It's about time too...

A blog about my (somewhat impatient and somewhat trying) experiences trying to start my BA in Theology through the Open Theological College via the University of Gloucestershire.

Monday, April 23, 2007

The Gospel according to St. John?

One of my favourite bloggers, Bigbulkyanglican writes recently:

"I have a growing love and admiration for John's Gospel - and regret that it only makes star appearances in the Anglican lectionary alongside the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew Luke and Mark.

We should really have had a four year lectionary with an additional year founded on John - then the full glory and diversity of the Gospel would have been revealed week by week."

I can't help but agree with him. My recent course: "Making Sense of the New Testament" which is looking primarily at the gospels has reminded me just how much I prefer John's gospel--from the opening which is possibly one of my favourite pieces of Scripture on the incarnation, through to the accounts of death and ressurection--to the Synoptics, and I cannot help but agree with his idea of a four-year lectionary which focuses more heavily on John.

David Wenham and Steve Walton in their book: "Introducing the New Testament, Volume 1: The Gospels and Acts" say the following about John:

"John's Gospel contains some of the most beautiful and powerful stories we know about Jesus, some of his best known sayings, and some of the most profound and mystical teaching that we find in the Christian Scriptures... Matthew, Mark, and Luke see Jesus in one way, whereas John is different."
I am thoroughly enjoying getting more familiar with John's Gospel about the post-resurrection over the past two weeks of our lectionary cycle, even though I think I (if I ever do get into the pulpit) would probably have preached on the Acts lesson (which we had the full extended version for) last Sunday rather than the Gospel as it would've made a more dramatic sermon...

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