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Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel: Meaning, Mystery, Community, Second Edition Paperback – February 19, 2003

by Craig R. Koester (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 40 ratings
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Craig Koester's respected study uses the symbolic language of the Gospel of John as a focus to explore "the Gospel's literary dimensions, social and historical context, and theological import." This edition is fully revised and updated and includes a number of new sections on such topics as Judas and the knowledge of God. Fresh treatments are given on a number of issues, including the Gospel's Christology. This new edition offers both new insights and proven worth for students and scholars alike.

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  1. Print length
    368 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Fortress Press
  4. Publication date
    February 19, 2003
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0800635949
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0800635947
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Craig R. Koester is Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary in St Paul, Minnesota. He received his Ph.D. in New Testament from Union Theological Seminary in New York.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Fortress Press; 2nd edition (February 19, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0800635949
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0800635947
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 40 ratings

About the author

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Craig R. Koester

Craig R. Koester

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I’m Craig Koester, the Asher O. and Carrie Nasby Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary. My writing centers on biblical interpretation, whether I’m producing accessible books for a wide readership or more specialized studies that explore the world of the New Testament. A key to the process is careful listening to the biblical texts and to the questions that readers ask about them. My hope is that my readers will find exploring the New Testament to be engaging and rewarding. Topics vary but a persistent theme is what gives life. I’m married to Nancy Koester, who writes on American religious experience. You can find out more at www.craigkoester.com.

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4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
40 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Mike
5.0 out of 5 stars If you're studying John's gospel...you need it.
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2017
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Craig Koester has put together a comprehensive work on the literary devices and symbolism of John's gospel. Anyone who is seriously pursuing Johannine studies would greatly benefit from this; my copy is completely marked up with notes, and that's when I know its good.

The text is divided into easy to approach sections where each concept is clearly laid out and numerous clear examples are put forth. This is a scholarly work but anyone would benefit from it and it provides a lot of contemplative material to think about. Koester does a wonderful job in presenting an overview of some of the main characters in John. I also appreciated the background studies that are integrated into the text...i.e., how one can understand John's text more fully by understanding the rhetorical style of Greek writings of that time.
7 people found this helpful
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J. Hughes
4.0 out of 5 stars Rich Resource..
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2011
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This is the second work I have had an opportunity to peruse by this author and I am getting a great sense on his style and content. "The Word of Life" was a great book but I think that as valuable as it was this one was perhaps an even more profound and intriguing read.

As with the first book I read I can say that he reads easy and while it is deep it is not technical. This book on symbolism is so rich and vibrant. There were so many associations that he was able to make with the Old Testament that many commentators I have read basically panned over. He analyzes various motifs and connects them with Jewish thought such as light and ethics, water and the law, bread and the torah, etc...What I really like about what he does here is that also thinks about the possible ways that non-Jewish readers associated the symbols to their own cultures. He talks about Dionysius bringing wine out of the earth or the water coming from Jesus side might remind Greek readers that immortals bleed a clear substance, or the idea that water was associated with prophesy in the hellenistic world. Even though he suggests these he is careful to remain open about issues which are hard to examine.

Again I love the associations with the Old Testament. He compares the baptism of John with the anointing of Joshua by Moses and Elisha by Elijah. He draws parallels with John baptizing in Aenon near Samaria and Jesus'coming to Samaria. In the discourse John the Baptist made in chapter 3 Jesus is called a bridegroom while in chapter 4 he meets the woman by the well in the fashion that Jacob met Rachel. She leaves and brings the Samaritans back to "meet the bridegroom." He shows the significance of the pool of Siloam and the tradition about Isaiah going to the pool of Siloam under the directive of God to have thirst quenched. I love the way he matched and dovetailed ideas together throughout the whole narrative and for any study of extended nature this book is highly valuable.

Now the problem with the book is the same as with the last one. Koester is a big proponent of the Johannine Community model espoused by Raymond Brown. This is my 28th work on John (although I did not review all on here) and I can say that I have really remained unconvinced that this a tenable idea. I think that it is full of anachronisms, guess work, conjecture, and pure speculation. I don't see anything that seems to suggest that it is a very powerful idea and I think that it comes from a marriage to the establishment more than solid evidence. The last chapter was interesting but these ideas were not provable at all. There were also areas were he may have allowed his imagination to read more into the symbol than was needed. For example: he conjectures that Jesus calling his disciples friends meant that this is the way that the Johannine Community greeted each other. Well this may be one way John greeted others or the way George Fox and the Quakers greeted one another we cannot say that this was the way that any sect of Christians in the Ancient world did.

Overall, this is a fine work and I recommend it but I would warn you not to get caught up in the Johannine community model. It is really not a great model and more and more scholars are coming to reject it. Otherwise the book is fantastic.
13 people found this helpful
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Jen Venuso
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read work on the Fourth Gospel
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2019
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This is a must read introduction to the Gospel of John. Helps you now only with how the author traces the major symbolic themes in the fourth gospel, but also gives you a model for how to think about such symbolism as you work through the book yourself.
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EEG
5.0 out of 5 stars Layers of Meaning in John's Gospel
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2013
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Craig Koester writes clearly. He thoroughly covers the use of symbols in the 4th gospel and, in so doing, he clarifies levels of meaning that would have communicated to both Jewish and Greco-Roman readers & hearers in John's time.
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CTg
5.0 out of 5 stars eye-opening treatment of the gospel of John
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2015
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So many phrases and references I always just took for granted as mere narrative details. Koester does an excellent job of connecting the dots and exploring the images and metaphors in John.
4 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Symbolism in St. John's Gospel
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2013
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This book offers much more information than I ever imagined. It is a real eye-opener to the levels of meaning that may not be immediately apparent. Very helpful.
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BLJ
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2016
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Koester's approach to discerning and understanding symbolism in John's gospel manages to be both inviting to the novice theologian and sufficiently thorough for the seasoned expert.
2 people found this helpful
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busyinbville
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2014
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Great book with great information.
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Top reviews from other countries

Alistair Kennedy
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 13, 2016
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Some excellent exegesis though repetitive in places.
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