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The Johannine Footwashing (13. 1–11) as Symbol of Eschatological Hospitality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2009

Arland J. Hultgren
Arland J. Hultgren
Affiliation:
Minnesota, U.S.A.
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Type
Short Papers
Information
New Testament Studies , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , October 1982 , pp. 539 - 546
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

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References

NOTES

[1] Richter, Georg, Die Fusswaschung im Johannesevangelium: Geschichte ihrer Deutung (BU I; Regensburg: Pustet, 1967).Google Scholar

[2] Richter, Georg, Die Fusswaschung im Johannesevangelium: Geschichte ihrer Deutung (BU I; Regensburg: Pustet, 1967) pp. 247–78.Google Scholar

[3] For a note on μεγ⋯ γαūγα in the Fourth Gospel, see Bernard, J. H., A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to John (ICC; Edinburgh: Clark, 1928–1929), II, p. cviii.Google Scholar

[4] Those who claim that 13. 1–11 and 13. 12–20 were not originally a unity include Rudolf Bultmann, The Gospel of John (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1971), p. 462Google Scholar; Boismard, M. E., ‘Le lavement des pieds (Joh 13,1–17)’, R.B. 71 (1964), 5–24Google Scholar; Brown, Raymond E., The Gospel According to John (AB 29–29A; Garden City: Doubleday, 1966–70), II, pp. 559–62Google Scholar; Richter, G., Die Fusswaschung, pp. 303–9Google Scholar; and Schnackenburg, Rudolf, Das Johannesevangelium (HTKNT IV; 2nd ed.; Herder: Freiburg, 1967–1975), III, p. 7Google Scholar. On the other hand, the unity of 13. 1–11 and 13. 12–20 is upheld by Lohmeyer, Ernst, ‘Die Fusswaschung’, Z.N.W. 38 (1939), 76–8Google Scholar; Weiser, A., ‘Joh 13,12–20 – Zufügung eines späteren Herausgebens?’, B.Z. 12 (1968), 252–7Google Scholar; Dunn, James D. G., ‘The Washing of the Disciples' Feet in John 13,1–20’, Z.N.W. 61 (1970), 249Google Scholar; and Sandra Schneider, M., ‘The Foot W shing (John 13:1–20): An Experiment in Hermeneutics’, C.B.Q. 43 (1981), 81 (note 20), 87.Google Scholar

[5] For details, see Richter, G., Die Fusswaschung, pp. 305–9Google Scholar; cf. also Brown, R. E., John, 2, pp. 559–62.Google Scholar

[6] Boismard, M. E., ‘Le lavement des pieds’, 20–4Google Scholar. Cf. also Hauck, F., ‘νíπτω’, T.D.N.T. 4, 947.Google Scholar

[7] Richter, G., Die Fusswaschung, pp. 312, 314–20Google Scholar; Brown, R. E., John, II, pp. 559–62.Google Scholar

[8] Bernard, J. H., John, 2, p. 462Google Scholar; Oepke, A., ‘λoύω’, T.D.N.T. 4, 305 (n. 33)Google Scholar; Bauer, Walter, Das Johannesevangelium (HzNT VI; 3rd ed.; Tübingen: Mohr, 1933), p. 169Google Scholar; Campenhausen, Hans von, ‘Zur Auslegung von Joh 13,6–10’, Z.N.W. 33 (1934), 260–1Google Scholar; Cullmann, Oscar, Early Christian Worship (SBT X; London: SCM, 1953), p. 109Google Scholar; Robinson, John A. T., ‘The Significance of the Foot-Washing’, Neotestamentica et Patristica (Freundesgabe für O. Cullmann; S. Nov. Test. VIGoogle Scholar; ed. van, W. C.Unnik; Leiden: Brill, 1962), p. 146 (n. 3)Google Scholar; Sanders, J. N. and Mastin, B. A., A Commentary on the Gospel According to John (BNTC; New York: Harper, 1968), p. 308Google Scholar; and Morris, Leon, The Gospel According to John (NIC; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971), p. 618.Google Scholar

[9] Lagrange, M.-J., Évangile selon Saint Jean (5th ed.; Paris: Lecoffre, 1936), pp. 353–5Google Scholar; Lohmeyer, E., ‘Die Fusswaschung’, 81–2Google Scholar; Fridrichsen, Anton, ‘Bemerkungen zur Fusswaschung Joh. 13’, Z.N.W. 38 (1939), 95 (n. 11)Google Scholar; Hauck, F., ‘νíπτω’, T.D.N.T. 4, 947 (n. 15)Google Scholar; Hoskyns, Edwyn C., The Fourth Gospel (2nd ed.; London: Faber, 1947), pp. 438 f.Google Scholar; Barrett, C. K., The Gospel According to John (New York: Macmillan, 1955), p. 368Google Scholar; Lightfoot, R. H., St. John's Gospel (Oxford: Clarendon, 1956), p. 273Google Scholar; Boismard, M. E., ‘Le lavement des pieds’, 10–13Google Scholar; Marsh, John, The Gospel of St. John (Baltimore: Penguin, 1968), pp. 488 f.Google Scholar; Bultmann, R., John, pp. 469 f.Google Scholar; Brown, R. E., John, 2, pp. 552, 567 f.Google Scholar; Richter, G., Die Fusswaschung, p. 320Google Scholar; Dunn, J. D. G., ‘The Washing’, 249–51Google Scholar; Schnackenburg, R., Johannesevangelium, 3, pp. 22 f.Google Scholar; and Lindars, Barnabas, The Gospel of John (NCB; London: Oliphants, 1972), pp. 451 f.Google Scholar

[10] The term μ⋯ρoς denotes sharing in the destiny of another in 2 Sam. 20. 1; Isaiah 57. 6; Psalm 49. 18; Matt. 24. 51; Luke 12. 46; Rev. 20. 6; 21. 8; 22. 19; Ignatius, To Polycarp vi.1. For discussion, See Schneider, J., ‘μ⋯ρoς’, T.D.N.T. 4, 594–8Google Scholar; Bultmann, R., John, p. 486 (n. 6)Google Scholar; and Brown, R. E., John, 2, pp. 565 f.Google Scholar

[11] Kötting, Bernard, ‘Fusswaschung’, Reallexikon für Antike und Christentum (ed. Klauser, T.; Stuttgart: Hiersemann, 1950–), VIII, pp. 743–59.Google Scholar

[12] Exod. 30. 18–21; 40. 30–32; M. Ber. ix.5; M. Tamid i.4; ii.1;b. Zebah 17b;P. Oxy. 840.15–16.

[13] Cf. Homer, Odyssey 19.343, and 503–507; Plato, Symposium 175a, 213b; Plutarch, Pompey 73.7. Also there are scenes in which water is brought not for the feet but for the hands in Homer, Odyssey 4.49–54 and 15.135–37.

[14] Cf. Sifre Deut. 355: ‘When he entered his house, he called his maid-servant. He said to her, ‘Come and wash our feet.’ She filled the basin with oil and washed their feet.' Text translated from Adolf, Schlatter, Der Evangelist Johannes (Stuttgart: Calwer, 1948), p. 281. Cf.Google Scholar also Strack, H. L. and Billerbeck, P., Kommentar zum Neuen Testament aus Talmud und Midrasch (Munich: Beck'sche, 1922–1961), II, p. 557.Google Scholar

[15] For texts, see The Testament of Abraham: The Greek Recensions, trans. Michael Stone, E. (SBLTT II; Missoula: Scholars, 1972), pp. 6 and 8 (texts for Recension A, chapter 3)Google Scholar; and pp. 62 and 64 (texts for Recension B, chapter 3).

[16] Cf. Philonenko, Marc, ‘Joseph and Asenath’, Encyclopedia Judaica (ed. Cecil, Roth; New York: Macmillan, 1972), X, p. 223.Google Scholar

[17] Text in Joseph et Aséneth: Introduction, Texte Critique, Traduction et Notes (SPB XIII; ed. Marc, Philonenko; Leiden: Brill, 1968), p. 150.Google Scholar

[18] Joseph et Aséneth: Introduction, Texte Critique, Traduction et Notes (SPB XIII; ed. Marc, Philonenko; Leiden: Brill, 1968), p. 176Google Scholar.

[19] Joseph et Aséneth: Introduction, Texte Critique, Traduction et Notes (SPB XIII; ed. Marc, Philonenko; Leiden: Brill, 1968), p. 194.Google Scholar

[20] Cf. Dibelius, Martin and Conzelmann, Hans, The Pastoral Epistles (Hermeneia; Philadelphia: Fortress, 1972), p. 75.Google Scholar

[21] Cf. Fridrichsen, A., ‘Bemerkungen zur Fusswaschung’, 94–6.Google Scholar

[22] Cultic washing of face, hands, and feet appears in b.Šabb. 25b; 39b; of the whole body in Exod. 40. 12; Lev. 8. 6; 14. 8, 9; 2 Kings 5. 10; Josephus, J.W. II, viii.5, 9, 10; Mark 7. 4; Luke 11. 38; of hands and feet in Exod. 30. 19, 21; 40. 30–32.

[23] Cf. Barrett, C. K., John, p. 368Google Scholar; Bultmann, R., John, p. 469 (n. 2)Google Scholar; Lindars, B., John, p. 451.Google Scholar

[24] Oxy, P.. 840.32–34; Philo, On Dreams I, 23. 148.Google Scholar

[25] See part A, 1 above and the works referred to in footnote 7.

[26] Dodd, C. H., ‘The Dialogue Form in the Gospels’, B.J.R.L. 37 (1954–1955), 62.Google Scholar

[27] Obviously this interpretation is possible only on the supposition that the words ‘except for his feet’ (in some witnesses to 13. 10) were not original with in the Johannine community.

[28] Footwashing has been practised right up to modern times as an act of hospitality in certain cultures. See Frank Knight, G. A., ‘Feet-washing’, Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics (ed. Hastings, J.; New York: Scribner's, 1913–1927), V, p. 815.Google Scholar