Original Research
The plenipotentiary idea as Leitmotiv in John’s Gospel
Submitted: 16 January 2015 | Published: 10 July 2015
About the author(s)
Jacobus (Kobus) Kok, Department of New Testament Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa and Evangelical Theological Faculty, BelgiumAbstract
In this article the plenipotentiary idea in John’s Gospel is studied in relation to Jewish institution(s) of agency. It is argued that the missionary idea in John’s Gospel is a Leitmotiv (central or dominant theme) that integrates the Christology and Soteriology in the fourth Gospel. Jesus is presented as being God’s empowered plenipotentiary who was sent by God to give life and to judge – qualities that were judged to be the prerogative of the Creator-God. After the resurrection, Jesus empowers his disciples to become plenipotentiaries who are called to continue the mission that God had started in and through Jesus. Unlike some scholars who argues that John is a sectarian writing aimed at an in-group, the author of this article arguesthat John’s idea of mission is one that encourages an openness towards outsiders, motivated by love and other regarded, and expressed in a boundary transcending manner.
Opsomming: Gesantskap as leitmotief in die Johannesevangelie. In hierdie artikel word die konsep van gesantskap in Johannes se Evangelie in verhouding tot die Joodse konsepte van gesantskap bestudeer. Daar word aangevoer dat die missionale of gesantskapskonsep ’n leitmotief (sentrale of dominante tema) in Johannes se Evangelie is, en dat dit met die Christologie en die Soteriologie in die vierde Evangelie geïntegreer is. Jesus word as God segevolmagtigde verteenwoordiger (gesant of plenipotensiaris) aangebied wat deur God gestuur is om lewe te gee en te oordeel – kwaliteite wat tradisioneel gesproke die prerogatief van God alleen is. Ná die opstanding bemagtig Jesus sy dissipels as sy gevolmagtigde verteenwoordigers wat geroep en gestuur is om die doel wat God in en deur Jesus begin het, te kontinueer. In teenstelling met sommige geleerdes wat beweer dat Johannes ’n sektariese geskrif is wat op die ‘in-groep’ in teenstelling met die ‘uit-groep’ gemik is, of dat Johannes geen sensitiwiteit vir buitestanders het nie, argumenteer die outeur van hierdie artikel dat Johannes se idee van sending ’n openheid teenoor buitestanders impliseer wat deur liefde gemotiveer is en op so ’n wyse uitgeleef behoort te word dat dit (sosiale en ander) grense transendeer.
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Crossref Citations
1. Sign and Its Significance in John’s Gospel
Warseto Freddy Sihombing, Iwan Setiawan Tarigan
Evangelikal: Jurnal Teologi Injili dan Pembinaan Warga Jemaat vol: 6 issue: 1 first page: 59 year: 2022
doi: 10.46445/ejti.v6i1.401