Exploring the Johannine spirituality: the experience of God in the fourth Gospel perceived from the perspective of its Familia Dei
Albalaa, Pierre Youssef
This thesis examines the Experience of God in the Fourth Gospel (in this research, it is also called
the Johannine Experience of God) by perceiving it from the perspective of the metaphoric Familia
Dei, found in this Gospel. This examination is done in a three-step process:
The first step consists of a literary review and a presentation of the methodology and approach
employed in this research. It intends to set the thesis within the Johannine studies.
The second step involves the articulation of essential considerations on Religious Experience, the
Johannine Community, and the Fourth Gospel. This articulation has two aims: First, to acquire a
deeper understanding of the background of the Johannine Experience of God, and second, to point
out the functionality of this Gospel’s narrative in constituting this experience.
The third step comprises the following suggestion and the elaboration on its constituents:
- The Johannine Experience of God consists of two components: the first one is the initiative of
God the Father conveyed by Jesus Christ, perpetuated by the Holy Spirit, and as it is recorded in
the Fourth Gospel. And the second one is the response of the believers (John’s readers) to this
initiative by accepting the Son and journeying spiritually under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
- The Johannine Experience of God can be perceived from the perspective of the Familia Dei
metaphoric found in the Fourth Gospel.
- The narrative of the Fourth Gospel has the ability to constitute an experience of God and
accordingly creates spirituality, once it is read or heard.
This thesis aims to generate a deeper understanding of the spirituality of the Fourth Gospel at one
level, and to offer an acceptable general insight about the Johannine Spirituality at another, hoping
that its findings become an inspiration for future studies.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 292-313) : illustrations
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