Philipp F. Bartholomä, «John 5,31-47 and the Teaching of Jesus in the Synoptics. A Comparative Approach.»
Within Johannine scholarship, the assumed differences between Jesus’ teaching in John and in the Synoptics have frequently led to a negative judgment about Johannine authenticity. This article proposes a comparative approach that distinguishes between different levels of similarity in wording and content and applies it to John 5,31-47. What we find in this discourse section corresponds conceptually to a significant degree with the picture offered in the Synoptics, though couched in a very different idiom. Thus, the comparative evidence does not preclude us from accepting this particular part of Johannine speech material as an authentic representation of the actual content of Jesus’words.
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JOHN 5,31-47 AND THE TEACHING OF JESUS IN THE SYNOPTICS
words as represented in the Fourth Gospel can be shown to be sim-
ilar in either wording or content to the Synoptics (i.e., featuring a
level 1 or level 2 type of closeness), then it would be difficult to up-
hold a negative judgment concerning the authenticity of any given
discourse based upon the differences between John and the Synop-
tics. On the other hand, if large portions of the Johannine discourses
were to show very little agreement with the reported teaching of
Jesus in the Synoptics not only in wording but also in basic content
(i.e., featuring a level 0 or, at best, level 1 type of closeness), then the
Fourth Gospel’s representation of Jesus’ words could be considered
as essentially different from the Synoptics — something that could
potentially serve as an argument against the authenticity of John.
III. Three Witnesses: John 5,31-47
and the Teaching of Jesus in the Synoptics
In the main section of this article, we will apply this comparative
method to the second part of Jesus’ discourse in John 5,31-47. The
Johannine propositions appear in the left column, synoptic parallels
are given in the right column. Overlap in wording is given in brack-
ets, overlap in content is made visible through underlining in the ta-
bles below. For the sake of brevity the Greek wording is quoted only
in those instances where semantic overlap actually occurs.
1. The Significance and Availability of True Testimony (John
5,31-32)
[Matt 18,16]
[5,31]
If I testify [marturw/] But if you are not listened to,
about myself, take one or two others along
[1/1]
my testimony [h` marturi,a] with you, so that every word
is not true. may be confirmed by the evi-
dence of two or three witnesses
[duo martu,rwn hv . triwn].
, /
[5,32] [Matt 12,28 par.]
There is another who But if it is by the Spirit of
[0/1]
testifies on my behalf, and God that I cast out demons,
I know that his testimony then the kingdom of God has
to me is true. come to you.
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