Illuminating John’s gospel

Published on 4th March 2010

We warmly congratulate Paul Coxon , a WEST research student from Crewe, Cheshire.  On Wednesday 3 March he successfully defended his PhD thesis at a viva held at the University of Wales, Lampeter and was awarded his doctorate.  The title of his research was “Paschal New Exodus Motif in John 5 - 10”.  A few months ago Rev Kyung-U Ra was awarded a PhD for his similar work on chapters 1 - 4 of the same book.  There are other WEST researchers working on the remaining chapters of the Gospel, and all under the supervision of WEST’s New Testament specialist, Dr Tom Holland.

So what is the sigificance of this substantial project in John’s Gospel?  It shows clearly the Old Testament roots of John’s gospel.  The Exodus was the great salvation event of the Old Testament and the Passover was its climax.  The New Exodus was God’s deliverance from Babylonian exile.  In the New Testament, including John’s Gospel, we see the unfolding drama of Christ’s incarnation, sacrificial death, resurrection, ascension and reign, described by its Jewish writers in New Exodus language.  Jesus is the long awaited Davidic king, God’s first born who at the very time of Passover delivers his people by his sacrificial death on the cross from the tyranny of Satan and God’s wrath towards sin, bringing them into his kingdom and constructing his temple - people from every nation, language and ethnic group on earth, particularly since Pentecost.  This research series is path-breaking.  It establishes the unity of the Bible, the great theme of God’s salvation and the centrality of Christ.