Metaphors In John 14-14
Because scholars have studied the eschatological passages in the Bible, in is now apparent that Paul and John had differing points of view about the second coming. While Paul’s idea of eschatology focuses on the imminent end of the world, John’s realized eschatology refers to the lasting legacy of the church after the second coming and a long-term relationship with God. Their differing eschatological views are reflective in their metaphors expressing their ideas of the church. The metaphors found in 1 Corinthians 12 and John 14-16 highlight the different messages of ecclesiology in each community due to the difference of eschatology.
Because Paul believed the end of the world was going to happen in his lifetime, the main message of his metaphor was to unite …show more content…
the community and convert as many people as possible. To help the community understand the main message of uniting under “ the same Spirit, Lord, and God…for the common good”, he compares the church and its members to a human body. This metaphor mainly centers on the ideas of firstly unifying the church even with diverse groups of people and secondly, needing every different member of the community to create an ekklēsia. During this time period, Paul needed to find a way to unite a large group of diverse people; he did so through a common ground amongst all followers, baptism. In verse 13, he writes, “For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” By bringing in baptism, Paul is able to connect to every member of the community because “Jews or Greeks, slaves or free” they all have a level in this. Baptism is an outward display of recognition of new birth into the body of the Christ. All who partake in this rite come into one body through the same Spirit, thus unifying them. Not only is he hitting common ground, Paul creates a new sense of the word “body”. Throughout this metaphor Paul fluctuates between definitions of body, the literal human body and the body as a group of people. In verse 13, the body Paul is talking about is not the human body or church body explained later in the letter, but the figurative body of Christ. Through the Spirit, they are all baptized into the body of the Christ as his followers but also into His body of holiness and protection. The body they are being baptized into is a congregation of people but also Christ’s figurative body.
After unifying all members through baptism, Paul clarifies that even though there are differences in members, every person has a role in this unified ekklēsia. In verses 15-25, Paul explains the importance of uniting diverse people through the literal human body metaphor. God assembled the human body is such a way to highlight the differences of each limb. One limb cannot create the entire body and every limb cannot have the same role, for the body would not function properly. Similarly, one member cannot create the church by him/herself, nor can several members of the same mold create a proper functioning church. It is important to have some members of higher rank, some with spiritual gifts, and others with various kinds of tongues, all knowing where they stand in the community and by themselves they create nothing. It takes many diverse members to create the body God intended. Paul ends with encouraging them to care for one another regardless of their differences. Now that they have the knowledge for their diversity, they should end their disputes and unite together as one body. Paul’s eschatological beliefs are prominent in his urgency to unify the church of Corinth before the second coming; this showcases an ekklēsia focused on the end times.
John’s realized eschatology is focused more on the church’s long-term relationship with God rather than an immediate arranged relationship due to the end times.
The metaphors found in John 14-16 explain his main message of a lasting bond with God. The first metaphor in John 14:2, promises a dwelling place in the Father’s house for the members of the church who believe in God and also in Jesus. John is using this metaphor to express an eternal home for the true believers. Once they are welcomed into heaven after the second coming, there will be a home for them to reside in due to their lasting loyalty. John 14:23 continues to explain that Jesus and the Father will make their home with the true believers. This metaphor is interpreted as God making His home in their hearts by their unconditional love. The dwelling places have multiple meanings, many places in heaven, God’s home, to those who believe, and also a place in their hearts for God to reside in. This can be tied to Revelations 3:20 when it mentions God knocking on a door. God will come knocking but only those who love Jesus will open the door for God. The door is interpreted as the follower’s heart and by accepting God, He makes His home in their
hearts.
Influenced by John’s eschatology, his metaphor of the church in chapter 15 emphasizes the importance of a lasting loyalty to God through Jesus. John uses the relationship between a vine and its branches to express the purpose of a long-term relationship with God, ultimate fruitfulness. Jesus is depicted as the true vine, a plant that spreads by its branches, His followers. John depicts Jesus as the vine, for three reasons: a vine is a central point for all branches, it supports the branches, and it extends fruitfulness to the branches. From all directions, diverse people came to learn the ways of Jesus in the same way all branches lead to the vine. Without the vine, the branches are weak and would be nothing but twigs. For support the believers must abide in Jesus through faith and Jesus will abide in them through spirit. The believers are insufficient by themselves, they need to rely on, trust in, and love Jesus to obtain ultimate fruitfulness. Jesus can also be depicted as the root of the vine, for it is unseen yet supplies the nutrients that produce the fruitfulness. The fruitfulness is a metaphor for living a Christian life. At the time of John’s Gospel it would have just been seen as living as Jesus would or living through Jesus but later was given the term Christianity. In short, the metaphor emphasizes the believers must rely on Jesus as the vine against the wall for support, as the branch on the root for nutrients. Through this support, one can bear ultimate fruitfulness.
Because Paul believed the end of the world was going to happen in his lifetime, the main message of his metaphor was to unite …show more content…
the community and convert as many people as possible. To help the community understand the main message of uniting under “ the same Spirit, Lord, and God…for the common good”, he compares the church and its members to a human body. This metaphor mainly centers on the ideas of firstly unifying the church even with diverse groups of people and secondly, needing every different member of the community to create an ekklēsia. During this time period, Paul needed to find a way to unite a large group of diverse people; he did so through a common ground amongst all followers, baptism. In verse 13, he writes, “For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” By bringing in baptism, Paul is able to connect to every member of the community because “Jews or Greeks, slaves or free” they all have a level in this. Baptism is an outward display of recognition of new birth into the body of the Christ. All who partake in this rite come into one body through the same Spirit, thus unifying them. Not only is he hitting common ground, Paul creates a new sense of the word “body”. Throughout this metaphor Paul fluctuates between definitions of body, the literal human body and the body as a group of people. In verse 13, the body Paul is talking about is not the human body or church body explained later in the letter, but the figurative body of Christ. Through the Spirit, they are all baptized into the body of the Christ as his followers but also into His body of holiness and protection. The body they are being baptized into is a congregation of people but also Christ’s figurative body.
After unifying all members through baptism, Paul clarifies that even though there are differences in members, every person has a role in this unified ekklēsia. In verses 15-25, Paul explains the importance of uniting diverse people through the literal human body metaphor. God assembled the human body is such a way to highlight the differences of each limb. One limb cannot create the entire body and every limb cannot have the same role, for the body would not function properly. Similarly, one member cannot create the church by him/herself, nor can several members of the same mold create a proper functioning church. It is important to have some members of higher rank, some with spiritual gifts, and others with various kinds of tongues, all knowing where they stand in the community and by themselves they create nothing. It takes many diverse members to create the body God intended. Paul ends with encouraging them to care for one another regardless of their differences. Now that they have the knowledge for their diversity, they should end their disputes and unite together as one body. Paul’s eschatological beliefs are prominent in his urgency to unify the church of Corinth before the second coming; this showcases an ekklēsia focused on the end times.
John’s realized eschatology is focused more on the church’s long-term relationship with God rather than an immediate arranged relationship due to the end times.
The metaphors found in John 14-16 explain his main message of a lasting bond with God. The first metaphor in John 14:2, promises a dwelling place in the Father’s house for the members of the church who believe in God and also in Jesus. John is using this metaphor to express an eternal home for the true believers. Once they are welcomed into heaven after the second coming, there will be a home for them to reside in due to their lasting loyalty. John 14:23 continues to explain that Jesus and the Father will make their home with the true believers. This metaphor is interpreted as God making His home in their hearts by their unconditional love. The dwelling places have multiple meanings, many places in heaven, God’s home, to those who believe, and also a place in their hearts for God to reside in. This can be tied to Revelations 3:20 when it mentions God knocking on a door. God will come knocking but only those who love Jesus will open the door for God. The door is interpreted as the follower’s heart and by accepting God, He makes His home in their
hearts.
Influenced by John’s eschatology, his metaphor of the church in chapter 15 emphasizes the importance of a lasting loyalty to God through Jesus. John uses the relationship between a vine and its branches to express the purpose of a long-term relationship with God, ultimate fruitfulness. Jesus is depicted as the true vine, a plant that spreads by its branches, His followers. John depicts Jesus as the vine, for three reasons: a vine is a central point for all branches, it supports the branches, and it extends fruitfulness to the branches. From all directions, diverse people came to learn the ways of Jesus in the same way all branches lead to the vine. Without the vine, the branches are weak and would be nothing but twigs. For support the believers must abide in Jesus through faith and Jesus will abide in them through spirit. The believers are insufficient by themselves, they need to rely on, trust in, and love Jesus to obtain ultimate fruitfulness. Jesus can also be depicted as the root of the vine, for it is unseen yet supplies the nutrients that produce the fruitfulness. The fruitfulness is a metaphor for living a Christian life. At the time of John’s Gospel it would have just been seen as living as Jesus would or living through Jesus but later was given the term Christianity. In short, the metaphor emphasizes the believers must rely on Jesus as the vine against the wall for support, as the branch on the root for nutrients. Through this support, one can bear ultimate fruitfulness.