Echoes of Elisha in John's gospel :  a case for the Elisha cycle as intertextual type-narrative

Ray, Jonathan M.

1 online resource (xii, 170 leaves)

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 149-170)

Thesis (Th. M.)--Covenant Theological Seminary, 2024

Abstract

Título

Echoes of Elisha in John's gospel : a case for the Elisha cycle as intertextual type-narrative

Última modificação

12/05/2024

O Criador

Ray, Jonathan M.

Abstract

This thesis proposes that the Elisha cycle (2 Kings 2–8; 13) may serve as an overarching narrative plot structure for portraying Jesus in the Gospel of John. Though John never directly quotes or references Elisha, this thesis argues that Jesus’ seven sign miracles in John intentionally correspond to episodes from the ministry of Elisha. Specifically, evidence is presented for a macro-level Elishianic “type-narrative” that spans Jesus’ seven signs in John 1–11, as well as other micro-allusions to Elisha throughout the Fourth Gospel. In doing so, John portrays Jesus as one who parallels, yet ultimately transcends, all of Israel’s prophets including Elisha. Chapter 1 lays the groundwork by situating this study within the broader field of biblical scholarship and delimiting the scope of the study. A survey is conducted on prior research on Elisha’s role in the Gospels, noting the scholarly contributions and gaps. Chapter 2 defines and illustrates the unconventional term “type-narrative” and differentiates it from other literary devices like intertextuality and type-scenes. The chapter then illustrates the phenomenon with Greco-Roman examples like Virgil’s use of Homer, as Jewish texts from the intertestamental period and the Hebrew Bible itself. These examples are used to demonstrate how literary adaptation of earlier textual archetypes was a widespread technique when the Gospel of John was written, a technique that serves to set up readerly expectations through recurring motifs and plot structures. Chapter 3 refines Richard B. Hays’ criteria for detecting scriptural echoes, extending them to encompass macro-allusions like type-narratives. The study outlines multiple indicators specific to macro-allusions like similar language, actions, text length, sequence, and themes which can be used to assess proposed allusions between John’s Gospel and the Elisha cycle. Chapter 4 takes a deep dive into the Elisha cycle, demonstrating how his miracles of water, healing, and resurrection serve as typological antecedents for Jesus’ ministry in John. Elisha is shown as a prophet like Moses whose narratives are structurally parallel to Elijah’s, establishing a precedent for the proposal that Jesus in John is portrayed as a Mosaic prophet whose miraculous signs are structurally parallel to Elisha’s miracles. Chapter 5 represents the bulk of the study. It assesses the validity of proposed parallels between Elisha’s miracles and Jesus’ seven signs, focusing on water, healing, and resurrection motifs. This chapter argues that John intentionally mirrors the Elisha narratives to elevate Jesus as a prophet who corresponds to and yet transcends Elisha’s role, culminating in Jesus identifying as the “resurrection and the life” to which Elisha’s ministry foreshadowed. The thesis concludes by evaluating the significance of these findings regarding the Jewishness and literary complexity of John’s Gospel. While Elisha is not presented as the hidden key to interpreting the text, his narrative provides an important, though overlooked, dimension. This study broadens the discussion on conflated macro allusions and opens the door for further research into how type-narratives shape biblical narratives.

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