Jesus as Rabbi in the Fourth Gospel

Abstract

Studies of John's portrayal of Jesus usually focus on the Fourth Gospel's high Christology. The presentation of Jesus as rabbi tends to be attributed to the Synoptics. This trend prevails all the more since John is customarily viewed as less concerned about the historical aspects of Jesus' life than the Synoptic writers. The present study, while not contending that rabbi is the primary or exclusive designation of Jesus in John's Gospel, sets out to correct these stereotypes. It is argued that the Fourth Gospel shows that Jesus was perceived by his contemporaries primarily as a rabbi.