Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Bible professor writes book on Gospel of John and Greek drama

GOSHEN, Ind. – An interest in theater combined with a passion for theology is the subject of a new book by Jo-Ann Brant, Goshen College professor of Bible, religion and philosophy.

In her book “Dialogue and Drama: Elements of Greek Tragedy in the Fourth Gospel,” published by Hendrickson Publishers Inc. in the fall of 2004, Brant argues that the Apostle John was familiar with the conventions of Greek drama and used them to more effectively present the plot of his Gospel. “I have always been interested in theater, not as a performer but as an educated member of the audience,” she said.

Brant, who holds a doctorate from McMaster University, first studied the Gospel of John in graduate school and made an early connection between the gospel and drama. “I got more out of it when I read it the way that I had been trained to read a play as an undergraduate English major,” she said.

Another epiphany occurred roughly seven years ago when Brant read that dialogue in tragedies is always between two or three actors and a collective voice – the same style of dialogue used by the Apostle John. “Suddenly, I noticed many aspects of the Gospel that resembled conventions in Greek tragedies and began the more detailed study that became this book,” said Brant.

After spending several summers reading and rereading the Greek tragedies, learning the language of theater criticism and delving into the critical work of classicists, Brant devoted all of her attention to the book during her sabbatical in 2001-2002.

“Interest in theater was not the only motivating factor in this study,” she said. “I have long been disturbed by some Christians’ habit of slapping a verse from the Gospel upon a placard as though it meant as much out of context as in context. Sometimes words do things just as much as they mean things. This is the case in plays where the action is in the language. I am convinced that we need to pay attention to what Jesus is doing with words as well as what he means.”

“Dialogue and Drama” has already received high scholarly praise. David Rensberger, professor of New Testament studies at Interdenominational Theological Center calls the book “a rarity – something genuinely new in Johannine studies” and noted that Brant “provides convincing evidence of parallels between formal aspects of the Gospel of John and those of classical Greek tragedy.”

R. Alan Culpepper, professor of New Testament studies and dean of McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University adds that Brant “convincingly shows how dramatic conventions make sense of neglected or otherwise puzzling aspects of the Gospel. Readers will find rewarding insights into the functions of John dramatis personae and the Gospel’s often-neglected discourses. Most important, we can now read the Gospel with greater sensitivity to the way it was originally heard.”

In her book, Brant seeks to make John’s skill more evident to his modern reader. “As an English student, learning how to read a play enhanced my enjoyment and understanding of Shakespeare multi-fold,” said Brant, “I hope that my book will enhance meaning and joy for the reader of the Gospel of John.”

Brant, who joined the Goshen College faculty in 1993, is chair of the Bible, religion and philosophy department and teaches courses including Biblical Literature and Jesus and the Gospels.

Goshen College, established in 1894, is a four-year residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit https://www.goshen.edu/.

- by Melanie Histand

Editors: Excerpts from the book are available on request. For more information, contact News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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