“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” What exactly do these words mean? Some argue that John is hinting at concepts related to Greek philosophy, but is this really the case? What are the Jewish Targums and how do these ancient texts helps us to better understand the meaning of John’s prologue? On this episode, Shane talks with John Ronning, author of The Jewish Targums and John’s Logos Theology.

Click here for detailed notes related to this episode (including quotes from Philo of Alexandria, and the Aramaic Targums.

SHOW NOTES

BooksThe Jewish Targums & John’s Logos Theology, John RonningTargum Isaiah, Jonathan ben UzielThe Messiah of the Targums, Michael B. ShepherdThe Jewish Gospels, Daniel BoyarinThe Angel of the Lord, Foreman & Van DornJourneys with Jesus, Dennis JohnsonThe Son of Man in Early Jewish Literature, Richard BauckhamA Handbook on the Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith, Craig EvansA Handbook on the Jewish Roots of the Gospels, Craig EvansThe Jewish Annotated New Testament, Daniel Boyarin & othersThe Works of Philo, Philo of AlexandriaArticlesThe “I Am” Sayings in John, John RonningThe Targum of Isaiah and the Johannine Literature, John RonningWhen Yahweh Became Flesh And Dwelt Among Us, John RonningHigh & Lifted Up: The Son of Man in John’s Gospel, John RonningFinding Christ in All of Scripture, Shane RosenthalThe Bethlehem Prophecy: An Exploration of Micah 5:2, Shane RosenthalAuthenticating the Fourth Gospel, Shane RosenthalThe Identity of the Beloved Disciple, Shane RosenthalA New Argument for John’s Identity, Shane RosenthalNotes for Episode #75, Shane RosenthalAudioJewish Views of the Messiah, Humble Skeptic #38 with Daniel BoyarinThe Angel of Yahweh, Humble Skeptic #70 with Foreman & Van DornWere Jews Expecting a Divine Messiah?, WHI #1243 with Craig EvansWere Jews Expecting a Suffering Messiah? Humble Skeptic #47Jacob’s Ladder, Humble Skeptic #63 with Richard Bauckham and othersBabylon, Humble Skeptic Episode #66 Decoding the Prophecies of Daniel, Humble Skeptic #68 The Messiah’s Redemptive Mission, Humble Skeptic #72Signs of the Messiah, Humble Skeptic # 74 with Andreas KöstenbergerWhich John Wrote John? Humble Skeptic #50

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