The identity and composition of οι οιυ δαιοι in the gospel of John

Abstract

This article examines the referent of the term οι 'Ιονδαιοι in the Gospel of John. The debate is whether the term refers exclusively to the religious authorities, to a religious party, to the religious authorities and common people, or simply to the Jews in general. This article makes three contributions to the debate. First, Second Temple Judaism already knew of the term οι 'Ιονδαιοι as a broad reference to the adherents of the Judaean religion transcending the earlier ethnic-geographic sense, and John had this particular religious group in mind. Second, οι 'Ιονδαιοι is a composite group with the chief priests rather than the Pharisees as its leaders. Third, within οι 'Ιονδαιο ι, John portrays a shift in hostility from a religious-theological conflict with the Pharisees in the middle of Jesus' ministry, towards a religious-political conflict with the chief priests later in Jesus' ministry.