Date

5-20-2026

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Bible Exposition (PhD)

Chair

Jeffrey Mayfield

Keywords

Life, Gospel of John, realized eschatology, covenant

Disciplines

Christianity | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

This dissertation examines the concept of life (ζωή) in the Gospel of John and argues that Johannine life is best understood as present, covenantal participation in God through Jesus Christ. While the Fourth Gospel has long been recognized for its distinctive emphasis on life—using ζωή more frequently than any other Gospel—scholarly treatments often define eternal life primarily in relation to eschatological destiny, soteriological status, or Christological revelation. This study addresses a gap in Johannine scholarship by asking not only when life is received, but what kind of existence John intends his readers to understand and experience. It contends that John, drawing deeply from Old Testament covenantal conceptions of life, presents life in Christ not merely as a future resurrection hope, but as a present, embodied reality lived in communion with God.

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