|
| |
John 20:19-31
 | Reading the Text:
Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
 | The
Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto. |
| Comparative World Scriptures from United
Communities of Spirit:
The Person and Character of
the Founder. |
|
"Revealed to Disciples,"
"The Promised Spirit,"
The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of
the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C.
Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation. |
|
Chapter III,
The
Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans,
Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110).
(Longer Version only - 4th cent interpolation) |
|
I.XVIII.3,
III.XVI.5,
V.VII.1,
V.XXXI.2,
Adversus
Haereses,
Irenaeus of Lyons.
(c. 180) |
|
Chapter VII,
Adversus
Judaeos,
Tertullian
(c. 198) |
|
II.2,
Stromata,
Clement of Alexandria (c 200) |
|
Chapter XVII,
On the Soul,
Tertullian (c.
210) |
|
Chapter
XXXIV, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,
Tertullian
(c. 211) |
|
Chapter
XXI,
Chapter
XXV, Against Praxeas,
Tertullian
(c. 213) |
|
Chapter II,
Chapter XXI,
On
Modesty,
Tertullian (c. 217) |
|
I.III.2, 7,
First
Principles (De Principiis),
Origen.
(c.225) |
|
II.LXI,
II.LXII,
II.LXIII,
VII.LI,
Against
Celsus,
Origen (c. 246) |
|
On the
Unity of the Church,
Cyprian
of Carthage (c. 250) |
|
Epistle LXXV
--
Cyprian of Carthage (c.
255) |
|
Epistle LXXII
--
Epistle
LXXIV --
Cyprian of Carthage
(c. 256) |
| From Augustine's Tractates on John:
 |
Tractate 121
(20:10-29)
| "For while the men returned, the weaker sex was fastened to the place by a
stronger affection." |
|
|
Tractate
122 (20:30, 31; 21:1-11)
| "Why is it then that now, by the abandonment as it were of their
apostleship, they become what they were, and seek again what they had
forsaken." |
|
|
| From the Geneva Notes.
| "Either the doors opened to him of their own accord, or the very walls
themselves were a passage to him." |
|
| From
Matthew
Henry's Commentary.
| "A sight of Christ will gladden the heart of a disciple at any time; and
the more we see of Jesus, the more we shall rejoice." |
|
| From
Wesley's Notes.
| "He breathed on them - New life and vigour, and saith, as ye
receive this breath out of my mouth, so receive ye the Spirit out of my fulness: the Holy
Ghost influencing you in a peculiar manner, to fit you for your great embassy. This was an
earnest of pentecost." |
|
| From the
Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
| "And when he had so said, he showed them his hands and his side--not
only as ocular and tangible evidence of the reality of His
resurrection ... but as through "the power of that resurrection"
dispensing all His peace to men." |
|
| "The
Evidence of our Lord's Wounds," John 20:27, Charles H. Spurgeon, 1888. |
| From
The People's
New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
| "Perhaps our Lord in glory continues to bear the marks of the cross.
Perhaps these will forever, as we gaze in glory, remind us of the story of our
redemption." |
|
|
| Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
|
John 20:19-23, Day of Pentecost A,
Comments
(commentary) and
Clippings
(technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican
Diocese of Montreal. |
|
"First
Thoughts on Year A Gospel Passages in the Lectionary: Pentecost,"
William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
| "The life which meets us in brokenness
meets us to engage us in itself! That means engagement is the same
compassion and poured out love." |
|
|
Exegetical Notes
(Pentecost A)
by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
| "The question has been asked, 'What
changed the disciples from fearful (hiding behind locked doors) to
fearless witnesses in the world?' One answer is that they had seen the
resurrected Jesus -- but only a few had this life-changing experience.
Another answer is that they had all been filled with the Holy Spirit." |
|
|
"Thomas, an Honest Doubter,"
Gospel Analysis, Sermons from
Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle,
Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
| "Doubts, questions and skepticism often
lead to deeper faith and larger faith." |
|
|
Exegesis, John 20:19-31, Erik M. Heen, Lectionary Homiletics
sample.
| "The narrator of the gospel of John well
understands that all such signs signify to the eyes of faith that
God’s ministry of salvation revealed in Jesus has been completed.
Although it is a salvation that awaits cosmic consummation, even now
it can be experienced as eternal life (3:16, 5:24, 6:40) breathed
into the church by God’s own spirit." |
|
|
"God's Gift of Peace," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic
Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family
Activity, Support Materials.
| "When the last time you truly felt
peaceful?" |
|
|
"My Lord and My God,",
Easter to Trinity with the Gospel of John: Bearing Witness to the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, Paul S. Berge, Word & World Texts in Context,
Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1995.
| "This is the
Gospel of John's 'Pentecost' text as Jesus comes among his disciples on
the eve of resurrection, bestowing the gift of the Holy Spirit." |
|
|
"Cousin Thomas," Suzanne Guthrie, The Christian Century, 2005.
| "Like Thomas, I want truth. I don't want a faith of
smoke and mirrors." |
|
|
Marginally Mark, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western
Australia. |
|
Exegesis,
Mark D. Given, Southwest Missouri State University. |
|
Second Sunday of Easter, The Church in Mission: Gospel Texts for the
Sundays of Easter (Series C), Duane A. Olson, Word & World Texts in
Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1995.
| "Jesus comes back
for Thomas -- he goes out of his way for this one person -- and deals
with him where he is, that he may come to believe and that through
believing he may have life." |
|
|
Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion,
John 20:19-31, Wesley White. "A place of
conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
| "Wherever there is a
wound, Christ calls us to find belief by putting our finger there and to
energize that belief with a life lived to reveal what is behind the
wound." |
|
|
"Seeing (and NOT
Seeing) Is Believing,"
Expository Essay,
John 20:19-31, Dr. William R. Long.
| "Thus, the benefit of believing is that it will enable
even greater works to flow." |
|
|
Wellspring of
the Gospel, Easter 2B, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn
Turner, Weekly Wellsprings. |
|
"Resonating with God's Song," Walter Wink, The Christian Century,
1994.
| "We are just suckers if we let the reigning
intellectual fashion decree that the resurrection is unbelievable. What is
believable changes from generation to generation." |
|
|
"The Show-Me Disciple,"
Amy B. Hunter, The Christian Century, 2002. Religion Online.
| "Doubts and uncertainty frighten
us. That’s why we reject Thomas -- he dares to bring doubt into our lives
of faith." |
|
|
"A Surprise Appearance,"
Ken Collins, Ken Collin' Web Site.
| "So if Jesus didn't
penalize Thomas for doubting the resurrection, He certainly won't penalize
you if you have misgivings about it. You are not saved by your beliefs but
by your faith; by your reliance on Jesus Christ." |
|
|
"Those
Who Have Not Seen," James C. Somerville, The Christian
Century, 1998. At Religion Online.
| "As Bultmann would insist,
faith and proof are two different things. And as John has explained,
these things are not written so that you may have the facts, but so
that you may believe." |
|
|
"Mediated through Flesh," Margaret Guenther, The Christian
Century, 1995.
| "Most of us present carefully prepared facades. The
self we offer to others is not the product of conscious deception, yet we
want no one to disturb the meticulously maintained surface. The message is
implicit: Don't look too closely at my wounds, please." |
|
|
John
20:19-31, in Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary's
An
Exegetical Study of the Common Lectionary, coordinated by Prof.
John E. Alsup, features rough translation, disposition, immediate
context, broader context, hermeneutical bridge, and contemporary
|
|
"Jesus
Appears," Susan R. Andrews. Commentary from The Christian
Century, March, 1999. At Religion Online.
| "When I was in seminary,
Doubting Thomas was my soul mate. Jesus kept "appearing "
to my fellow students within the rich stories of the Christian
tradition. But like Thomas, I never seemed to be there when Jesus
arrived." |
|
|
"Crying Shame," M. Craig Barnes, The Christian Century, 2004.
| "...we disciples are not called to produce forgiveness.
We're called to be the priest pronouncing that which has been produced on
the cross." |
|
|
"Upper
Room Christianity," Jerry Goebel, One
Family Outreach. "Focus on scripture from a justice perspective." Exegesis, study, and teen study
and activities.
| "Are we living on the power of Jesus? Are we living by
his character, his authority, with his resources? Are we ready to break
down the gates and charge out of the Upper Room and into the streets with
the incomparable power of the risen Lord? That is the Way of Life that
the Name of Jesus provides for us." |
|
|
Commentary
by Hall Harris at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
| "Furthermore there is the imagery of Ezek. 37:1-14, the prophecy concerning
the resurrection of the dry bones: there in verse 9 the Son of Man is told to prophesy to
the "wind/breath/Spirit" to come and breathe on the corpses, so that they will
live again." |
|
|
On Seeing and Believing (John 20:10-31), by Robert Deffinbaugh at the
Biblical Studies Foundation.
| "John is writing this Gospel for
those who have never seen the risen Lord. He has selected just a few of the many
miraculous signs Jesus performed to demonstrate that Jesus is who He claimed to be, who
John proclaims Him to be." |
|
|
"The Holy Spirit, The Force of Forgiveness,"
Pentecost B, Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com:
A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's
Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
| "How is God's Spirit different
from the Force in Star Wars?" |
|
|
"First
Thoughts on Year B Gospel Passages in the Lectionary: Easter 2,"
William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in
Australia.
| "John is not anti-miracle, but
he is critical of the focus on the materiality of miracles and
Thomas surely approaches that stance. Blessed are those who believe
who did not need the proofs (20:29)." |
|
|
"First
Thoughts on Year C Gospel Passages in the Lectionary: Easter 2,"
William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
| "Blessed are those who believe
who did not need the proofs (20:29). Such miracles and proofs
(affirmed by John in 20:30) only make sense if they lead to the real
faith which consists in a relationship with God of which 20:31
speaks." |
|
|
Comments (commentary) and
Clippings
(technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican
Diocese of Montreal. |
|
"First
Thoughts on Year A Gospel Passages in the Lectionary: Easter 2,"
William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
| "Such miracles and proofs (affirmed by
John in 20:30) only make sense if they lead to the real faith which
consists in a relationship with God of which 20:31 speaks." |
|
|
Exegetical Notes
(Easter 2 ABC)
by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
| "The purpose of this
resurrection appearance is not so much to prove the resurrection as it
is to send the disciples as Jesus had been sent. Easter is not
just coming to a wonderful, inspiring worship service, it is being sent
back into the (hostile) world, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to bear
witness to the identity of God as revealed in Jesus." |
|
|
"Exegetical Considerations,"
Easter 2, Richard
Carlson, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Using Greek for
Sunday Text Preparations.
| "What is the theological significance of Jesus’
congratulatory declaration in v. 29b? How does that relate to a theology of
faith and the resurrection?" |
|
|
| Articles & Background:
|
"'As the Father Has Sent
Me' Community Dialogues in John 20," David L. Barr, working paper for
the American Bible Society, not for citation without permission.
| "This note argues that rhetorical canons supply new
evidence for the thesis that the Fourth Gospel has two endings, the
original (20,30-31) and one that was added later (21,25)." |
|
|
"A Note on the Two
Endings of John," Michael Martin, Biblica, 2006. |
|
"How
to Be a Disciple," Dallas Willard. Adapted from The Divine Conspiracy:
Rediscovering our Hidden Life in God. Reprinted in The Christian Century,
1998. At Religion OnLine.
| "But on
the other hand, it could well prove to be a major turning point in our life if we would
... ask ourselves if we really do intend to be life students of Jesus. Do we really intend
to do and be all of the high things we profess to believe in? Have we decided to do them?
When did we decide it? And how did we implement that decision?" |
|
|
| Articles in
ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are
subscribed and logged in to
ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
| Andrews, Susan R.,
"Jesus Appears," The Christian Century, 1999.
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| Barnes, M. Craig,
"Crying Shame," The Christian Century, 2004.
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PDF |
| Berge, Paul S.,
"Easter to Trinity with the Gospel of John: Bearing Witness to Father, Son
and Holy Spirit," Word & World, 1998.
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PDF |
| Bridgford, Kim,
"Doubting Thomas," The Christian Century, 2006. (Poetry)
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PDF |
| Brown, Raymond E.,
"The Resurrection in John 20 -- A Series of Diverse Reactions,"
Worship, 1990.
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| Brown, Rebecca Pugh, "Preaching
Justice and Mercy: Reflections on the Lectionary Readings for April,"
The Living Pulpit,
2007. (See also
"Atonement," issue focus of The Living Pulpit, 16.2, 2007.)
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| Burghardt, William, S.J.,
"Gospel Joy, Christian Joy," The Living Pulpit, 1996. (see
Joy issue focus of The Living Pulpit 5.4, 1996.)
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|
Byrne, Brendan,
"The Faith of the Beloved Disciple and the Community in John 20,"
Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 1985.
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| Carson, D.A.,
"The Purpose of the Fourth Gospel: John 20:31 Reconsidered," Journal
of Biblical Literature, 1987.
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| Carson, D.A.,
"Syntactical and Text-Critical Observations on John 20:30-31: One More Round
on the Purpose of the Fourth Gospel," Journal of Biblical Literature,
2005.
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|
Clayton, Kimberly L., "The Easter Texts:
Getting Hold (or not) of Easter,"
Currents in Theology and Mission,
2007.
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| Fuller, Reginald H.,
"From Exegesis to Sermon Composition: John 20:19-23," Interpretation,
1978.
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| Grant, Kristen
Bargeron,
"No Joke," The Christian Century, 2003.
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PDF |
| Guenther, Margaret,
"Mediated through Flesh," The Christian Century, 1995.
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PDF |
| Guthrie, Suzanne,
"Cousin Thomas," The Christian Century, 2005.
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| Harstine, Stan,
"Un-Doubting Thomas: Recognition Scenes in the Ancient World,"
Perspectives in Religious Studies, 2006.
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| Hauerwas, Stanley, "Embodied Memory,"
Journal for Preachers, 1996. (Sermon)
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PDF |
|
Hays, Richard B.,
"Fingering the Evidence,"
The Christian Century, 1992.
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PDF |
|
Hunter, Amy B.,
"The Show-Me Disciple,"
The Christian Century,
2002.
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PDF |
|
Johnson, Jimmie D., "God and the Chaos
Monster," Journal for
Preachers, 2007. Sermon.
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PDF |
|
Lee, Dorothy A.,
"Partnership in Easter Faith: The Role of Mary Magdalene and Thomas in John
20," Journal for the
Study of the New Testament, 1995.
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|
Lose, David J., "Realities Old and New,"
Journal for Preachers,
2007. (Sermon)
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|
Mantey, Julius Robert, "Distorted Translations in John 20:23; Matthew 16:18-19 and 18:18,"
Review & Expositor,
1981.
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|
Mantey, Julius R., "Evidence that the Perfect Tense in John 20:23 and Matthew 16:19 is
Mistranslated," Journal
of the Evangelical Theological Society,
1973.
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|
Marty, Peter W.,
"A Change in Perception,"
The Christian Century, 1996.
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| O'Brien, Kelli,
"Written That You May Believe: John 20 and Narrative Rhetoric,"
The
Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2005.
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| Olson, Duane A.,
"The Church in Mission: Gospel Texts for the Sundays after Easter (Series
C)," Word & World, 1995.
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| Pierce, Brian J.,
O.P., "Prophets of the Shalom of God," The Living Pulpit, 2006.
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| Pretlove, John, "John 20:22--Help
from Dry Bones?" Criswell Theological Review, 2005.
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| Ross, J.M., "Further Unnoticed Points in the Text of the New Testament,"
Novum
Testamentum, 2003. (Section on John 20:25 begins on page 216.)
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| Somerville, James G.,
"Those Who Have Not Seen,"
The Christian Century, 1998.
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| Stortz, Martha Ellen, "Indwelling
Christ, Indwelling Christians: Living as Marked," Currents in
Theology and Mission, 2007.
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| Suggit, John, "The Eucharistic Significance of John 20:19-29,"
Journal of Theology
for Southern Africa, 1976.
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| van Rossum, Joost, "The 'Johannine Pentecost': John 20:22 in Modern Exegesis and in Orthodox
Theology," St Vladimir's Theological Quarterly, 1991.
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| Willard, Dallas,
"How to Be a Disciple," The Christian Century, 1998.
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| Wink, Walter,
"Resonating with God's Song,"
The Christian Century, 1994.
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| Reviews: |
| Sermons: | |
