Johannine Belief and Graeco-Roman Devotion: Reshaping Devotion for John’s Graeco-Roman Audience

Believing is a central concept in the Gospel of John, and Chris Seglenieks analyzes how and why believing takes the shape it does. The Gospel presents an ideal response of believing in Jesus that resonates with Graeco-Roman patterns of devotion to the gods, but importantly reshapes the form of such devotion in order that it might be directed appropriately towards Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God. The Johannine pattern of belief includes a cognitive, relational, ethical, ongoing, and public aspect. Contrary to Graeco-Roman religious contexts, ritual is minimised. The identity of Jesus, and particularly his incarnation and his indwelling in believers, motivates the Gospel’s presentation of how one is to believe in order to receive life.