The Mystical Way in the Fourth Gospel: Crossing Over Into God

by L. William Countryman

Here is a sustained literary-critical reading of John's Gospel in terms of mystical theology. Arguing that John "is guiding, perhaps at times impelling, the reader along a path that leads from conversion through Christian initiation to mystical enlightenment and union," Professor Countryman suggests that this concern controls the Gospel's literary structure and unity. He demonstrates this argument through a fresh and readable translation of the Fourth Gospel, offering a new way of reading John that has direct relevance to Christian life today. The chapters in the book follow the progress of the would-be mystic from initial conversion through baptism and Eucharist to mystical enlightenment. In addition to this mystical program, and integrated with the narrative of the Gospel, is a theological interpretation of Jesus which explains why he is centrally important for the mystic. "An appealing and attractive interpretation that deserves close attention." -Adris Newsletter L.William Countryman is Professor of New Testament at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific and the author of many books, including Good News of Jesus, The Language of Ordination, and Biblical Authority or Biblical Tyranny - all published by Trinity Press International.

Genres: Theology

164 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1994

About the author

Bill Countryman is a retired seminary professor and Episcopal priest (still assisting at Good Shepherd Church in Berkeley, CA). He and his spouse, Jon Vieira, live in Oakland, CA, where he tends the garden and writes mostly poetry these days.

I'm a lover of poetry, classical music (with a particular fondness for choral and chamber music and for late-ninteenth-early-twentieth-century orchestral music. I spread my reading broadly: poetry, fiction, history, theology.

And I blog on gardening, reading the Scriptures, and whatever else interests me at billcountryman.com.

Reviews

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm currently re-reading, was referred to it in a weekend retreat that was a turning point in my life. More here later after I've finished re-read.

[David Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conversion, the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist, believing in Jesus are the path; to love one another is the way; union, to come to know that we are one with God and God with us, is the completion.

Countryman's thesis is that John's Gospel is a manual for the mystical way in Christianity. He translates the Gospel in a manner which preserves John's simple syntax, limited vocabulary, and repetitions and intersperses commentary, interpretation, and some cultural and historical context. He shows how John's choice and ordering of events from Jesus' life and ministry, differing from the synoptics, emphasizes the path of spiritual growth. Characteristic of Jesus' teaching in John is the inappropriate response, the seeming non-sequitur when questioned that is meant to break his hearer out of old ways of thinking. It reminded me of the idea behind Zen koans.

Countryman writes clearly, precisely, intellectually, spiritually and with belief. The book is scholarly but direct, not dry, and faithful.

[Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a difficult book although it inspires discussions in the group that I read it with. The book begins to "warm up" only with the chapter entitled "Enlightenment". That's where the author's thesis of the purpose of John's Gospel begins to make sense, at least to me. This chapter stimulated quite a discussion.

The book is not a devotional book. It is scholarly in that it sets out a thesis why the Gospel of John progresses in the way it does, so differently from the synoptic gospels. It is a cross between the presentation of a unified theory of John's gospel and a passage-by-passage commentary. Accordingly, it plods along and is frequently boring. I think, however, that an attempt to understand this gospel comprehensively was a worthy enterprise and shed light on my thinking about these really rather remarkable documents.