The Beloved Disciple in Performance

Rhetoric, Delivery, Proximity, and Johannine Discipleship

Series: 

This book reconsiders the Fourth Gospel’s portrayal of the Beloved Disciple through the lens of biblical performance criticism. The study demonstrates how a skilled performer—alert to the text’s observable rhetorical cues—brings the central features of the Disciple’s characterization to life in front of an ancient audience. While many interpreters have cast the Beloved Disciple as an “ideal” figure, Zito argues that he is distinguished not by perfection but by his willingness to be near Jesus and move toward him in every circumstance.
Copyright Year:
2026
E-Book (PDF)
Availability:
Published
ISBN:
978-90-04-76042-4
Publication:
08 May 2026
Hardback
Availability:
Published
ISBN:
978-90-04-75924-4
Publication:
14 May 2026
Cover The Beloved Disciple in Performance

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Eric Christian Zito (PhD, Loyola University Chicago) is an independent scholar specializing in the New Testament and Early Christianity. His research focuses on biblical performance criticism, and he is the author of “Delivery in Rhetorical Handbooks, Speeches, and Material Remains,” in Persuasion and Performance: Cultural Immersions (Cascade).
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations XI
Introduction

1 The Development of Biblical Performance Criticism
 1 Biblical Performance Criticism
 2 Biblical Performance Criticism for This Project
 3 Conclusion

2 Insights from Biblical Performance Characterization
 1 New Testament Character Studies
 2 Biblical Performance Characterization
 3 Incorporating Insights
 4 Looking Ahead

3 Rhetoric and the Beloved Disciple
 1 Unnamed (“Anonymous”) Characters in John
 2 Appraisals of the Beloved Disciple
 3 John and Drama
 4 John and Rhetoric
 5 Conclusion

4 Johannine Discipleship: Being Near and Moving Toward Jesus
 1 Introducing the Beloved Disciple
 2 Ekphrasis, Syncrisis, and Nonverbal Communication in Performance
 3 Enter the Beloved Disciple
 4 Setting the Scene
 5 Dinner Scene (13:21–30)
 6 John 18:15–18
 7 John 19:25–27
 8 John 20:1–9
 9 John 21:7, 20–24
 10 John 21:24 and Paideia
 11 Conclusory Notes on Performing the Beloved Disciple

5 Conclusion
Bibliography
Index of Modern Authors
Index of Ancient Sources
This book would be of interest to scholars in fields of New Testament/Johannine studies, biblical performance criticism, narrative criticism, character studies, ancient rhetoric, and ancient oratory—for scholars, graduate students, seminarians, and advanced undergraduate students.
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