DIALOGUE AS A LITERARY GENRE IN THE BOOK OF SIGNS (JOHN 1:19-12:50)

Abstract

The dialogue of the Gospel of John remains as one of the most significant literary genres yet to be adequately explored by scholars. It is one of the oral or literary genres universally used to promote human interaction and communication. The Book of Signs (1:19-12:50) in the gospel comprises of several dialogue texts. This large block of the gospel appears to be a major dialogue portion in the NT connected to the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. The task of this study will be threefold: to investigate the development of the dialogue within the narrative framework of John; to understand the peculiar approaches and methodologies of the author/narrator for framing the dialogue; and to explore the theological value of the dialogue.