Use of the Jewish Scriptures in the Johannine Passion Narrative

How do Israel's Scriptures inform the account of Jesus's cruciform death in the Gospel of John? What does it mean for John's portrayal of Jesus's death to be "according to the Scriptures"? The Use of the Jewish Scriptures in the Johannine Passion Narrative: That the Scripture May Be Perfected argues that they are the focal element of the Johannine portrayal, and without them, John's Passion Narrative simply makes no sense. Whether through the evangelist's appeal to the fulfilment of Scripture (with such fulfilment accompanying the very moment of Jesus' death) or whether through allusions to the narratives of Creation or Passover, Israel's Scriptures provide the Passion Narrative's veritable heartbeat. The book also considers the impact of John's scriptural usage on the very concept of Scripture itself, contending that Scripture is brought to perfection by Jesus' actions, and to a new standing or status in this regard. David M. Allen examines how the use of Scripture in the Passion account impacts the Fourth Gospel's own self-understanding, arguing that its capacity to pronounce on Scripture's fulfilment attests the Gospel's own self-avowed, scriptural credentials.

This is a much-needed book on the fourth Gospel and the Scriptures of Israel. Through considered and careful analysis of quotation and allusion, Allen clearly demonstrates the essential place of scripture in the Johannine passion narrative. However, this volume goes beyond evaluating the texts themselves to provide a compelling account of the relationship between John's Gospel and scripture, both in terms of John's understanding of the Scriptures of Israel and John's understanding of his own writing. Allen's discussion is engaging and insightful making this a must-read volume for anyone wanting to understand this Gospel.--Steve Smith, Lecturer in New Testament Studies, St. Mellitus College, London

David M. Allen is Academic Dean at the Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, Birmingham.