Source: Brian Neil Peterson, John’s Use of Ezekiel: Understanding the Unique Perspective of the Fourth Gospel (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2015).
The Uniqueness of John’s Gospel.wav
This topic argues that the Gospel of John's unique literary features, distinct from the Synoptic Gospels, are heavily influenced by the Old Testament book of Ezekiel. The author proposes that John structured his Gospel around Ezekiel's rhetorical framework and themes, such as the use of signs and the concept of coming to "know that I am Yahweh," which are mirrored in John's emphasis on Jesus' divinity and the purpose of his signs. The podcast highlights parallels in their historical contexts, their experiences of rejection, and their roles as witnesses against a disbelieving audience, suggesting that these shared circumstances led John to draw upon Ezekiel's prophecy as a guiding structural pattern and theological source for his own writing.
The Gospel of John has always been a puzzle. Readers immediately sense its distinct voice, setting it apart from the other three "Synoptic" Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Its peculiarities are well-known: it focuses on only about twenty days of Jesus' life, it places major events like the temple cleansing at the beginning of Jesus' ministry instead of the end, and it is filled with unique "I Am" sayings and extended discourses.
For centuries, scholars and readers have asked the same central question: Why is John's Gospel so different? The answer, surprisingly, may not be found by comparing it to the other gospels, but by turning to the pages of an often-overlooked Old Testament prophet: Ezekiel. This connection provides a powerful key to understanding the unique structure, style, and message of the Fourth Gospel.