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by Mark C. Kiley (Author)
What happened to the reign of God when it visited John's world? At first glance, it looks like it got short shrift, appearing in just two verses (John 3:3, 5). However, what if, like the ubiquitous reign of God in the Synoptic Gospels, its two verses are the early planting of a seed that grows and spreads through the book? What if the diction of a parable of God's reign is diffused throughout the text, as is arguably the case with the wildly generous father and his prodigal son? What if the thesaurus/treasure of the reign saying in Matt 13 is hidden within the diction of John 6:68 concerning Jesus' words of eternal life? This study also examines the influence on John of the regnant Arm of YHWH as exercised in the Servant poems of Isaiah, as well as the Johannine version of the verse about God's reign in Wis 10:10. The subtlety of that agenda in John is a fitting tribute to the subtle character of God's Sophia, the feminine presence of the divine. We also observe the Johannine author utilizing the Hellenistic practice of picture-puzzles, placing thematically related passages in discernible patterns. This reading provides food both fresh and nutritious.
Author Biography
Mark C. Kiley is Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at St. John's University, New York.
