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The Woman, the Hour, and the Garden: A Study of Imagery in the Gospel of John
Was Jesus ever married? Yes, indeed, says Addison Hodges Hart — but not in the way that recent sensationalist writers have claimed. In this book Hart opens an illuminating window into John’s Gospel as he explores its rich, poetic imagery, particularly the metaphorical significance of “the Woman.”
Inspired by the writings of early church fathers and medieval theologians, Hart presents the Gospel of John as an incarnational, sacramental text and shows that it is primarily a revelation of salvation, deeply mystical and intended to lead its readers into a living relationship with the one who is the Bridegroom of his people.
Inspired by the writings of early church fathers and medieval theologians, Hart presents the Gospel of John as an incarnational, sacramental text and shows that it is primarily a revelation of salvation, deeply mystical and intended to lead its readers into a living relationship with the one who is the Bridegroom of his people.
- GenresTheologyNew Testament
123 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 22, 2016
Among Progressive/liberal Christians there is a preference for the synoptic Gospels. John is often set aside because it seems less concerned about this world things. It is mystical in orientation. It seems to lack concern for the historical. It's chronology being rather different. Yet John offers us great riches if we're willing to engage it on its own terms.
Addison Hodges Hart is one for whom the mystical/theological side of John is appealing. In this particular book Hart lifts up the image of "The Woman" in John. There are three women whom Jesus calls "Woman." One is his mother, whom Jesus speaks to in this way in the story of the Wedding at Cana and then again as he is dying on the cross -- directing the Beloved Disciple to care for his mother. The second is Mary Magdalene, whom he addresses on the Day of Resurrection. Finally, he addresses the Samaritan woman he meets at the well with the same greeting.
Taking a mythopoetic/allegorical approach to the text, Hart sees these three women in one way or another as icons of the church. This is especially true of his mother, who exemplifies purity and obedience. Central to this conversation is Hart's focus on the message of John 16:21. "When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought human being into the world." Although most translations lack the definite article, Hart suggests that it is best read with a definite article. Thus, it's not "a woman" but "the woman." This "woman" is an archetype, a symbol that emerges in a variety of ways as an expression of the church. Accompanying this messsage of "the woman" are the words "hour" and "man" or anthropos, translated in NRSV as human being. This word "hour" is important in John, for the question for Jesus is timing. When will his glory be revealed?
In this book, Hart weaves together a number of images from the Gospel of John. He draws our attention to the image of the Virgin Mary, the role of "the Woman" in John, the imagery of life and death, the Garden (taking us back to Eden), and finally a sense of eschatology.
For Hart the iconographic image of the Woman, especially Jesus' mother, serves as an icon of the church. It is in relationship with the Woman, the church, that we find eternal life. The way of eternal life comes through belief, which is understood in terms of obedience. Thus, we go back to Cana, where Jesus mother directs the servants to do what Jesus directed. The same message goes to all disciples. Eternal life emerges from obedience to Christ.
This is a most interesting and thought-provoking book. My own mariology is less robust than Hart's. I'm also a bit less comfortable with the marriage imagery for Jesus and the church. Still, there is much here to contemplate. Most importantly, Hart invites us to read John in a way that is appropriate to John. While there is most certainly historical detail here, focusing on recovery of that detail can derail our ability to see the deeper vision that is present in the Johannine literature.
Addison Hodges Hart is one for whom the mystical/theological side of John is appealing. In this particular book Hart lifts up the image of "The Woman" in John. There are three women whom Jesus calls "Woman." One is his mother, whom Jesus speaks to in this way in the story of the Wedding at Cana and then again as he is dying on the cross -- directing the Beloved Disciple to care for his mother. The second is Mary Magdalene, whom he addresses on the Day of Resurrection. Finally, he addresses the Samaritan woman he meets at the well with the same greeting.
Taking a mythopoetic/allegorical approach to the text, Hart sees these three women in one way or another as icons of the church. This is especially true of his mother, who exemplifies purity and obedience. Central to this conversation is Hart's focus on the message of John 16:21. "When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought human being into the world." Although most translations lack the definite article, Hart suggests that it is best read with a definite article. Thus, it's not "a woman" but "the woman." This "woman" is an archetype, a symbol that emerges in a variety of ways as an expression of the church. Accompanying this messsage of "the woman" are the words "hour" and "man" or anthropos, translated in NRSV as human being. This word "hour" is important in John, for the question for Jesus is timing. When will his glory be revealed?
In this book, Hart weaves together a number of images from the Gospel of John. He draws our attention to the image of the Virgin Mary, the role of "the Woman" in John, the imagery of life and death, the Garden (taking us back to Eden), and finally a sense of eschatology.
For Hart the iconographic image of the Woman, especially Jesus' mother, serves as an icon of the church. It is in relationship with the Woman, the church, that we find eternal life. The way of eternal life comes through belief, which is understood in terms of obedience. Thus, we go back to Cana, where Jesus mother directs the servants to do what Jesus directed. The same message goes to all disciples. Eternal life emerges from obedience to Christ.
This is a most interesting and thought-provoking book. My own mariology is less robust than Hart's. I'm also a bit less comfortable with the marriage imagery for Jesus and the church. Still, there is much here to contemplate. Most importantly, Hart invites us to read John in a way that is appropriate to John. While there is most certainly historical detail here, focusing on recovery of that detail can derail our ability to see the deeper vision that is present in the Johannine literature.
August 29, 2016
The best part of this book is the contrast between different schools of hermeneutics. I found these discussions thought provoking and helpful. However, the rest of the book is never rises to the occasion.
January 3, 2018
Not merely a concise and illuminating examination of themes in John's Gospel, The Woman, the Hour, and the Garden presents a paradigm for responsible allegorical exegesis.
I recommend following it up with Fr John Behr's The Mystery of Christ: Life in Death for a more complete theological exposition of its major themes.
I recommend following it up with Fr John Behr's The Mystery of Christ: Life in Death for a more complete theological exposition of its major themes.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews