Enabling Grace : Modeling the Similarities and Differences Between Deuteronomy and John's Gospel

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between John's Gospel and Deuteronomy, in terms of their similarities and differences. Previous research has noted important intertextual links between the two books, including the Johannine Jesus being a Moses-like prophet, and John's Farewell Discourse being similar to Deuteronomy. After conducting a fresh study of key words and themes in both books, I have proposed new links. More importantly, I have found that the narrative structure diagrams developed by Propp, Souriau, and Greimas are useful in comparing the books on a new level. Greimas's three-fold actantial sequences, applied to Deuteronomy and John's Gospel, reveal underlying similarities concerning God's relationships with people. God as a caring father loves and offers life to people. They, because of their unbelief and hardness of heart, fail to respond. God, therefore, gives them a divine enabling, through his grace, so that they can respond positively to his offer. The thesis also notes important differences between the books, including the contrast between Moses and Christ (i.e., the Johannine emphasis on Christ's divinity, atoning death, and resurrection), the difference between temporal life and eternal life, and the fact that the Johannine offer of life is made to the entire world, not just Israel.