Customer Reviews

The Quest for the Messiah: The History, Literature and Theology of the Johannine Community

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An exploration of the seething and confused messianic expectations of the first century - and why John found these so significant and so important for any understanding of human life in the world. Dr. John Painter studies the character and history of Johannine Christianity, the process fo the composition of the Gospel and its relation to 1 John, the purpose of the Gospel, and all its major themes and issues. The study explores the genre of quest stories and draws attention to the concentration of such stores and the theme of quest in John's writings. There is also discussion of the relations of quest stories to rejection stories, and development of Johannine christology. John Painter brings to light the evangelist's identification of the Quest for the Messiah with the guest for life - how John universalizes the quest and gives it positive value, and how he brings it into relationship with his christological views.

Painter's Quest for the Messiah is a review of the Fourth Gospel. It takes an interesting approach by looking at the way the stories told in chapters 1-4 of the Gospel are formulated as a quester with a problem and Jesus providing the solution.

The book has lots of reading and is not exactly bedtime relaxation. For me, it is the text book for a theology degree subject that focuses on the Johannine literature.

Worth a read from a knowledgeable Aussie Biblical Scholar. I have sat through him lecturing on the Johannine epsistles today!

Have fun!