William Temple, in his Readings in St John's Gospel (First Series: Chapters I-XII), adds a different interpretation to Nathaniel's coming to faith. When Jesus says, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?" (1:50), the answer is 'No'. Jesus understands that Nathaniel believes because he wrestled with the origin of Jesus under the fig tree. (1:46). This is why Jesus says Nathaniel is a true Israelite without guile. Nathaniel has wrestled with God just as Jacob/Israel did before him.(Genesis 32:24-29) However, Jesus senses that Nathaniel does not have the deceptive character of Jacob. To emphasise this last point, Temple's translation of 1:47 is, "... truly an Israelite in whom there is no Jacob!" But, despite this twist in interpretation (again persuasive), Temple still thinks that Nathaniel's faith is, according to John, based on an inadequate foundation. It is a better one than faith in a miracle worker, but still not the faith of mature discipleship.
Friday, 16 January 2009
Further Notes on John 1:51
William Temple, in his Readings in St John's Gospel (First Series: Chapters I-XII), adds a different interpretation to Nathaniel's coming to faith. When Jesus says, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?" (1:50), the answer is 'No'. Jesus understands that Nathaniel believes because he wrestled with the origin of Jesus under the fig tree. (1:46). This is why Jesus says Nathaniel is a true Israelite without guile. Nathaniel has wrestled with God just as Jacob/Israel did before him.(Genesis 32:24-29) However, Jesus senses that Nathaniel does not have the deceptive character of Jacob. To emphasise this last point, Temple's translation of 1:47 is, "... truly an Israelite in whom there is no Jacob!" But, despite this twist in interpretation (again persuasive), Temple still thinks that Nathaniel's faith is, according to John, based on an inadequate foundation. It is a better one than faith in a miracle worker, but still not the faith of mature discipleship.
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