What do you think?
Rate this book
Reading the Gospel of John through Palestinian Eyes
Christians from diverse cultural, religious, and political contexts have been studying the Gospel of John for almost two thousand years. In this insightful reflection on the Fourth Gospel, Rev Yohanna Katanacho invites us to encounter the text anew, this time from the perspective of a twenty-first century Palestinian Christian.
Challenging the claim that Christ belongs to a particular denomination, nation, or race, Katanacho presents the Gospel of John as introducing a new world order. In John's account of Jesus's life, the rich history of Judaism is reinterpreted in light of the inclusive Christ, the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies, teachings, and promises. Walking us through the reinterpretation of holy space, holy time, holy history, holy community, holy land, and life itself, Katanacho demonstrates how John's gospel establishes a new identity for the people of God - an identity defined not by race or nationality but by suffering and love. Containing questions for reflection designed with preachers in mind, this accessible book will be a great help for Christians seeking to mine the beautiful riches of spiritual truth in this often-complicated gospel.
Challenging the claim that Christ belongs to a particular denomination, nation, or race, Katanacho presents the Gospel of John as introducing a new world order. In John's account of Jesus's life, the rich history of Judaism is reinterpreted in light of the inclusive Christ, the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies, teachings, and promises. Walking us through the reinterpretation of holy space, holy time, holy history, holy community, holy land, and life itself, Katanacho demonstrates how John's gospel establishes a new identity for the people of God - an identity defined not by race or nationality but by suffering and love. Containing questions for reflection designed with preachers in mind, this accessible book will be a great help for Christians seeking to mine the beautiful riches of spiritual truth in this often-complicated gospel.
- GenresTheologyBiblical Studies
ebook
Published February 29, 2020
24 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 18, 2020
A fantastic resource, I won't even bother to cover the praise, because it's a short read and the whole thing is great (except for chapter 11, which I didn't like at all, or his thoughts on Judas Iscariot, but that's a hotly debated nuance). I will add some comments to my review.
The book is split into two main sections (making the case that John has two "books" to it's volume, an idea that I loved and had not encountered before). The first eight chapters dealt with the "Book of Signs" and was just great; so great, in fact, that it is far too short. This portion could have easily have been three times as long. The content was so good that I wanted Katanacho to expound more about its application (more on that in a bit).
Second, the danger of a reader abusing this work in a supercessionist way is huge, but Katanacho repeatedly addresses what he is NOT saying to these ends. Chapter 9 was of particular importance in this regard. The danger is there, but it is not in the execution of the author.
Third, the last part of the book is written from his Palestinian perspective, it is main drive for application behind his writing of the book. I would venture to guess this is why he did not spend more time in applying the Book of Signs, since he saw the Book of Hours as his application focus. This Palestinian application was very rich and meaningful to read and I thought his points were excellent.
I wasn't a fan of his overdone commitment to dogma (in places like his theology of atonement or Christology), but it wasn't enough to keep me from really enjoying the read. It did rob him of a fifth star for me.
This is an excellent resource for the Gospel of John, even with its brevity
The book is split into two main sections (making the case that John has two "books" to it's volume, an idea that I loved and had not encountered before). The first eight chapters dealt with the "Book of Signs" and was just great; so great, in fact, that it is far too short. This portion could have easily have been three times as long. The content was so good that I wanted Katanacho to expound more about its application (more on that in a bit).
Second, the danger of a reader abusing this work in a supercessionist way is huge, but Katanacho repeatedly addresses what he is NOT saying to these ends. Chapter 9 was of particular importance in this regard. The danger is there, but it is not in the execution of the author.
Third, the last part of the book is written from his Palestinian perspective, it is main drive for application behind his writing of the book. I would venture to guess this is why he did not spend more time in applying the Book of Signs, since he saw the Book of Hours as his application focus. This Palestinian application was very rich and meaningful to read and I thought his points were excellent.
I wasn't a fan of his overdone commitment to dogma (in places like his theology of atonement or Christology), but it wasn't enough to keep me from really enjoying the read. It did rob him of a fifth star for me.
This is an excellent resource for the Gospel of John, even with its brevity
January 18, 2025
This is a very helpful and insightful book that opened my understanding of this particular book of the Bible through its understanding of culture and the authors ability to see this in the whole frame of the Bible. It addresses many of the challenges if today in Palestine and Israel and is important to bring fresh understanding into this complex world.
September 6, 2021
It’s brief, but it’s an excellent exegesis of some of the key emphases of John’s Gospel.
March 17, 2022
Writing as a Palestinian and an Israeli citizen, Yohanna Katanacho leads us on a journey through John's Gospel, with a particular concern for showing how the good news of Jesus leads to reconciliation and unity between people of all nations, and challenging the misuse of Jesus's name for political ends. Given his background, much of his applicatory reflections are obviously related to relationships in Israel/Palestine. Ultimately, "Christ is fully human and can represent both Palestinians and Jews" (131).
Katanacho begins with some reflections on how we should understand the "Jewishness of Jesus" - or, what relationship we should perceive between "the inclusive humanity of Jesus and his particular ethnicity" (7). He uses the phrases "christological Jewishness" (8) and "eschatological Jew" (131) to describe how "biblical Judaism was embodied and fulfilled in Christ" (65). There is perhaps a tendency to underplay the reality of Jesus as an actual, historical Jew, but his focus on a transformed unity in Jesus is encouraging to read.
He then proceeds through John's Gospel in a chronological-and-thematic way. The first section looks at John 1-12, exploring how Jesus transforms holy space, holy time, holy history, holy nation, and holy land. The next section looks at how Jesus gathers the people of love, of the Spirit, of the vine, of unity, of the Cross and of resurrection.
There are interesting insights throughout. There are also some parts that I'm less fond of. For a start, some of the sociopolitical reflection seems unbalanced. It is also striking that he fails to address the questions of antisemitism that surround the use of John's Gospel - this seems a major omission given his repeated focus on questions of justice and discrimination. And I have disagreements with his soteriology too, along with other quibbles.
I imagine others may find this book more profitable than I did. But I remain thankful to Langham for introducing Christians in the West to a more diverse group of voices than we might normally hear.
Katanacho begins with some reflections on how we should understand the "Jewishness of Jesus" - or, what relationship we should perceive between "the inclusive humanity of Jesus and his particular ethnicity" (7). He uses the phrases "christological Jewishness" (8) and "eschatological Jew" (131) to describe how "biblical Judaism was embodied and fulfilled in Christ" (65). There is perhaps a tendency to underplay the reality of Jesus as an actual, historical Jew, but his focus on a transformed unity in Jesus is encouraging to read.
He then proceeds through John's Gospel in a chronological-and-thematic way. The first section looks at John 1-12, exploring how Jesus transforms holy space, holy time, holy history, holy nation, and holy land. The next section looks at how Jesus gathers the people of love, of the Spirit, of the vine, of unity, of the Cross and of resurrection.
There are interesting insights throughout. There are also some parts that I'm less fond of. For a start, some of the sociopolitical reflection seems unbalanced. It is also striking that he fails to address the questions of antisemitism that surround the use of John's Gospel - this seems a major omission given his repeated focus on questions of justice and discrimination. And I have disagreements with his soteriology too, along with other quibbles.
I imagine others may find this book more profitable than I did. But I remain thankful to Langham for introducing Christians in the West to a more diverse group of voices than we might normally hear.
February 26, 2024
An Important Cultural & Sociopolitical Exploration
I very much value the work of Palestinian theologian, Yohanna Katanacho, especially during the unfolding horror in Gaza. 'Reading the Gospel Through Palestinian Eyes' follows two threads; one of atonement/salvation and one of steadfastness and liberation, both centred on Christ through the experience of the Palestinian people but rippling out to us all.
I do not believe in the doctrine of atonement but very much valued reading the thoughts offered here, and I found the exploration of the liberatiom theology contained within the Gospel of John essential in navigating these painful times.
It feels so important, if not essential, to explore faith now beyond the Western Colonial mindset. This book is an valuable contribution to that work.
I very much value the work of Palestinian theologian, Yohanna Katanacho, especially during the unfolding horror in Gaza. 'Reading the Gospel Through Palestinian Eyes' follows two threads; one of atonement/salvation and one of steadfastness and liberation, both centred on Christ through the experience of the Palestinian people but rippling out to us all.
I do not believe in the doctrine of atonement but very much valued reading the thoughts offered here, and I found the exploration of the liberatiom theology contained within the Gospel of John essential in navigating these painful times.
It feels so important, if not essential, to explore faith now beyond the Western Colonial mindset. This book is an valuable contribution to that work.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews