The „Mother of Jesus” and „Woman” as Mary’s Titles in the Fourth Gospel Cover Image

„Matka Jezusa” i „Niewiasta” jako tytuły Maryi w czwartej Ewangelii
The „Mother of Jesus” and „Woman” as Mary’s Titles in the Fourth Gospel

Author(s): Aleksandra Nalewaj
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Biblical studies
Published by: Polskie Towarzystwo Teologiczne
Keywords: John’s Gospel; Mother of Jesus; Woman; Mary; new Eve;

Summary/Abstract: The Church worships Mary of Nazareth as the Lord’s Mother (Luc 1, 43) and the Mother of God. In the Fourth Gospel the Mother of Jesus appears only at the beginning and at the end of the book and in both cases in the context of the „hour” of Jesus (John 2, 1–12; 19, 25–27). In the Evangelist’s comments she is referred to as the „Mother of Jesus” and her Son calls her a „Woman”. In the debate about the omission of the name of the God’s Mother in the Gospel of John most exegetes emphasize the symbolic meaning of the book and probably in connection with it the author’s intention to depict some persons as types in the narration. Besides Jesus’ Mother the names are not given to the woman of Samaria (4, 7), the royal official of Capernaum (4, 46), the man blind from birth (9, 1), and finally the disciple whom Jesus loved. Therefore the role of these people seems to be special. According to tradition John’s Gospel, being the product of well-developed Christology, was created in its final shape in Ephesus at the end of the 1st century. It was the time of various religious and philosophical trend clashes and the beginning of Christological errors. In these circumstances, Christian orthodoxy crystallized.

  • Issue Year: 63/2010
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 13-30
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Polish