“Dematerializing” Religion: Reading John 2–4 as a Chiasm 533 a) The Beginning of the Narrative Unit: The Wedding in Cana (a) The first miracle in Cana (2,1-12) is sometimes viewed as the conclusion of the previous testimonies and callings of disciples (1,19-51) (28). Jesus’ promise to Nathanael, that he would see “greater things” (meivzw touvtwn, 1,50) is thus seen as fulfilled in the miracle at the wedding. As a more “private miracle”, it confirms the disciples’ earlier responses of faith (1,38-39.45.50; 2,11) before the public ministry begins with the temple cleansing (29). More specifically, since Origen the reference to the “third day” in 2,1, when connected with the “(next) day” mentioned in 1,29.35.43, is quite often computed into a six-day week at least, if not even a seven-or eight- day week: SIX DAYS(30) SEVEN DAYS(31) EIGHT DAYS(32) DAY 1 1,19-28 2 1,29-34 Same as befor Same as before 3 1,35-42 4 1,43-51 1,40-42 1,40-42 5 1,43-51 1,43-51 6 2,1-11 7 2,1-11 8 2,1-11 The seven- and eight-day schemes understand the expression th;n hJmevran ejkeivnhn in 1,39 as a signal for the close of the third day before the fourth day begins in 1,40. In addition, the seven-day scheme counts the “third day” in 2,11 from day no. five, but including it (33), while the eight-day scheme excludes it. The six-day scheme followed by the Passover in 2,13 is then understood as an (28) C.F. KEIL, Commentar über das Evangelium des Johannes (Leipzig 1881) 36; WESTCOTT, The Gospel, I, lxxxviii; F.F. BRUCE, The Gospel of John (Grand Rapids, MI 1983) 24. (29) BARRETT, The Gospel, 189. (30) So J. FREY, Die johanneische Eschatologie (WUNT 116; Tübingen 1998) II, 192-196 — where he refers also to Origen (Ioh., VI, 258-259), Bengel, Luthardt, Barrett, Olsson. (31) So already C.E. LUTHARDT, Das johanneische Evangelium nach seiner Eigenthümlichkeit (Nürnberg 1852) 76-78; M.-E. BOISMARD, Du Baptême à Cana (Jean, 1,19-2,11) (LD 18; Paris 1956); T. BARROSSE, “The Seven Days of the New Creation in St. John’s Gospel”, CBQ 21 (1959) 507-516, and others. (32) See B. LINDARS, The Gospel of John (NCB; London 1972) 128. (33) BRUCE (The Gospel of John, 68) notes that “we should say ‘two days later’ (Moffatt)”.