Here are my rough first notes from Richard Bauckham's lecture at the British New Testament Conference. It had a handout and I will add that in a day or two as well as give some wider reflections if I can. There is currently a great discussion going on about it all. People tend to agree but there is a wariness of excluding talk of plurality in the fourth gospel alongside the individualism.
Bauckham on The "individualism" of the Gospel of John
Lecture title imitates Moule's 1962 article. But the quote marks are new because of problems with the words today. Was not thinking of individual or collective cultures, or anachronisms. He meant that this Gospel lays a large emphasis on the effect of Christianity on the individual. Few scholars have picked this up since. Imaginary Johannine Communith spread it's thrall too widely.
Individualism opens up a labyrinth of meanings.
Individualism is a cultural variable. But individuation is a reality of every culture - self-awareness as a distinguishable entity. Human beings have been aware of themselves as subjects. Introspection and inner dialogue. Does not need to mean the unique sense of personality in modern world or the sovereign arbiter of destiny (I did it my way). Ancient persona was much more about what others did or what the fates did than what I did. Individual as roles, types with wider social structures rather then individualism.
Dyadic personality presupposes self-awareness. But it doesn't mean atomized self identity. Without individuation you don't have relationality but sheer undefined mass.
Individualism -goals of the individual are paramount as opposed to a collectivist society. But societies are not one or the other but a mix of both. Jewish Palestine.
Aphoristic sayings
1. ho + participle - x37
explicit about individualism but masked by pluralism for inclusive language
seems to be purposeful use of individuation rather than using generalist terms
believing in Jesus has to be an individual act
conversion aphorisms concentrated around 3, 6, 12.
In 14-15 tend to be about loving and keeping commands.
plural aphorisms used in John 17
3 person plural is uniquely found in John 1:12 - narrating rather than proclaiming?
are they found in the Synoptics? A few.
Some characteristic of the words of Jesus in John start in Synoptics???
Groups of believers are known (Lazarus family)
But there are examples of individuated conversion vs family e.g. Man formerly blind.
Malina: Step needs to be from group to group and supported by one other member
but plenty of examples when this was not the case.
Lack of joining the new group is pretty irrelevant to these groups.
Tends to be between Jesus and no one else.
Jesus is the only in-group that they need.
note that aph statements do relate to community e.g. shepherd, vine.
grounds community
maintaining the community is about relationship between indivs and Jesus.
subsists only through indiv relationship with Jesus.
In-one-another-ness
note the Eucharist imagery. Climax of the discourse in 6:56.
Intimate form of personal relationship. Note the frequent use in 14-17.
not the same as Paul's in Christ. john tends to talk about reciprocal relationship.
OT tends towards asymmetrical reciprocity. Joh term seems to be coined by John
individual space is compromised by intimacy. Bodies make openess possible.
open self rather than bounded self is the norm for Christian life
Jesus and individuals
Synoptics have individuals encounters but nothing really like this.
narrative energy used in telling these stories
often include key theological statements and major changes to the individuals lives
individuals are embedded in groups. But they are not just typical of those groups.
characters tended to be seen as flat, static, types.
But Cornelius Bennema challenges this.
characterization in other Greco-Roman novels etc needs to be reviewed more.
Bennema develops concept of character in the gospel.
results for the characters is interesting
Nathanael type, magdelene type/personality
most other personality. Pilate personality/individual. Peter individual.
all have their own story. Seeing them as typical denies the particularity of their lives
classifying them in terms of characterization and types of response removes stories
stories draw readers into their own encounters with Jesus.
Individual stories and Aphoristic sayings...
Characters act out the content of the aphorisms.
Pilate acts out negative ones. Actual individuals in relationship with Jesus.
stories evoke the issues of particularity and moves away from generalism.
readers called to meet with Jesus in their own lives and respond
***much applause***
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