PRESUPPOSITIONS

Every theology or system of thought takes for granted presuppositions or axioms that are regarded as generally held or uncontestable. In John certain inherited beliefs are treated as givens. That is, they are regarded as true, even if their meaning must be debated, inasmuch as the coming of Jesus Christ has upset all human presuppositions, axioms, and expectations. For John, Jesus Christ is the negation and judgment of this world insofar as it is independent of, and over against, God.

God

To mention God invites the question of the sense in which the existence and rule of God are axiomatic for the Fourth Gospel. Obviously, if the fourth evangelist were asked whether he believed in God, he would affirm such belief, but might counter by asking the questioner what God he or she believes in and how that belief could be validated. The fundamental question of the Fourth Gospel is the question of God, not whether a god exists but who is God and how God reveals himself. Thus the fundamental question or issue of the Gospel can be stated as the nature of revelation. What God is revealed, and how is God revealed?

Should one answer for John that the God revealed is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as Moses and David, that answer would be correct as far as it goes.