March 27, 2022

70) The GREEKS in John's Gospel were GREEK-SPEAKING JEWS (not Gentiles)

29 minutes

In this episode I give reasons to understand that the “Greeks” mentioned in two places in the Gospel of John (7:35 and 12:21) were not Gentiles but were Greek-speaking Israelites who grew up in Greek culture outside of the land of Israel.

The Gospel of John is using the word “Greeks/Hellenes” in a cultural and linguistic sense, not in an ethnic sense.

Understanding that the Greeks/Hellenes mentioned in the Gospel of John are Greek-speaking Israelites helps us interpret the Gospel of John better, and illuminates another evidence that the author gives to show that Jesus is the Messiah. As the Messiah, Jesus is the facilitator of the "gathering of the exiles of Israel". As the Gospel of John says it, "the gathering of the children of God who are scattered abroad" (John 11:52).

Gentiles are not in the picture that the Gospel of John paints. The "door of hope" through the Messiah for Gentiles was not opened by God until a decade or more after the events in the Gospel of John took place.

The Gospel of John was written by a Jew, for Jews. Gentiles can read it and benefit by it in much the same way we can benefit by reading the Book of Exodus. We see that God has done great things for Israel and proclaim "Yahweh (the Father) is God and Jesus is His Messiah".

For full written text click here.

https://landandbible.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-greeks-hellenists-in-gospel-of-john.html

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