The identity of disciples. The composition and interpretation of J 17,9-19 in the light of Semitic rhetoric
Jan Opiełka
Wydział Teologiczny UOAbstract
The subject of this paper is finding foundations for the identity of the disciples of Christ in the Gospel in a world where all borders are getting blurred and where we need to show a clear image of a disciple of the Lord. This objective was achieved through the exegesis of John 17: 9-19 by using the biblical Semitic rhetoric and taking into account the latest literature on the subject of research.
The essential stages of this dissertation were: a delimitation of the analysed text, a description of the biblical context, the interpretation and the theological conclusions, all distributed in three chapters. In the beginning of the first chapter, the delimitation was discussed, to show the further and the closer context of John 17. Then, using a top-down analysis, the three units were separated: 1d-8, 9-19 and 20-26. The central unit (9-19), which expresses the prayer of the Son for his disciples, was chosen for the further part of the dissertation. Using a rhetorical analysis method the three parts was discovered (9-11c, 11d-13 and 14-19) which are composed in an ABA’ structure. For each of them, the internal structure of the analysed fragment was described. This was necessary to carry out a correct interpretation.
In the second chapter, an interpretation of the individual parts of the text was conducted, proceeded by an analysis of the biblical context for each of them. This analysis showed the links between the studied pericope and the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 31-32), or with the prayer “Our Father” (Matt 6: 9-13).
The third chapter, which consists of two paragraphs shows the composition of the whole rhetorical passage that leads to the theological conclusions. The structure shows that the essence of the message of John 17: 9-19 is the love of the Father, which takes imperfect sons, so that they can become truly for themselves brothers.
