The dialogue with Nicodemus reveals an obvious incongruity between the Christological statement made by Nicodemus when he approaches Jesus (John 3:2), in which he acknowledges him as teacher sent by God and as authorized thaumaturgist on the one hand, and Jesus' soteriologically informed answer, which emphasizes the necessity of rebirth "from above" or "from water and spirit" (John 3:3,5) on the other. Attempts at dissolving this contradiction by redefining Nicodemus' statement as implicit question about the character of salvation (R. Bultmann; O. Hofius) or interpreting Jesus' answer as Christological self-designation (H. Thyen) prove insufficient. An analysis of the structure of the text and of analogous Johannean passages demonstrates that the communicative intention of the text is to correct deficient Christological convictions. According to the Gospel of John the only correct understanding of Jesus is to consider him the only way to salvation. This insight is described metaphorically as "birth from above".

Enthalten in:
Evangelische Theologie; 2013/3 Zweimonatsschrift (2013)

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Serie / Reihe: Evangelische Theologie

Personen: Back, Frances

Schlagwörter: Jesus Christus Exegese Christologie Soteriologie Nikodemus Joh 3,1-21