A Divine Round Trip: the Literary and Christological Function of the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif in the Gospel of John

The thesis of this dissertation is that the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif, which includes the language of not only descending and ascending, but also going, coming, and being sent, performs a significant literary and christological function in the Gospel of John. The Evangelist's Descent/Ascent Leitmotif becomes the Gospel's organizing principal, drawing together a constellation of verbs and a number of themes, including Jesus-Son's origin, identity, relationship to God, authority, signs and works, life, and glory. In the introductory chapter, after providing a layout of the dissertation, the discussion turns to the spacial dimensions and christological importance of the vertical and horizontal depictions of the descending, ascending, coming, going, and being sent verbs. The focus of chapter two is to explain and illustrate, using a version of the Cinderella story, a method that serves to identify the Leitmotif and the verbs, motifs, and themes the Leitmotif draws within its constellation. This approach, titled a thematic structural method, integrates works from thematic scholars Horst Daemmrich and Eugene Falk with works from literary structural scholars A. J Greimas and Roland Barthes, and is a tool to analyze the influence of the Leitmotif as the Gospel's organizing principal on the relationships between the Leitmotif and numerous themes from which John's Christology emerges. The task of chapter three is to explain the rationale for the selection of the Leitmotif's verbs of descending, ascending, coming, going, and being sent. Chapters four and five investigate how the Evangelist, with the repetition of the Leitmotif, constructs his narrative to tell the story of the historical Jesus and shape the Evangelist's Christology. Additionally, the focus is to analyze the transforming influences of the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif on the themes of Jesus-Son's origin, identity, relationship to the Father, and authority, through his signs and works, life, and glory. The Descent/Ascent Leitmotif depicts a divine round trip, and the emphasis of chapter six is to examine the role of the Leitmotif in Jesus-Son's departure from the world and return to God. The Evangelist's use of the Leitmotif in Jesus' prayer to the Father (John 17) and the promise of the Paraclete are included in this chapter. Due to the Descent/Ascent Leitmotif's inherent spatial overtones, elements related to Jesus' return, including heaven, world, the hour, and his form after his resurrection, are explored from a cosmological and ontological perspective.

The Gospel of John in the King James version with introduction and critical notes /

Vol. 2 has additional title: The epistles of John, I John, II John, III John.

An introductory New Testament Greek method : together with a manual, containing text and vocabulary of Gospel of John and lists of words, and the elements of New Testament Greek grammar /

Mode of access: Internet.

The divinity of Christ in the Gospel of John,

Mode of access: Internet.

Notes on the Gospel of John: explanatory and practical.

Mode of access: Internet.

Buddhist texts quoted as Scripture by the Gospel of John: a discovery in the lower criticism. (John vii, 38; xii. 34.)

Mode of access: Internet.

The deity of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of John,

Mode of access: Internet.

The Gospel of John : an exposition /

Mode of access: Internet.

Daily reminders from the Gospel of John,

Mode of access: Internet.

Studies in the gospel of John,

Mode of access: Internet.

The whole works of John Flavel, late minister of the gospel at Dartmouth, Devon.

I. The life of John Flavel. The fountain of life.--II. The method of in the gospel-redemption. Pneumatologia; a treatise of the soul of man.--III. Pneumatologia (cont.) A practical treatise of fear. The righteous man's refuge. A blow at the root; or, The causes and cure of mental errors. Vindiciarum vindex. The second appendix; of Antinomianism. A sermon on gospel-unity.--England's duty. Mount Pisgah. Divine conduct; or, The mystery of Providence. Wonderful sea-deliverances. Antipharmacum saluberrimum. Tidings from Rome; or, England's alarm.-- V. Husbandry spiritualized; or, The heavenly use of earthly things. Navigation spiritualized; or, A new compass for seamen. [Miscellaneous tracts and sermons]--VI. Preparations for sufferings. The balm of the covenant. An exposition of the Assembly's Shorter catechism. A reply to Mr. Philip Cary's Solemn call. Sacramental meditations. [Miscellaneous tracts and sermons].