The Johannine Paroimia

<p>This investigation studied the use of the Greek term <strong>παροιμια</strong> in the Gospel of John. In chapter 1 modern and ancient writers who wrote about the <strong>παροιμια</strong> are reviewed as a background study. The discussions are mostly limited to the area of popular proverbs. The list of <strong>παροιμια</strong> in the period before the Fourth Gospel revealed that not only proverbial sayings but also idioms and maxims were included in the category of <strong>παροιμια</strong>. The use of the term in the Septuagint translation and in Philo's writings shifted from the earlier use of theterm because the former, in several places, translated the Hebrew words <strong>משׁל</strong> and <strong>חידה</strong> by <strong>παροιμια</strong> and the latter replaced three words <strong>αἲνιγμα</strong>, <strong>παραβολἠ</strong>, and <strong>διηγἠμα</strong> by <strong>παροιμἰα</strong>. This use provided an intermediate step toward the drastic shift in the term's meaning in the Fourth Gospel</p> <p>In chapter 2 the use of the term in 16 :4b-33 and the problem of <strong>ἐν παροιμἰαις</strong> are probed. Βy investigating the use of <strong>ταῦτα</strong> it is shown that Jesus referred to the passage of vss. 5-24 by <strong>ταῦτα</strong> in 16:25. The crucial sayings of vss. 25, 29 are conditioned by the questions of the disciples. The questions were caused by the difficult sayings of Jesus, which can be identified with <strong>παροιμἰα</strong>. The difficult sayings are found in vss. 5 (10b), 16. They are not parables, proverbs, illustrations, or figures of speech. They are riddles. Features of the Johannine riddles which occur in chap. 16 were observed: short; expanded by the use of a parable; cause questions; Jesus centered; Jesus' sayings; and use of ambiguous words.</p> <p>In chapter 3 the <strong>παροιμἰα</strong> of 10:1-5 was investigated to determine its literary form. Several possibilities were considered: parable, allegory, and riddle. 'Riddle' is the most appropriate English equivalent for <strong>παροιμἰα</strong>. Additional features of the Johannine riddles were observed: lengthy; cause of misunderstanding; and expansion by the use of proverbs.</p> <p>In chapter 4 further Johannine riddles were located in light of the features observed in the previous chapters. These riddles culminate in the death of Jesus. Jesus is portrayed as a teacher of riddles in the Gospel.</p> <p>The Johannine use of the term <strong>παροιμἰα</strong> shows a dramatic shift from its use in the classical and Hellenistic literature before the Gospel.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Religion, New Testament PhD

Year

1992

Author dc:creator

• Doh, Hyunsok

Contributors dc:contributor

• Robert M. Johnston
• Richard M. Davidson
• Jon Paulien

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/36

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.andrews.edu:dissertations-1035