Structura și analiza literară a prologului ioanin

Structure and Literary Analysis of the Johannine Prologue

Abstract

The prologue of the Gospel of John should be seen as one of the most difficult biblical passages to interpret due to its hymnic structure. Many researchers have tried to grasp its core and to understand its background and purpose. Different structural proposals are founded on several theological and philosophical presuppositions. The complex analyses researchers have proposed regarding the background and structure of the Johannine prologue inevitably bring into focus the issue of revelation and inspiration. It is beyond dispute that the prologue did not appear, and could not have appeared, in a theological/philosophical vacuum. The article argues that the widespread practice of literary borrowing is not a danger that would diminish the importance, inspiration, and impact of the Johannine prologue. Moreover, it is argued that the theology of the prologue has to be seen as an efficient way of counteracting Docetism, the main philosophical current and heterodoxy present in early Christianity.