"You Know Nothing at All": Ironic Prophecy and Reversal of Meaning in John 11:45–53
Publisher
The University of Arizona.Rights
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The advice given to the Sanhedrin by Caiaphas in John 11:49–50—namely, that Jesus should be executed for the public good—proves to be ironically prophetic. The saying is ultimately true, but in a manner that runs counter to the high priest’s expectations. The Evangelist takes pains to point out that the words are not Caiaphas’ own, but rather come by virtue of his office as high priest. Caiaphas misunderstands his own prophecy.Both ancient and modern conceptions of irony, its forms, and its purposes can help the reader make sense of this puzzling prophecy. Through comparison with Greek tragedy and the work of modern ironologists such as D.C. Muecke, Wayne C. Booth, Glenn S. Holland, and others, it becomes evident that John 11:45–53 fits the generally established characteristics of irony. Moreover, the irony fits the categories of simple, stable, divine, and dramatic ironies. This passage is particularly important in the Gospel of John, as it serves as a bridge between the Book of Signs and the Book of Glory. In fact, the statement of Caiaphas, when viewed through the Evangelist’s interpretive lens, becomes the definitive explanation for Jesus’s death in the Fourth Gospel. Therefore, the inclusion of this brief episode in the Gospel narrative imbues the death of Jesus with meaning and highlights an important paradox in the Fourth Gospel—salvation offered through death—as well as the gap between human and divine understanding. The function of this irony, then, is crucial for the interpretation of Jesus’s death, for understanding the characterization of Caiaphas, and for grasping the place of the Gospel’s audience in the narrative.Type
textElectronic Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.Degree Level
mastersDegree Program
Graduate CollegeClassics