"So That Scripture Would be Fulfilled": The Old Testament in the Johannine Passion Narrative Open Access

Abstract

"So that Scripture Would be Fulfilled"
The Old Testament in the Johannine Passion Narrative (John 18-19)
This thesis examines the use of the Old Testament in the passion narrative of
John's Gospel (John 18-19). It considers this passage within the broader issue of
intertextuality, the way texts relate to prior texts, and particularly within the discussion of
the Old Testament in the New.
Chapter One lays the foundation for the more specific and technical analysis
which follows. It provides an overview of intertextuality as a literary phenomenon,
forms of OT references within the New Testament, and hermeneutical guidelines for
evaluating a potential intertextual "echo."
The focus then narrows to the Johannine passion narrative. Chapter Two offers an
exegetical analysis of John 18-19. Chapter Three describes references to the Old
Testament which are generally accepted, first the three direct citations, and then a few
representative examples of intertextual allusion.
Chapter Four, the focus of this thesis, explores a previously unidentified allusion
in light of the preceding discussions. It will be argued that Pilate's announcement
"Behold, the man!" (John 19:5) echoes a similar announcement in Zech 6:12, "Behold, a
man! Branch is his name." Further, the ironic coronation scene in John 19:2-5 tropes the
symbolic coronation of Joshua in Zech 6:10-15 (and the related episode in 3:1-10).
Theological and thematic parallels between the two texts will be demonstrated. The
result is that John draws upon the text from Zechariah to portray Jesus as the promised
"Branch" - in other words, as the Messiah. The fifth and final chapter considers the
implications of the proposed intertextual echo for the interpretation of John and for
theories of intertextuality.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS
INTERTEXTUALITY 1
Textual Considerations 3
Form: Quotations, Allusions, and Echoes 4
Hearing an Echo 6
EXEGESIS OF JOHN 18-19 13
Gospel Context 13
Metaphors of Duality and Dramatic Irony 17
"The King of the Jews" 19
Conclusion 24
OT CITATIONS AND ALLUSIONS IN JOHN 18-19 25
"Fulfillment" Citations 25
John 19:24 27
John 19:36 29
John 19:37 32
Allusions 36
Implications 39
Context in John 42
Context in Zechariah 44
Verbal and Contextual Parallels 46
"Branch" 49
Temple 55
IMPLICATIONS 63
John 63
Intertextuality 66
BIBLIOGRAPHY 69

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Candler School of Theology
Department	Theological Studies
Degree	MTS
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Keyword	John, Gospel of Intertextuality Passion Narrative New Testament Use of Old Testament Zechariah New Testament John John 18-19
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Johnson, Luke T, Emory University
Committee Members	Holladay, Carl R, Emory University Kraftchick, Steven, Emory University

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