Date of Award

2026

Degree Type

Open Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Religion, PhD

Program

School of Arts and Humanities

Advisor/Supervisor/Committee Chair

Nicola Denzey-Lewis

Dissertation or Thesis Committee Member

Gary Gilbert

Dissertation or Thesis Committee Member

Tammi Schnieder

Dissertation or Thesis Committee Member

Christopher Skinner

Terms of Use & License Information

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Rights Information

© 2026 John Colin Stringfellow

Keywords

Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Gospel of John, New Testament, Samaritans

Subject Categories

Biblical Studies | Religion

Abstract

The Gospel of John is enigmatic; scholars have sought to identify its distinctive features. Is it influenced by Hellenistic culture, Gnosticism, Dositheism, or is it an editorial compilation? These distinct characteristics have led scholars to speculate about the intended recipients of the Fourth Gospel. Identifying the audience is crucial in deciphering these distinct characteristics. Why did the author(s) use specific literary techniques and devices? Why were particular stories selected? This dissertation does not seek to dismiss the existing scholarly analyses that have identified the recurring themes and structure of the Gospel of John; instead, it prompts the question, "Why?" Understanding the dialogue's audience provides insight into the issues being addressed. We now understand that the Gospels are also a form of dialogue. They are narratives shared with a specific group of people. I intend to delve into how identifying an Israelite-Samaritan audience can shed light on as many of these distinct characteristics as possible. The debate about identifying John's intended audience remains unresolved, as no single group is universally acknowledged as the recipient of the Gospel of John. In other words, in the study of John's history, the exploration of its audience is a result of interpreting its form and structure. However, this dissertation contends that identifying the recipient should be a fundamental aspect of approaching and comprehending the entirety of John's text. Based on this assertion, I will investigate whether a proto-Samaritan group of remnant Israelites could have been the intended recipients of the Gospel of John.

ISBN

9798247920779

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