Sacramental Symbolism And Physical Imagery In The Gospel Of John -- By: R. Wade Paschal, Jr.

Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 32:1 (NA 1981)
Article: Sacramental Symbolism And Physical Imagery In The Gospel Of John
Author: R. Wade Paschal, Jr.


Sacramental Symbolism And Physical Imagery In The Gospel Of John

R. Wade Paschal, Jr.

I Symbolism In John

The problem in approaching the Johannine writings in terms of ‘sacramental symbolism’ can be most vividly seen in E. Schweizer’s book, Ego Eimi. According to Schweizer, the ‘I am’ statements in John are not at all to be taken as ‘symbolic’ phrases, since the essence of a symbol is that it refers to reality, but is not itself that reality. Rather the ‘I am’ statements of Jesus in John are meant to be taken literally, and are therefore not symbolic.1

The basis for this view lies in the understanding of symbolic language developed in the book. Schweizer discusses language in terms of simile (Vergleich), metaphor, parable and allegory. Simile uses comparison on a simple level: one thing is ‘like’ (wie) another. Metaphor, though still based on comparison, is essentially replacement: one thing stands in place of another. As a result, metaphor does not make the comparison clear as simile does. That is, ‘Sie macht nicht anschaulich, sondern maskiert das Gemeinte.’2

Allegory and parable are, in turn, developments of simile and metaphor. Parables are simply extended similes, and allegory is a chain of connected metaphors.3

This mechanical understanding of symbolism examines language strictly in terms of the inter-change between symbols, and excludes any interaction between the reader and the symbols. It is not surprising, therefore, that it leads to a denial of the symbolic nature of the ‘I am’ statements. For example, given these definitions, one cannot say that the statement, ‘I am the true Vine’, is a metaphor in that the use of the qualifier ‘true’ automatically removes the statement from the realm of metaphor: ‘Eine metapher kann nicht in ihren Eigenschaften näher bestimmt und charakterisiert werden’. A metaphor says, ‘I am a Vine’. The statement, ‘I am the true Vine’, cannot be symbolic because it is so specific. In the ‘I am’ statements, therefore, Jesus is not speaking symbolically, but is taking over a set of concepts and claiming to fulfil these concepts in his own person.4

In this view, therefore, symbolism is reduced to indirect language. Anything that is specific is by definition non-symbolic. Yet this obviously overlooks the fact that the Johannine ‘I am’ statements are rooted in symbolic language. Jesus is taking over...

You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe
visitor : : uid: ()