Imaginative Love in John

Book excerpt: This study examines love in John's Gospel. It attempts to answer the question in what way love in the Johannine Gospel receives its narratively-imaginative stature. John's Gospel develops a love story which is different from any other narrative. Much attention is given to the cultural contextualisation as well as to the narrative and imaginative textualisations of the various love relationships. In this, Jesus' relationship with his beloved disciple plays a central role. The study concludes that all other love relationships — the relationship of Jesus with his father, mother, brothers and sisters, with John the Baptist, with Peter and the other disciples, with particular women and men — derive their colour and content from this specific relationship.