Date

12-16-2025

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Bible Exposition (PhD)

Chair

Page Brooks

Keywords

Jesus’s Dual Human and Divine Nature in the Gospel of John, Transcending Maslow’s Self-Actualization with Divine Mission and Obedience, Johannine Christology; Maslow; self-actualization; fulfillment; dual nature of Christ; theological anthropology; Gospel of John, Mission, Obedience, Duality, Human Nature, Divine Nature, God, Miracles, Seven Signs

Disciplines

Religion | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

This dissertation explores how the Gospel of John presents Jesus’s dual human and divine nature as the basis for a fulfillment model that surpasses Maslow’s concept of self-actualization. The study integrates narrative, rhetorical, comparative, and theological approaches. Through these methods, it shows that John places fulfillment in divine mission and obedience rather than in human potential or psychological development. John’s Gospel also depicts Jesus addressing human needs—physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual. At the same time, it reframes fulfillment as participation in God’s redemptive work. By contrasting Maslow’s hierarchy with the Johannine narrative, the dissertation argues that Jesus embodies completeness through divine alignment, sacrificial love, and eternal life. This study contributes to biblical exposition by presenting fulfillment in John as relational, communal, and theologically grounded, offering an alternative to modern individualistic models of flourishing. The research also situates the Johannine portrait of Jesus within its literary, historical, and theological contexts. The analysis shows how the Fourth Gospel reshapes common views of aspiration by rooting true fulfillment in the person and work of Christ. Key passages—including the “I am” statements, the signs, and the Farewell Discourse—demonstrate how Jesus redirects human longing toward divine purpose. The dissertation draws from Johannine scholarship, theological anthropology, and humanistic psychology. These fields together show that John’s vision extends beyond Maslow’s model by offering a fuller account of identity, purpose, and transformation. Ultimately, the study argues that the Gospel of John challenges secular ideas of achievement and presents a Christ-centered model of human flourishing grounded in ongoing communion with God.

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