the Christ"). To all of these equally, thewords of Jesus would certainly apply: "These things I have spoken to you, that youmay be kept from stumbling" (16:1).Literary TechniquesFew things are more helpful for readers of John's Gospel than an appreciationof his literary techniques. These are for the most part the techniques of a dramatist.They include the technique of using stories to set up scenes; the use of discourses,dialogues, and monologues to expound Jesus' teaching; the use of misunderstandingand double-meaning words to emphasize important elements of Jesus' teaching; andthe use of such other techniques as the rule of two, explanatory comments, irony,foreshadowing, inclusion, and the chiastic arrangement of parts, sequences, andsections of the Gospel. All of these call for a brief explanation.1. StoriesJohn uses stories to set up scenes, discourses, and dialogues. The following aregood examples. In John 1:19-51, the story of Jesus' coming to John the Baptist atthe Jordan sets the scene for the parade of witnesses who testify successively to Jesusas the Lamb of God, Messiah, King of Israel, Son of God, and Son of Man.In 2:13-25, the story of the cleansing of the temple sets the scene for Jesus'dialogue with the Jews concerning His words "Destroy this temple [He means Hisbody], and in three days I will raise it up." In 3:1-21, the story of Nicodemus' comingto Jesus at night sets the scene for Jesus' dialogue with Nicodemus about being "bornagain" (3:5), just as in 4:4ff., Jesus' meeting with the Samaritan woman sets the scenefor His dialogue with her about the water that will become "a well of water springingup to eternal life" (4:14).John uses the same technique in chapter 5, where the cure of the paralytic (5:1-18) sets the scene for the long monologue of 5:19-47; in chapter 6, where Jesus'discussion with the Jews about signs (6:22-31) sets the theme for Jesus' homily on"the true bread from heaven" (6:32-58); in chapters 7--8, w...
