I’m beginning to have “difficulties” with the writings of the disciple John. Or, rather, I’m beginning to have more articulate difficulties with his writings.
I’ve always been annoyed by that whole “the disciple whom Jesus loved” thing, and I never bought into the book of Revelation. But the Gospel of John was always my favorite. I’m now calling that into question as well.
Not too long ago, I read Beyond Belief by Elaine Pagels. It’s focus is on the Gospel of Thomas, but the primary mechanism of that analysis is a comparison to John’s Gospel. While I don’t really know where I stand on the authenticity of the Gospel of Thomas, I do think she made some interesting contextual points about John’s writings. She shows how he was writing to oppose specific people and movements in the early church. I guess I read John with a more jaded eye now.
I’ve started participating in a daily bible reading program online (I may get “evicted” from that bible reading program if/when the other participants read this post), and the reading for December 3 included 1 John 3:9, which reads (NRSV) “Those who have been born of God do not sin, because God’s seed abides in them; they cannot sin, because they have been born of God.” The commentator for this series said something about this not meaning that Christians don’t sin. But how can it mean otherwise? And, if it does mean the Christians cannot sin, then none of us are Christians. I don’t believe that we are prevented from sinning. Rather, we are forgiven when we repent of sin.
I’m also reminded of a book I read back in high school (yes, I know – long time ago): The Passover Plot by Hugh J. Schonfield. The book’s primary aim was to claim that the ressurection never happened, but that’s not why I bring it up. One of the claims the author made was that Jesus himself would have been appauled by John’s Gospel – it was much to airy and other-worldly to match up with Jesus’ down-to-earth preaching. I dismissed it at the time, because, as I said, I liked John. Now I’m wondering about it. I’m sure some would say I shouldn’t be reading such heretical works in the first place, but I don’t believe that.
I don’t have any answers. I’ve just been thinking about these questions, and thought I’d post them for comments.