2017/11/13 by Jonathan Bourgel · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · #Biblical Studies and Interpretation
paper · doi:10.1093/jts/flx215
openalex publication_date 2017/11/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06
It has often been pointed out that the Samaritans are a subject of special concern to John; this interest is most obvious in John 4:4–42. The passage relates Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob next to the city of Sychar. This essay demonstrates that John 4:4–42 represents an attempt to delineate the outline of a mixed Jewish–Samaritan community. This account had a twofold aim: in the first place, it was designed to overcome the Jews’ reluctance to deal with Samaritans, by depicting Jesus as disregarding prejudices about their alleged ritual impurity; secondly, it was intended to make the faith in Jesus accessible and relevant to the Samaritans.