“MEN, A WOMAN, JESUS, SIN”
John 7:53-8:11
Jaeng Ae Yoon
JAENG AE YOON is a Korean Columban sister living in Seoul. A nurse by
profession, she worked with lepers before studying theology in Seoul,
Korea and Wicklow, Ireland. She was engaged in pastoral ministry for
eight years in Hong Kong before pursuing her M.A. degree in theology at
the Institute of Formation and Religious Studies, Manila. Her many
research interests include a feminist interpretation of the scriptures
as well as the influence of Confucianism on the Korean Church. Her
article “The Challenge of the Marriage Metaphor of Hosea 1-3 to
Confucian Marriage Practices in Korea” appeared in the East Asian
Pastoral Review, Vol. 37 (2000), no. 2.
While acknowledging the
positive influences of Confucianism on Korean culture, one cannot ignore
its contribution to the oppression of women. The subordination of women
to men in Confucian teaching and the subsequent oppression of women has
contributed to the unequal partnership in marriage between men and
women. Korean Christians need to be helped to read the scriptures
critically to discover the liberating message of Jesus.
The story of the woman
caught in adultery in John 7:53-8:11 offers one such liberating message.
I hope this reflection will provide one small but significant
contribution towards helping Korean Christian women reflect on the
message and compassion of Jesus in a society which demands strict
chastity of women but allows a double standard of life for men. In John
7:53-8:11 Jesus allows no one to cast the first stone!
The Gospel story of the
woman caught in adultery in John 7:53-8:11 has captured women’s hearts.
It speaks especially to Korean women. The story depicts Jesus’
compassion for a woman in a vulnerable situation. His profound wisdom
saved her from a life and death situation. And his forgiveness stirs up
our strong feelings of gratitude towards him since the story is an
authentic piece of Jesus’ tradition. Since Korean men are living a
double standard life and can escape from the adultery situation which
contrasts with the forced demands on women’s chastity, the message of
John 7:53-8:11 will be helpful for women to recognize that any form of
oppression is wrong and they are precious in Jesus’ eyes. Thus, this
story is more than moral teaching for Korean women.
However, this text has a
complicated textual history; furthermore, it does not belong to the
Johannine text. Therefore, I would like to offer evidences to show that
the passage is a non-Johannine text, then I will describe the history of
its textual transmission, its historical value and its canonical
location. Lastly, I will study the content and the message of the text.
Non-Johannine Origin
There are literary and
extra biblical evidences to show that the text does not belong to the
Johannine literature. The literary evidence such as style, syntax and
vocabulary suggests that the story’s origin is not Johannine. For
example, the noun “scribes (grammateis)” in 8:3 is used only once in the
Fourth Gospel, although the noun is common in the other gospels (Mt
5:20; 12:38; Mk 2:16; 7:1; Lk 5:21, 30; 11:35). The setting and form of
the story also suggest that the text is not original to the Johannine
text: e.g., a controversy with a Jewish leader in the temple (Jn 8:2)
has more in common with the synoptic temple controversy stories (Mt
2:23-27; 22:15-22-33; Mt 11:27-33; 12:13-17-27; Lk 2:1-8, 20-40) than
the long and involved debate between Jesus and the Jewish authorities in
John [5:19-47; 8:12-58] (O’Day 1995: 627).
The passage (7:35-8:11) is
absent from all of the important early Greek textual witnesses of the
Eastern Provenance and is missing from the earliest forms of the Syriac
and Coptic Gospels. It is also missing from many of the Old Latin, Old
Gregorian, and Armenian manuscripts. There are no comments on them by
the Greek writers on John of the 1st millennium. The evidence for the
passage as scripture in the early centuries is confined to the Western
Church, and the text appears in some Old Latin texts of the Gospels and
the 5th C.E. Greco-Latin Cotex Bezae (Carson 1991: 333).1
All the early Church
Fathers omit this narrative and they pass immediately from 7:52 to 8:12.
No Eastern Father of the Church cites the passage before the tenth
century. But Ambrose and Augustine wanted it read as part of the Gospel
and Jerome included it in the Vulgate (Brown 1996: 335).
A number of later
manuscripts that include the narrative mark it off with asterisks or
obeli indicating hesitation as to its authenticity and its textual
variants. Although most of the manuscripts (e.g., Jerome’s Vulgate) that
include the story place it between 7:34 and 8:12, some place it instead
after Lk 21:38 or 24:53 and others place it after Jn 7:44, 7:36 or 21:25
(Brown 1996: 335).2 All this suggests that this story of Jesus once
circulated independently but did not find a place in John as the first
Gospel was published. As we have seen above, most scholars are agreed
that the text is not Johannine.
History of Textual Transmission
The textual history of the
passage is notoriously complex. However, Brad H. Young tells us that
there are three aspects of the textual history that have strong support.
One is that 7:53-8:11 did not originate as a part of John’s gospel.
Secondly, John 8:6a “They said to test him, so that they might have some
charge to bring against him” (NRSV)3 is an even later addition to the
text. And the last is that in its original form the entire story
represents a realistic story. It can be counted among the best sources
available for the life and teaching of Jesus (Young 1995: 61).
There are six stages that
provide an outline of the story’s transmission. Stage one is: the story
circulated without verse 6a. Stage two is that the story became popular
enough to be inserted into one or more manuscripts of the text of John
(after 7:52, 7:36, 7:44 or 21:25). Stage three is that verse 6a was
placed into the story in one or more manuscripts of John. Stage four is
the growing manuscript tradition. In this tradition, some copies of John
were generated that lacked 7:53-8:11 entirely. Other copies contained
the story of the woman caught in adultery without 8:6a; still other
copies contained the story including verse 8:6a. In stage five the
confusion arose over the position of John 8:6a because the interpolation
broke the continuity of the episode and because other texts omitted
8:6a. Stage six is that verse 6a achieves a permanent place in the
gospel tradition (Young 1995: 61-2).
The Historical Value of the Story
Although the story did not
belong to the canonical books in the beginning, there is some evidence
that the event occurred as described. There are similar stories found in
other non-biblical sources. Obviously the story is ancient and is a
well-known example of our Lord’s gentleness. First, a form of the
episode is attested to by early patristic witnesses. Such a story is
reported by Papias and recorded by the historian Eusebius, “the account
of (a) woman, accused in the Lord’s presence of many sins which is
contained in the Gospel according to Hebrews.” Secondly, another such
story is recorded in the Apostolic Constitutions II, 24 which is the
Syriac Didascalia 7 and is dated to the third century. The constitutions
have been drawn from the Gospel of Peter which resembles the Johannine
story. This story was known in 2nd century Syria (Barret 1978: 590;
O’Day 1995: 627-8).
The Johannine story closely
resembles form and style of the synoptic narratives especially the style
of Luke (e.g., Olives in 8:1 and at dawn in 8:2). It also represents the
character and method of Jesus as these are revealed elsewhere (Barret
1978: 590). And scholars have found some agreement between the narrative
and expected Jewish custom such as the accuser being the first to throw
a stone.
The Canonical Location
Although the story of the
adulteress was an ancient story about Jesus, it did not immediately
become part of the accepted Gospel. Here is Riesenfeld’s explanation of
the delay in including the story in John. In the early church’s stern
penitential discipline it was hard to reconcile the ease of Jesus’
forgiveness of the adulteress. Thus, it was accepted only when a more
liberal penitential practice was firmly established (Riesenfeld 1952:
106-11).4 However, its canonical status is still up for debate. We will
now see how the scholars see the canonical status of the passage and its
location in the Fourth Gospel.
Some scholars see the
non-canonical status of the passage since the story is a later addition
to the gospel and is not of Johannine origin. For others, their view of
canonicity is a question of traditional ecclesiastical acceptance and
usage. In our Roman Catholic Church, the criterion of canonicity is what
is acceptable in the Vulgate, and the Church has been using the Vulgate
as its bible for centuries. The story of the adulteress has been
accepted by Jerome, and so Catholics regard it as canonical. The story
was also included in the text of the Byzantine Church and in the King
James Bible. So the majority of non-Roman Christians also accept the
story as scripture (Brown 1996: 336).
There are several possible
reasons why John 7:53-8:11 received its canonical location. Guliding
says that the location of the story both in John and Luke are on the
basis of the lectionary cycle theory (Guliding 1960: 110; Barret 1978:
590). Schilling insists on the parallel with the Susanna story that
draws attention to echoes of Daniel in John and thus makes the Daniel
motif a guiding factor for the introduction of the story of the
adulteress in John (Schilling 1955: 91-106; Brown 1996: 336). Raymond
Brown says it provides a narrative illustration of the conflict that
animates the dialogues of John 7-8. One of the specific conflicts in
John 7 is the proper interpretation of the law (7:19-24, 48-49). One can
read this story as an illustration of 7:24 which shows the difference
between judging by appearance or by right judgement. The theme of
judgement continues into John 8. For example, 8:15 “I judge by human
standard; I judge no one” 8:46 “Which of you convicts me of sin?” [NRSV]
(Brown 1996: 336). Gail O’Day says that the setting of John 7-8 was in
Jerusalem at the feast of Tabernacles and chapters 7-8 create a picture
of the increasing conflict between Jesus and his opponents (1995: 614).
Context
When we read the passage in
a larger context, two chapters (7-8) can be outlined and here I follow
O’Day’s outline (1995: 615).
7:1-13 Jesus goes to Jerusalem
7:14-36 Word of conflict: Jesus’ teaching and response
7:37-52 Word of conflict: Jesus’ teaching and response
(7:53-8:11A narrative of conflict)
8:12-30 Word of conflict: Jesus’ teaching and response
8:31-59 Debate between Jesus and his Jewish opponents
Chapters 7-8 create a
picture of the increasing conflict between Jesus and his opponents. All
of the conversations in chapter 7 center on Jesus’ identity and people’s
reaction to Jesus, and Jesus’ teaching places him in conflict with his
Jewish conversation partners in chapter 8. However, the immediate
context 7:53-8:11 also illustrates the confrontation and conflict
between Jesus and the Jewish authorities. Although the story is not
originally Johannine, we can see that it has its own role in this text.
The immediate context
7:53-8:11 has three scenes. The first scene is 7:53-8:6a: the scribes
and Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus to judge. The second scene is
8:6b-8:7: Jesus writes on the ground and addresses the Scribes and the
Pharisees. The third scene is 8:8-11: Jesus writes again on the ground
and speaks to the woman (O’Day 1992: 297).
The Mount of Olives (8:1)
is a frequent resting spot for Jesus in the synoptic tradition [Mt 21:1;
24:3; 26:30; Mk 11:1; 13:3; 14:26; Lk 21:37; 22:39] (O’Day 1995: 628).
Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives and it reflects Lk 21:37. Thus, many
exegetes think that the story is a piece of Lucan material (Perkins
1993: 965). And the temple setting (8:2) also reflects Jesus’ Jerusalem
ministry in Lk 20:1. And this temple setting influences its canonical
location in John 7-8 (O’Day 1995: 628). Jesus was addressed as a teacher
(8:4) and it was a common form of address for him in the synoptics (
e.g., Mt 8:19; 12:38; 19:16; 22:16; Mk 9:17, 38; 19:17, 20, 35; 12:14,
19; Lk 3:12; 7:40; 10:25; 20:21, 28, 39). And if the Pharisees hope to
undermine Jesus’ teaching (8:2) with their question, the address here
has an ironic tone (O’Day 1995: 628).
Chapter 8:5 reflects
Deuteronomy 22:23-24 which prescribes stoning a married woman who
commits adultery. However, there are several irregularities in the legal
case in 8:5. Firstly, they provide no witness to sustain the case since
the woman was caught in the very act of adultery (cf. Deut 17:6; 19:15).
Secondly, they did ignore the fate of her male sexual partner while the
Mosaic law makes explicit that both the man and the woman involved stand
under the death penalty (Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22). And furthermore, the
fundamental concern of the Mosaic adultery law is the protection and
stability of men’s property and the law is worded to focus primarily on
men [If a man commits adultery ...] (O’Day 1995: 62). And thirdly, there
was no information as to whether the woman was married or single or
betrothed. If the woman was a betrothed virgin who is sexually
unfaithful to her fiancŹ, a punishment was meted out to both sexual
partners (Deut 22:23-24); if the woman was married, death is prescribed
for all unfaithful wives and their lovers without prescribing the mode
of punishment. The two cases are differentiated in the Mishna (Sanhedrin
7:4). The first instance is death by stoning and the second case has
punishment by strangling (Carson 1991: 33).
There are some questions
why the Scribes and Pharisees brought the woman. Joachim Jeremias’
(1950: 148-150; Brown 1996: 337) suggestion is that she had been judged
and convicted by the Sanhedrin, and Jesus was only asked to decide the
punishment. But Raymond Brown says in verse 10 “Hasn’t anyone condemned
you?” seems to go against Jeremias’ explanation. And others believe that
the woman had not been tried because the Sanhedrin lost its right in
capital cases (There is a tradition that the Romans took away the right
of the Sanhedrin to impose capital punishment about the year 30). If
John 18:31 contains correct information that the Romans had deprived the
Jews of their right to carry out the death penalty, then the trap may
have been similar to the story in Mk 12: 13-17 [the tribute money story]
(Brown 1996: 337).
The warning in Jesus’ words
“first to throw” (8:7) may have carried a reference to the law (Deut
13:9 and Acts 7:58). Deut 17:6-7 says those who are witnesses against an
accused person have special responsibility for that person’s death, a
basic principle of testimony aimed at discouraging perjury (Perkins
1993: 965). Here, we also see that sin is linked with action in the
words of Jesus; “the one without sin, first throw the stone.” It is
unusual in the Fourth Gospel that sin is linked with action. The more
Johannine understanding of sin is linked with a person’s refusal to
recognize Jesus as the Logos (8:24; 15:22-24). And “Jesus did not answer
their legal question but moved beyond the legal argument to the more
encompassing issue of sin” (O’Day 1995: 629).
There are some interesting
hypotheses on Jesus’ writing on the ground. First, it indicates his
refusal to answer the question of the Scribes and the Pharisees which
reflects the custom in the Mediterranean world of Jesus’ time (Carson
1991: 335). Secondly, the long standing interpretation in the church was
that Jesus wrote part of Jeremiah 17:13; “Those who turn away from you
will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the
spring of the living water” (Perkins 1993: 965). Third is T.W. Manson’s
suggestion that Jesus was imitating the practice of the Roman
magistrates who wrote their sentence first and then read it (Carson
1991: 335). Fourth is Derrett’s suggestion: the first time Jesus wrote
“Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness” (Ex 23:1b), and
the second time he wrote “have nothing to do with a false charge and do
not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the
guilty” [Ex 23:7] (Carson 1991: 335).
Chapter 8:8 indicates that
Jesus is finished with their question and 8:9 shows that everyone has
sinned (O’Day 1995: 629). The first scene that that woman was directly
addressed by Jesus is in 8:10 and his form of address, woman (gynai), is
respectable (Carson 1991: 336). Chapter 8:11 reminds us that Jesus came
not to condemn but to save and he has a right to forgive sin (Carson
1991: 337).
Conclusion
As we have seen above, John
7:53-8:11 does not originally belong to the Fourth Gospel. It may be
closer to the synoptic tradition and especially to the Lucan tradition.
However, the study shows that the passage not only has a canonical
status but also has its function in the Johannine gospel within chapters
7-8. The passages 7:53-8:11 function to depict the increased tension
between them by the thematic connection, by the story of judgement and
by illustration of the confrontation and conflict between Jesus and the
Jewish authorities.
Aside from its function in
the Fourth Gospel, there is some evidence to show that the event
occurred as described. Since the story is an authentic piece of Jesus’
tradition, our Lord’s own voice closely stirs up our ears and his
gentleness touches women readers. His forgiveness certainly moves our
feelings of gratitude towards him. And his action assures us that women
are precious and valued in God’s eyes and in Jesus’ eyes.
While we read the story,
the passage challenges the double standard life where the man can escape
from the adultery situation. It also challenges the law and the people
in authority who interpret the law. It further suggests that capital
punishment is forbidden. Jesus’ grace and mercy to sinners bring freedom
not only to the woman but also to the Scribes and the Pharisees. It is
an invitation to enter a new way of life and leave the old way of life.
Thus, I conclude with Gail O’Day’s opinion: The story is about Jesus’
relationship to the law and the religious establishment rather than as a
morality tale. Jesus places his authority to forgive and to offer
freedom over and against the religious establishment’s determination of
the categories of life and death (1995: 630). This is good news for
Korean women in an oppressive Confucian society.
NOTES
1.See Brown 1993: 104, also 1996: 335 and Barret
1978: 589.
2.See the critical apparatus of Aland 1975.
3.NRSV - New Revised Standard Version
4.See “The Gospel According to John I-XII,” The
Anchor Bible (New York:Doubleday & Company, 1966), 335.
REFERENCES
Aland, Kurt et al.
1975 The Greek New Testment,4th edition. New York:
American Bible Society.
Barret, Thomas C. K.
1978 The Gospel According to St. John: An
Introduction withCommentary and Notes on the Greek Text. Philadelphia:
TheWestminster Press.
Brown, Raymond E.
1993 “Text and Versions,” The New Jerome Biblical
Commentary, eds.Raymond E. Brown, Joseph Fitzmyer, Roland E. Murphy.
London:Cassell Publisher Limited.
1996 “The Gospel of John” in The Anchor Bible. New
York: DoubleDay Company.
Carson, D.A.
1991 The Gospel According to John. England:
Inter-Varsity Press.
Guliding, A.
1960 The Fourth Gospel and Jewish Worship.
Jeremias, Joachim
1950 “Zur Geschichtlichkeit der Verhors Jesu Vordem
Hohen Rat.”ZNW 43.
O’Day, Gail R.
1992 “John” in The Women’s Bible Commentary, eds.
Carol A.Newsome and Sharon H. Ringe. Kentucky: John Knox Press.
1995 “The Gospel of John” in The New Interpreter’s
Bible. Vol IX.Nashvile: Abingdon Press.
Perkins, Pheme
1993 “The Gospel According to John” in The New
Jerome BiblicalCommentary, eds. Raymond E. Brown, Joseph Fitzmyer
andRoland E. Murphy. London: Cassell Publisher Ltd.
Reisenfeld, H.
1952 “Die Perikope von der Ehebrecherin in der
FruhkirchlichenTradition.” Svensk Exegetika Arsbok 17.
Schilling, F.A.
1955 The Story of Jesus and the Adulteress, ATR 37.
Young, Brad H.
1995 “Save the Adulteress: Ancient Jewish Response
in the Gospel.”New Testament Studies, Vol 41.
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