David Capes
We talked a little bit about some of the differences there, which like most obvious differences, one is writing a gospel, which is the story or a biography of Jesus in a way. And the other is writing a letter in a missionary context. Paul is a missionary, he’s an apostle, and he’s out founding churches, and those churches are having problems. And you’re going to be addressing things in a different way. So that’s important. And then there’s the language part where there’s the language that John uses that is distinct from, in some places, the language of Paul. But Michael, where do you see the commonalities, where they really begin to come into some sync.
Michael Gorman
In a variety of scholar’s work over the last century, people have identified some parallels, some themes that are similar. This can range depending on the scholar from a very simple phrase or sentence in John and Paul that sound similar. There was a scholar back in the 1940s, for instance, who identified over 100 phrases in John that sounded like phrases in Paul. One hundred and something different texts to my way of thinking is interesting, but somewhat superficial. I’m interested in depth, because if we can get deeper, we can begin to see how the nature of its similarity might be understood or might be expressed.
So, a variety of themes in addition to text have been explored over the years that sounds somewhat similar. One example in Paul for instance is sin. Sin is often spoken in the singular as a power. You also get that in the Gospel of John, which is interesting. There’s a phrase in Philippians 2 about equality with God, which also appears in the Gospel of John. There are phrases like this that make people scratch their heads. But for me, what I tell my students when I teach a New Testament survey class is that the New Testament is primarily about two things. Who is Jesus Christ? And so what? Christology and discipleship. Or Christology and spirituality.
David Capes
I of course like that, because I like Christology.
Michael Gorman
Well, I guess I could say it’s about two things, divine Christology.
David Capes
It could be, could be.
Michael Gorman
There are two things that I find interesting about Paul and John. I’ll talk about the second one first, the spirituality or discipleship. Many people have said that in John, you have this idea of abiding in Christ, the vine, as he abides in us. So, this mutual abiding, that language depending on your translation of the Greek word “meno”, John 15. A corporate image there of believers as being part of the vine, which is Christ. When you move over to Paul, you have a similar corporate image of the Body of Christ. And you also have the language of Christ “being in us” in a few places. And us being in Christ, in many places. In that case, more than 100 in the Pauline correspondence. So, the “in Christ” language and the “Christ in us” also suggest a kind of mutual indwelling. The union with Christ stream, which many people have identified, frankly, in superficial ways, I want to explore in a full lecture. So that’s one area I think is very interesting. I think people will be surprised at some of the similarities.
The second area that I want to explore is Christology. To go back to my two focal points of New Testament theology. And in this case, what I want to look at is the language that Paul and John use about Christ in terms of incarnation, self-enslavement, and exultation. That kind of story runs, in my opinion, in both gospels. And we’ll look at particular texts, I think that demonstrate that. I don’t want to give away the farm here!
David Capes
No, no, no, because we want people to come and listen to the lecture and be a part of that. They can also look into it later on and get the book which comes out with Baker Academic [in a year or two].
Michael Gorman
We’re going to be looking at those two things, Christology and spirituality. And is there not only a similarity, but possibly a connection?
David Capes
Yes. Interesting. Andy, as you think about all the people that who have come and give these lectures over the past 15 years or so, why Mike Gorman and why now?
Andy Johnson
For one thing, to be just perfectly honest, Mike and I have been friends and roommates at SBL conference for somewhere around 15 to 18 years. He is one of my best friends. And I looked at the list and thought there is a name missing here. That’s an obvious name, and the name is Mike Gorman. Why is he missing? But the other reason is also fairly obvious. Mike really is one of the best-known Paul scholars, certainly in this country and in the world.
You mentioned many books. His books have been influential, not just on me, but for a lot of my students and the academic Guild. His ways of reading particularly in participationist ways of reading both Paul and John, have been influential. I think it’s important to expose our students to this work. And this just seemed like a perfect time with him bringing together in some way, his work on Paul and his work on John. It just seemed like a very opportune time. It seemed good to me and the Holy Spirit.
David Capes
Well, that’s always a good answer. It’s always a good answer. If people want to know more about this lectureship and about this lecture in particular, there’s a place on your website at Nazarene Theological Seminary where they can find it?
Andy Johnson
Yes, there is. They can go to www.nps.edu. And there, you’ll see a place to click for events. Click on that, and you’ll be able to get more information, and register for the event. You’ll need to register for the event. If you’re not there in person, you’ll register for the event and either the day before or the morning, you’ll receive a zoom link, and you’ll be able to access each of the three lectures using the zoom link.
David Capes
Is this open to the public? Or is this open only to NTS students.
Andy Johnson
It’s open to the public. Of course, it’s opened to NTS students and NTS alumni and everyone. We focus on getting out the word to those folk but this podcast and other things will help us also get the word out to a broader audience. Everyone is welcome.
David Capes
And we’re going to put information in our newsletter at Lanier Theological Library about this lecture. And we’re just so pleased that we’re going to make this happen here this fall. Thanks to both of you, Andy Johnson, as well as Mike Gorman for being with us today on The Stone Chapel Podcast.
Andy Johnson
Thank you, David.
Michael Gorman
Thanks, David and Andy.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai.
