Contents
Abbreviations
Lists of Figures and Excursuses
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1
The Subject in Recent Scholarship
I. The Period from 1964 to 1974
II. The Period from 1975 to 1984
III. The Period from 1985 to 1994
IV. Summary
Chaper 2
Foundations
I. Linguistic Foundatios
A. Rationale for a Semantic Field Approach
1. The Role of Terminology
2. Words and Context
3. Words and Concepts
4. Definition of Concept
5. Lexial and Discourse Concepts
6. A Recent Study Supporting the Approach Taken Here
7. The Advantages of a Semantic Field Approach: Conclusion
B. Implementation of the Chosen Methodology
1. Semantic Field Study of Missioj in tye Fourth Gospel
2. Indentification of Semantic Clusters
II. Definitional Foundations
A. Lesons from the Relevant Literature
B. Working Definition of Mission in the Fourth Gospel
III. Literary Foundations
Chapter 3
The Mission of Jesus
According to the Fourth Gospel
I. The Person of Jesus
A. he Divinity and Uniqueness of Jesus
1. Claims of Jesus' Pre- existence
2. Acknowledgment and Worship of Jesus as Lord (and God)
3. Jesus' Appropriation of the Divine Name and Other Explicit and Implicit Claims of Divinity
4. Jesus' Uniqueness and Unique Sonship
5. Jesus' Messiahship
6. Strategic Placement of References to Jesus' Divinity
B. The Humanity of Jesus
1. Various Human Attributes
2. Human Designations
3. The Title "Son of Man"
C. Implicationsfor the Study of John's Teaching on Mission
II. The Task of Jesus
A. Compositional Flow
B. Signs and Works
1. Signs
a. TheNumber and Identity of the Johannine Signs
b. The Six Explicity Indentified Signs in the Fourth Gospel
c. "Signs" in the Old Testament
d. "Signs" in John' Gospel
e. The Suggestions for Additional Signs in John's Gospel
Excursus #1": Implications from the Identifiation of the Temple Cleansing as a JohannineSign for the Structure of the Fourth Gospel
f. Conclusion
2. Works
3. Conclusion
C. Compositional Flow
2. Revelation and/or Salvation?
3. Conclusion
III. The Charge of Jesus
A. Modes of Movement in Jesus' Mission
1. Survey of Passages Featuring Terms Denoting Modes of Movement
2. Modes of Movement in Jesus' Mission in the Relevant Literature
3. Modes of Movement and Characterizations of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel
4. Modes of Movement and Signs and Works Terminology
5. Modes of Movement and the Purposes of Jesus' Mision
6. Modes of Movement in Jesus' Mission and the Fourth Evangelist
B. The Fourth Gospel's Presentation of Jesus' Mission: Jesus the Messiah
1. The Coming One: Passages Indicating Messianic
Expectations in the Fourth Gospel
2. Jesus as the Sent Son
a. Introduction
Excursus #2: The Two Johannine Words for Sending
b. The Contribution of John's Sending Christology to the Johannine Concept of Mision: A Survey of Theme Clusters Related to Sending in the Fourth Gospel
Excursus # 3: UOther Mission Terminology Related to Sending in the Fourth Gospel
c. Th e Fourth Gospel's Portrayal of Jesus as the "Sent Son": in Interaction with Relevant Literature
3. Jesus as the One Who Comes into the World and Returns to the Father (Descent-Ascent)
4. Jesus the Eschatological Shepherd-Teacher Calling Followers to Gather "Fruit"
a. Following
b. Gathering
c. Calling Followers to Gather (Fruit)
IV. Conclusion
Chapter 4
The Mission of the Disciplesr According to the Fourth Gospel
1. The Group of the Disciples
A. Introduction
B. The Fourth Gospel's Characterization of Jesus' Followers
1. The Term Designating the Historical Followers of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel
2. "The Twelve" in the Fourth Gospel
3. The Widening or the Term in the Fourth Gospel
4. Johannine Characterization of Individual Disciples
a. Introducton
b. Peter and the Beloved Disciple
C. Corporate Metaphoros in the Fourth Gospel
D. Concluding Reflections
II. The Task of the Disciples
A. No "Signs" by the Disciples
B. The "Greater Works" of the Beliver (14:12)
C. Other References to the Disciples' Task
III. The Charge of the Disciples
A. Coming (to Jesus)
B. Following
C. Being Sent
1. Entering into Jesus' Labor: Sent to Harvest (4:38)
2. Commissioned to Go and Bear Fruit (15:16)
3. Sent (Into the World) as Jesus Was Sent (into the World) (17:18; 20:21)
a. Sent into the World as Jesus Was Sent into the World (17:18)
b. Foundations for the Disciples' Mission: Love and Unity
c. Sent as Jesus Was Sent (20:21)
4. General Observations on the Snding Theme and the Missions of Jesus and the Disciples
IV. Conclusion
Chapter 5
Implications
I. The Difinition of Mission Revisited
II. Implications for the Purpose of the Fourth Gospel
A. Missionary (Missionssschrift)
B. Edificatory (Gemeindeschrift)
C. Sertarian
D. Implications from the Present Study
III. Implications for the Mission of the Contemporary Church
A. Implications from the Present Study
B. Critique of the "Incarnational Model"
C. A Critique of Other Approaches
IV. Conclusion
Bibliography
Indexes
Subjects
Names
Scripture References
Greek Words

This important new work explores in depth the relationship between the mission of Jesus and of the disciples as presented in the Gospel of John, and explores the implications of these findings for the contemporary church. Based on a comprehensive semantic field of study that integrates biblical studies, theology, and missiology, this volume represents the first time such an approach has been used for the study of mission in John. Andreas Köstenberger begins by surveying the state of research on mission in the Fourth Gospel, then covers foundational linguistic, definitional, and literary matters. The succeeding two chapters contain the actual study of the missions of Jesus and of the disciples. In discussing the disciples' mission, special attention is given to the question of how later generations of disciples should be related to Jesus' original followers. The volume concludes with a chapter on the implications of Köstenberger's findings for the Fourth Gospel's purpose and for the mission of the contemporary church. Köstenberger engages recent missiological constructs based on the Fourth Gospel, most notably the so-called "incarnational model" of mission, and concludes that this model is seriously flawed and should be replaced by a "representational model" that views Jesus' followers as his representatives, who do not share in the theologically unique aspects of his incarnation.