The Call Of Nathanael: John 1:49. A Rhetorical-Theological Study

Historicist approaches to the reading of sacred texts, rapidly attain a point where further research produces diminishing returns, resulting in more historical speculation rather than less. This is the opposite of the desired result. The cause of this impasse lies in a failure to discern the rhetori...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Stafford, John K. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sciendo, De Gruyter 2014
In: Perichoresis
Year: 2013, Volume: 11, Issue: 2, Pages: 50-61
Further subjects:B Bible. Johannesevangelium 1,49
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Summary:Historicist approaches to the reading of sacred texts, rapidly attain a point where further research produces diminishing returns, resulting in more historical speculation rather than less. This is the opposite of the desired result. The cause of this impasse lies in a failure to discern the rhetorical techniques of the author as a basic reading strategy. Similarly, it is necessary to discern that the author has already made key determinations as to historicity. What is now required of the reader is a deepened appreciation of the intentional theological, ontological and existential implications of the narrative. This paper examines how a literary/rhetorical approach may yield positive results in the case of the call of Nathanael, a narrative fragment that poses intriguing critical questions, both theological and Christological. The results suggest a dominical encounter that supplies the reader with pre-emptive eschatological intensity through deliberate juxtaposition of Nathanael’s disbelief and Jesus’ selfawareness held together in a matrix of scriptural fulfilment
ISSN:2284-7308
Contains:In: Perichoresis
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.2478/perc-2013-0010