The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the influence of Ezekiel in the Fourth Gospel by identifying and evaluating intertextual links between the two texts. Chapter 1 introduces the study, provides its parameters, and identifies features that may be regarded as evidence of intertextuality.
The theological vocabularies of John and Ezekiel are examined in Chapter 2 to discover possible points of contact. Words used by John fifty times or more, words used in the “I am” sayings, and other words significant to John’s theology are compared to Ezekiel. Significant contact appears with the words hear, know, send, word, spirit, water, and shepherd.
Chapters 3 and 4 set forth primary and secondary points of contact between Ezekiel and John. Primary points include the new Temple, the living water, the Good Shepherd, and being “born from above.” Secondary points include the figures Son of man, Paraclete, and True Vine, along with various phrases that may owe some debt to Ezekiel’s influence. The majority of these have been observed by other authors. The chief contribution of this study is to bring them all together and show Ezekiel as an important influence on John’s presentation of Jesus.
Richard Hays’ criteria for evaluating evidence of intertextuality are used in chapter 5 to assess the evidence set forth in chapters 2–4. We conclude that the Fourth Gospel reveals a strong intertextual relationship with Ezekiel at several points. When taken into account, these links are a valuable resource for the interpretation of the Fourth Gospel’s witness to Jesus. As such, the study underscores the continuing need for historical-critical research alongside the more modern critical methods of interpretation.