Paul N. Anderson, founding co-chair of the John, Jesus, and History Group at the national Society of Biblical Literature meetings, is set to do a two series of lectures on the Gospel of John. These series begin April 18 and run to May 30. The venue is Reedwood Friends Church in Portland, Oregon. The Sunday series is titled “Reading John Again . . . for the First Time” (from 11:00 am to noon) and the Wednesday series is “Jesus, Christ, and John” (from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm). Looking at the schedule, these will be interesting and informative sessions. Here is a preview:
- April 18 (Sun.): Navigating the Living Waters of the Gospel of John – Wading with Children and Swimming with Elephants
- April 21 (Weds.): The Literary Riddles of the Fourth Gospel – John’s Literary Puzzles
- April 25 (Sun.): In the Beginning – Then and Now
- April 28 (Weds.): The Theological Riddles of the Fourth Gospel – The Christ of Faith
Of particular interest will be the joint session with another local but renowned historical-Jesus scholar Marcus J. Borg:
- May 19 (Weds.): The Origin of the Gospels – The Synoptics and John
Anderson was recently featured in George Fox University‘s Journal about his insights on the Synoptics and John (here). We will get to hear perspectives from both Anderson and Borg at a public symposium hosted again at Reedwood:
- May 22 (Sat.): Jesus in Bi-Optic Perspective: Latest Scholarship on the Synoptics and John
Christian News Northwest, in its print version, thinks this session has potential for a scholarly yet civil debate.
the archives near Emmaus 
I doubt I can make this great-looking series, but I am recently very excited about Anderson’s (and JJ&H’s) championing of the Fourth Gospel. I made a start on the first volume of the JJ&H symposium (2007) during our spring break this year. Is there any possibility of some live blogging or podcasting?
JohnDave,
John’s idea of doing a podcast is awesome!
John and Brian, definitely an awesome idea. I’ll check with Paul and see what can happen.
I don’t mean to give anyone a huge obligation which I myself am in no position to share, but if it were easy enough in any way, I feel it would be a great record to have on the Web.
I’ve loaded up with early defenses of John from my local seminary(Westcott, Lightfoot, Ezra Abbot, James Drummond, C.H. Dodd) and Google Books (Wilfrid Richmond, Scott Holland, E.C. Hoskyns, F.N. Davey). I’m curious as to where and when all of this just withered away in the minds of NT scholars.
John,
I talked with Paul today and he is all for it. We’re going to work to find someone who can do video or audio, for the Anderson-Borg sessions, at least.
Let me know what you find out about the withering point.
Thanks JohnDave; I do think I can use a collection of such recordings on the Web not only while they’re happening, but as a reference.
I actually believe that a ‘fourth quest’ for the historical Jesus lies in a better recognition of the historical value of the ‘fourth gospel.’ It seems only right that fourth questers will be fourth-gospelers.
If I can get the time, I see that withering of respect for John is probably addressed in the Anderson-edited book I already mentioned (John, Jesus, and Hisory, Volume I, 2007) which I have home from the library as well.
Jack Verheyden, emeritus of Claremont, writes there of the nineteenth century beginnings in “The De-Johannification of Jesus (pp.109-120), followed by Mark Allan Powell, Trinity Lutheran Columbus OH, on the 20th Cent trends (pp.121-132).
You’re welcome, John. Thanks for the references. I think you make a great point that “fourth questers will be fourth-gospelers.”