The pedagogy of the Johannine Jesus: A comparative study of Jesus' pedagogy to the world and to His own

The Johannine use of the term “world” has several referents one of which refers to those who oppose the Son and the community of those who believe in him. As the narrative progresses some from the world believe but many do not, and Jesus faces increasing hostility from them. The purpose of this dissertation is to address the following question: Does Jesus employ a different pedagogy when teaching the world and his own? Previous Johannine studies have focused on discipleship rather than on pedagogy, whereas studies on pedagogy in the Gospels have tended to be general in nature. Discipleship studies do touch on pedagogy, but not as a primary concern; and pedagogical studies have mined the Synoptic Gospels to the relative neglect of the Fourth Gospel. This dissertation makes a contribution to an understanding of Johannine pedagogy, a topic that has not been sufficiently explored.;The dissertation compares and contrasts the pedagogy of the Johannine Jesus to the world and to his own. Two examples of his pedagogy are selected for study: his teaching to the world during the Feast of Tabernacles (7:1–10:21) and his teaching to his own in the farewell discourse (13:1–16:33). Although other examples could have been chosen, these two are prominent examples of his teaching and provide ample material for examination.;Chapter one surveys past research in the areas of discipleship and pedagogy as related to the Fourth Gospel. Chapter two discusses the major aspects of pedagogy. The next two chapters examine Jesus' pedagogy to the world through a close reading of 7:1–10:21 and to his own through a close reading of 13:1–16:33. The concluding chapter compares his pedagogy identified in each of the two samples in order to determine the significant differences in his teaching to the world and to his own.;The dissertation argues that the differences substantiate that the pedagogy portrayed is a function of the narrative and in particular is a function of Jesus' cosmic journey from above to the world below and then his return to the realm above. Jesus confronts an unbelieving world with his claim that he has come down from above. But to those who believe in him he shifts his focus to his return to the realm above. The descent—ascent schema is a critical factor in discerning the difference in Jesus' pedagogy to the world and to his own.