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Abstract
This study begins by addressing compositional gaps in John 12 and its dynamic relationship with the Synoptic Gospels through an initial exegetical exploration. The findings are then developed into a narrative-historical analysis and interpreted using philosophical hermeneutics and catharsis theory to examine the internal condition of the Gospel’s author. The results indicate that John’s emotional state and underlying motives significantly influenced the structure and emphasis of chapter 12. His inner conflict as a disciple closely linked to both John the Baptist and Jesus underlies the unique features of this chapter when compared to the Synoptic parallels. Through cathartic contemplation, John is able to reimagine and narrate painful events with theological and pastoral depth. He recognises the necessity of recording these events faithfully so that his readers might perceive their profound meaning. Ultimately, the narrative conveys a striking message: the world is no longer a safe or ideal place for the followers of Christ. Rather, it has become a dystopian reality, underscoring the cost of discipleship and the enduring relevance of John's Gospel for a suffering community.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Valentino Wariki, Yusak Setianto, Muryati Muryati Muryati
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References
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- Adolph, R. (2021). The Concise New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis (C. A. Beetham (ed.)). Zondervan Academic.
- Bauckham, R. (2017). Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony-Second Edition. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
- Beale, G. K., Brendsel, D. J., & Ross, W. A. (2014). An Interpretive Lexicon of New Testament Greek: Analysis of Prepositions, Adverbs, Particles, Relative Pronouns, and Conjunctions. Zondervan.
- Beasley-Murray, G. R. (1999). John-Revised Edition. In Word Biblical Commentary (Vol. 36). Zondervan.
- Blanke, J. A. (2007). A Household to be Gathered-The Anointing at Bethany and theDay of Jesus’ Death in the Gospel According to John [Concordia Seminary]. https://scholar.csl.edu/phd
- Brendsel, D. J. (2014). “Isaiah Saw His Glory”: The Use of Isaiah 52-53 in John 12. Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
- Brodie, T. L. (1993). The Gospel according to John ; a literary and theological commentary. Oxford University Press.
- Card, M. (2014). John: The Gospel of Wisdom. In Biblical imagination series. IVP Books.
- Carson, D. A. (1991). The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
- Culpepper, R. A. (1983). Anatomy of The Fourth Gospel: A Study in Literary Design. In Sustainability (Switzerland). Fortress Press.
- Doroszewski, F. (2022). Orgies of Words: Mystery Terminology in the “Paraphrase of St. John’s Gospel” by Nonnus of Panopolis Translated from Polish by Damian Jasiński. Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
- Ford, D. F. (2021). The Gospel of John: A Theological Commentary. Baker Academic.
- Frey, J. (2018). The Glory of the Crucified One: Christology and Theology in the Gospel of John-Translated by Wayne Coppins and Christoph Heilig. Baylor University Press & Mohr Siebeck.
- Fritz, K. von. (1962). Antike und Moderne Tragodie. Walter de Gruyter.
- Ha, T. C. (2015). Biblical Narrative Learning: Teaching Adequate Faith In The Gospel Of John. Pickwick Publications.
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- Kappelle, R. P. Vande. (2014). Truth Revealed: The Message of the Gospel of John—Then And Now. WIPF and Stock.
- Kearney, R. (2007). Narrating Pain: The Power of Catharsis. 1, 51–66.
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- Köstenberger, A. J. (2009). A Theology of John’s Gospel and Letters: The Word, The Christ, The Son of God. Zondervan.
- Köstenberger, A. J. (2013). Encountering John: The Gospel in Historical, Literary, and Theological Perspective. Baker Academic.
- Köstenberger, A. J. (2015). A Theology of John’s Gospel and Letters: Biblical Theology of the New Testament. Zondervan.
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- MacArthur, J. (2008). The MacArthur New Testament commentary: John 12-21. Moody Publishers.
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- Porter, S. E., & Ong, H. T. (2015). The Origins of John’s Gospel. In S. E. Porter & H. T. Ong (Eds.), The Origins of John’s Gospel (Vol. 2). Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004303164
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- Stockwell, P. (2014). The Poetics of Science Fiction. In Sustainability (Switzerland) (Vol. 11, Issue 1). Routledge.
- Strong, J. (1997). Greek Dictionary of the New Testament. Books For the Ages.
- Thayer, J. H. (n.d.). Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. American Book Company.
- Thomas, W. H. G. (n.d.). The Apostle John: Studies in His Life and Writings. Pickwick & Inglis.
References
Adamczewski, B. (2018). The Gospel of John: A Hypertextual Commentary. In European Studies in Theology, Philosophy and History of Religions (Vol. 17). Peter Lang. https://doi.org/10.3726/b13686
Adolph, R. (2021). The Concise New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis (C. A. Beetham (ed.)). Zondervan Academic.
Bauckham, R. (2017). Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony-Second Edition. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Beale, G. K., Brendsel, D. J., & Ross, W. A. (2014). An Interpretive Lexicon of New Testament Greek: Analysis of Prepositions, Adverbs, Particles, Relative Pronouns, and Conjunctions. Zondervan.
Beasley-Murray, G. R. (1999). John-Revised Edition. In Word Biblical Commentary (Vol. 36). Zondervan.
Blanke, J. A. (2007). A Household to be Gathered-The Anointing at Bethany and theDay of Jesus’ Death in the Gospel According to John [Concordia Seminary]. https://scholar.csl.edu/phd
Brendsel, D. J. (2014). “Isaiah Saw His Glory”: The Use of Isaiah 52-53 in John 12. Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
Brodie, T. L. (1993). The Gospel according to John ; a literary and theological commentary. Oxford University Press.
Card, M. (2014). John: The Gospel of Wisdom. In Biblical imagination series. IVP Books.
Carson, D. A. (1991). The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Culpepper, R. A. (1983). Anatomy of The Fourth Gospel: A Study in Literary Design. In Sustainability (Switzerland). Fortress Press.
Doroszewski, F. (2022). Orgies of Words: Mystery Terminology in the “Paraphrase of St. John’s Gospel” by Nonnus of Panopolis Translated from Polish by Damian Jasiński. Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
Ford, D. F. (2021). The Gospel of John: A Theological Commentary. Baker Academic.
Frey, J. (2018). The Glory of the Crucified One: Christology and Theology in the Gospel of John-Translated by Wayne Coppins and Christoph Heilig. Baylor University Press & Mohr Siebeck.
Fritz, K. von. (1962). Antike und Moderne Tragodie. Walter de Gruyter.
Ha, T. C. (2015). Biblical Narrative Learning: Teaching Adequate Faith In The Gospel Of John. Pickwick Publications.
John, Jesus, and History: Critical Appraisals of Critical Views. (2007). In P. N. Anderson, S. J. Felix Just, & T. Thatcher (Eds.), Society of Biblical Literature (Vol. 1).
Kappelle, R. P. Vande. (2014). Truth Revealed: The Message of the Gospel of John—Then And Now. WIPF and Stock.
Kearney, R. (2007). Narrating Pain: The Power of Catharsis. 1, 51–66.
Keener, C. S. (2003). The Gospel of John: A Commentary. Baker Academic.
Kieffer, R. (2001). John. In J. Muddiman & J. Barton (Eds.), The Oxford Bible Commentary; The Gospel. Oxford University Press.
Köstenberger, A. J. (2009). A Theology of John’s Gospel and Letters: The Word, The Christ, The Son of God. Zondervan.
Köstenberger, A. J. (2013). Encountering John: The Gospel in Historical, Literary, and Theological Perspective. Baker Academic.
Köstenberger, A. J. (2015). A Theology of John’s Gospel and Letters: Biblical Theology of the New Testament. Zondervan.
Köstenberger, A. J. (2021). Signs of the Messiah: An Introduction to John’s Gospel. Lexham Press.
Lightfoot, J. B. (2015). The Gospel of St John: A Newly Discovered Commentary-The Lightfoot Legacy set. In B. W. III & T. D. Still (Eds.), The Gospel of St John (Vol. 2). IVP Academic.
MacArthur, J. (2008). The MacArthur New Testament commentary: John 12-21. Moody Publishers.
Osborne, G. R. (2018). John: Verse by Verse. Lexham Press.
Porter, S. E., & Ong, H. T. (2015). The Origins of John’s Gospel. In S. E. Porter & H. T. Ong (Eds.), The Origins of John’s Gospel (Vol. 2). Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004303164
Routledge Handbook of Research Methods in the Study of Religion. (2022). In S. Engler & M. Stausberg (Eds.), Gastronomía ecuatoriana y turismo local. (Vol. 1, Issue 69). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003222491
Sloyan, G. S. (1988). John Interpretation: a bible commentary for teaching and preaching (J. L. Mays, P. D. J. Miller, & P. J. Achtemeier (eds.)). John Knox Press.
Stockwell, P. (2014). The Poetics of Science Fiction. In Sustainability (Switzerland) (Vol. 11, Issue 1). Routledge.
Strong, J. (1997). Greek Dictionary of the New Testament. Books For the Ages.
Thayer, J. H. (n.d.). Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. American Book Company.
Thomas, W. H. G. (n.d.). The Apostle John: Studies in His Life and Writings. Pickwick & Inglis.