description:

xxi, 342 pages ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : HarperOne, [2013]

Summary:

The bestselling and controversial bishop reveals the subversive, mystical teachings of the writer of the Gospel of John and how his teachings are more relevant now, in the post-Christian world, than ever before.

Contents:

Introducing the Fourth Gospel. Setting the stage ; John : one Gospel, more than one author ; Separating John from the other Gospels ; The work of a Palestinian Jew ; Tracing the Jewish roots of the Prologue ; Permeating wisdom : the doorway into Jewish mysticism ; John, the non-literalist

The Book of Signs : mythological characters wrapped inside history. The Mother of Jesus : introduction to the Book of Signs ; Nicodemus : what it means to be born of the spirit ; The Samaritan woman by the well : a new dimension of the Jesus experience ; The Gentile Official's Son : the meaning of God and faith ; The man crippled for thirty-eight years ; Andrew and Philip : the Red Sea and manna ; The man born blind : the split from Judaism is complete ; Lazarus : breaking the final barrier

The Farewell Discourses and the High Priestly Prayer. Peter and the commandment to love ; Not atonement, but glory! : John clarifies Jesus' death ; The analogy of the vine : God is indwelling, not external ; The Prayer of Jesus : Gethsemane transformed

The Passion Narrative : from darkness to light, from death to life. A brief introduction to the climax of the Gospel ; Judas : the figure of darkness ; Peter : the struggle within the soul ; Pilate : the conflict between survival and truth ; At the Cross : the Mother of Jesus and the Beloved Disciple ; It is finished : water and blood flow together

Resurrection : mystical oneness revealed. Introducing John;s story of Easter ; Magdalene : do not cling to what is, journey into what can be ; Peter and the Beloved Disciple : resurrection dawns without a body ; Pentecost : the Second Coming of Jesus : it was "a little while" ; Thomas : the final witness, the ultimate claim ; The epilogue : resurrection is not physical, but it is real.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [317]-325) and indexes.

ISBN:

9780062011305 :

0062011308

OCLC:

821067114