Reading John in Ephesus
Book Description
This scholarly exploration invites readers to discover the Gospel of John through an entirely fresh lens by examining how it would have resonated with the original audience in ancient Ephesus. Rather than reading John's Gospel in isolation, van Tilborg demonstrates how understanding the cultural, religious, and social context of first-century Ephesus transforms our comprehension of this beloved text.
The author draws upon archaeological inscriptions and historical evidence from Ephesus to illuminate how John's words would have carried specific meanings for people living in this vibrant ancient city. By examining the interplay between the Gospel's language and the everyday reality of Ephesian life, readers gain insight into layers of meaning that may otherwise remain hidden.
The study focuses on five key areas that reveal this contextual richness: how names functioned in both the Gospel and the city, the significance of titles used for emperors and the goddess Artemis compared to those given to Jesus, the dynamics of urban social life, the formation of religious and social groups, and the role of high priests within the imperial religious system.
For those seeking to deepen their understanding of Christian scripture, this work offers a compelling demonstration of how historical context can illuminate spiritual texts. Van Tilborg shows that meaning emerges not just from words themselves, but from the rich dialogue between text and the world in which it was first received.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~6 hours)
📄 Length: 232 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Religion
- ✓ Explore Johannes (bijbelboek)
- ✓ Explore Critique textuelle
- ✓ Explore Bibel
- ✓ Explore Inscriptions grecques
- ✓ Explore Rezeption
- ✓ Study Bible from spiritual perspective
- ✓ Explore Critique, interprétation
