Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 167:666 (Apr 2010)
Article: The Significance of Jesus’ First Sign-Miracle in John
Author: Stephen S. Kim

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BSac 167:666 (April-June 2010) p. 201

The Significance of Jesus’ First Sign-Miracle in John

Stephen S. Kim

Stephen S. Kim is Professor of Bible, Multnomah Biblical Seminary, Portland, Oregon.

One unique feature of the Fourth Gospel is the Evangelist’s purposeful and strategic use of the word σημεῖον. In fact it is the key word in the author’s purpose statement: “Jesus did many other miraculous signs [σημεῖα] in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).1 In other words the sign-miracles (σημεῖα) demonstrate the Evangelist’s thesis that Jesus is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament Scriptures and the divine Son of God.2 Riga correctly describes the significance of this word. “Perhaps no single word can give such a profound insight into the whole theology of the Fourth Gospel as the word σημεῖον.”3 Rainey says σημεῖα is the key to interpreting the whole book.4

The study of this significant word indicates that the sign-miracles in the Fourth Gospel all point to a deeper meaning beyond

BSac 167:666 (April-June 2010) p. 202

the miracle itself.5 The word σημεῖον has three meanings: (a) a sign or distinguishing mark by which something is known; (b) a sign consisting of a wonder or miracle, an event that is contrary to the usual course of nature, either of divine or demonic nature; (c) a sign or portent of the last days.6 The word σημεῖον seems to be used in the Fourth Gospel to convey the idea of demonstrating significant truths through a miracle, as a sample of what is to take place in the future,7 and many studies have given attention to this significant word.8

A major clue to the interpretation of the Fourth Gospel, or any other book for that matter, is its structure.9 Fortunately in the Gospel of John the book’s struc...

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