Meeting Nicodemus: A Case Study in Daring Theological Interpretation

2013 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
David F. Ford
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Gospel Of John ◽  
Synoptic Gospels ◽  
Theological Interpretation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Key Features ◽  
John's Gospel ◽  
Opening Up

AbstractThe Nicodemus story can be read as a distillation of the Gospel of John and an example of many of its key features. John 3:1–21 poses a wide range of the problems raised by this most distinctive and mysterious of the four gospels. It shows characteristic practices of John as a reader, writer and teacher. In line with John's theology of the Spirit ‘leading into all the truth’, it also shows him as a daring theologian, opening up fresh interpretations and ways of doing theology beyond the Septuagint and the Synoptic Gospels and even beyond his own Prologue (itself a remarkably daring piece of theology). That same Spirit means that John also expects his readers to be led into further truth, and to improvise on his theology as he himself did on the Septuagint and on the Synoptic traditions. His ways of reading, writing and teaching encourage such a response in the Spirit by creating a work rich in intertextuality, imagery and conceptuality which has a ‘deep plain sense’, superabundant in meaning and always inviting the reader to reread, learn more and interpret afresh. So one challenge for readers now is whether they are open not only to thinking along with John but also to thinking beyond him, in ways appropriate to different people and contexts. But this transformation in thought and imagination is not all: it is inseparable from doing the truth ‘in God’. The mutual involvement of seeing, believing/trusting, knowing and living in love is above all communicated in the drama of John's Gospel, whose backbone is a series of meetings with Jesus and the injunction to follow Jesus. More embracing and fundamental than, for example, doctrinal theology or existential decision-making, is the dramatic reality of encountering other people and following Jesus in all the complexities of life in specific contexts. In John 3:1–21 the encounter of Jesus with Nicodemus is the dramatic heart of the passage, blending into a discourse which itself culminates in the ultimate drama of ‘deeds done in God’. But to stop interpretation there would be to refuse the Johannine invitation to enter into more truth with a view to ‘doing greater things’. So the article ends with two midrashic interpretations of Nicodemus for today.

scholarly journals Die Semeia [tekens] in die Evangelie volgens Johannes

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Udo Schnelle
Keyword(s):  
Gospel Of John ◽  
Synoptic Gospels ◽  
Source Theory ◽  
John's Gospel ◽  
Miracle Narratives

Die semeia in die Evangelie van Johannes word eerstens geanaliseer in verhouding tot soortgelyke wonderverhale, veral in die sinoptiese evangelies en ten tweede in verhouding tot die breër Johannese narratief. Duidelike ooreenkomste met sommige van die sinoptiese wonderverhale word bespreek. Dit lei tot die bevraagtekening van die sogenaamde ‘semeia-bron’-teorie. Opvolgend op hierdie diskussie word Johannes se eie interpretasie van die wonders nagegaan. Daar word veral aan die vervlegting van die wonderverhale met die teologie van Johannes aandag gegee, veral ten opsigte van die verhouding tussen die Vader en die Seun, geloof, die menslikheid van Jesus en die lyding van Jesus.The Semeia in the Gospel according to John. The semeia in the Gospel of John are analysed, first in relation to other similar miracle narratives, especially in the synoptic gospels, and secondly in perspective of the broader narrative of John’s Gospel. Clear links with some of the synoptic miracle narratives are discussed, questioning the ‘semeia source’ theory. This discussion is followed by a consideration of John’s own interpretation of the miracles, exploring the interwovenness of the miracle stories with the theology of John, especially regarding the relation between the Father and the Son, the humanness of Jesus, the passion of Jesus and faith.

scholarly journals Researching the delivery of health and nutrition interventions for women and children in the context of armed conflict: lessons on research challenges and strategies from BRANCH Consortium case studies of Somalia, Mali, Pakistan and Afghanistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle F. Gaffey ◽  
Anushka Ataullahjan ◽  
Jai K. Das ◽  
Shafiq Mirzazada ◽  
Moctar Tounkara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Nutrition Interventions ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Research Challenges ◽  
Conflict Settings ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Women And Children

Abstract Background The BRANCH Consortium recently conducted 10 mixed-methods case studies to investigate the provision of health and nutrition interventions for women and children in conflict-affected countries, aiming to better understand the dominant influences on humanitarian health actors’ programmatic decision-making and how such actors surmount intervention delivery barriers. In this paper, the research challenges encountered and the mitigating strategies employed by the case study investigators in four of the BRANCH case study contexts are discussed: Somalia, Mali, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Discussion Many of the encountered research challenges were anticipated, with investigators adopting mitigation strategies in advance or early on, but others were unexpected, with implications for how studies were ultimately conducted and how well the original study aims were met. Insecurity was a fundamental challenge in all study contexts, with restricted geographical access and concerns for personal safety affecting sampling and data collection plans, and requiring reliance on digital communications, remote study management, and off-site team meetings wherever possible. The need to navigate complex local sociopolitical contexts required maximum reliance on local partners’ knowledge, expertise and networks, and this was facilitated by early engagement with a wide range of local study stakeholders. Severe lack of reliable quantitative data on intervention coverage affected the extent to which information from different sources could be triangulated or integrated to inform an understanding of the influences on humanitarian actors’ decision-making. Conclusion Strong local partners are essential to the success of any project, contributing not only technical and methodological capacity but also the insight needed to truly understand and interpret local dynamics for the wider study team and to navigate those dynamics to ensure study rigour and relevance. Maintaining realistic expectations of data that are typically available in conflict settings is also essential, while pushing for more resources and further methodological innovation to improve data collection in such settings. Finally, successful health research in the complex, dynamic and unpredictable contexts of conflict settings requires flexibility and adaptability of researchers, as well as sponsors and donors.

Aphorisms of Jesus in John: An Illustrative Look at John 4.35

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 207-229
Author(s):  
Linda McKinnish Bridges
Keyword(s):  
Gospel Of John ◽  
Synoptic Gospels ◽  
Literary Genre ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Full Expression ◽  
Jesus Seminar ◽  
The World ◽  
John's Gospel ◽  
And Function ◽  
Sayings Of Jesus

AbstractThis literary genre, the aphorism, finds full expression in the Gospel of John. Vestiges of the world of orality, these 'gems of illumination' invite intense reflection and response as they illuminate not only the literary landscape of the Gospel but also provide a lens for viewing the Jesus tradition in the Gospel of John. My work is indebted to the research of J.D. Crossan, author of In Fragments who has written the definitive work on the aphorisms of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels. More explorative work, however, is needed for the aphorisms of Jesus with particular focus on John's Gospel. Although the aphorisms of Jesus in John were omitted in the database of authentic sayings of Jesus compiled by the members of the Jesus Seminar, might these lapidary gems be placed on the table once more for exploration? While I am confident that the Johannine aphorisms lead us through the narrative landscape of the Gospel and even reveal distinctive aspects of the community, is it possible that they might also provide at least a brief glimpse of Jesus? Using the agrarian aphorism of Jn 4.35 as a showcase illustration, this article proposes to identify the form and function of the Johannine aphorism; to investigate the authenticity of the saying in Jn 4.34-35 using established criteria of authenticity; and to suggest the often-overlooked criterion of orality is a most useful tool for continued exploration.

Sustainability performance assessment of an aircraft manufacturing firm

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 1500-1527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alok Raj ◽  
Samir K. Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Composite Index ◽  
Noise Emission ◽  
Manufacturing Firm ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Quantitative Measurements ◽  
Aircraft Manufacturing ◽  
Wide Range

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a composite index (CI) to evaluate the sustainability performance of an aircraft manufacturing firm using Fuzzy Best Worst Multi Criteria (FBWM) decision-making approach. It identifies a wide range of sub-dimensions and their attributes to measure sustainability in a multi-echelon supply chain. Design/methodology/approach FBWM, a hybrid multi-criteria decision making method, relies on multiple sub-dimensions and attributes for assessment of sustainability. Sub-dimensions and attributes are identified from a detailed literature review and inputs from 17 experts. The weights are evaluated using best worst method (BWM). Quantitative measurements are very difficult for attributes like living conditions, noise emission, etc., so the performance of attributes are assessed using Fuzzy logic. The proposed methodology is validated with the case study of a single unit of an Indian aircraft manufacturing firm. Findings Economic concerns emerge as the most influential dimension of sustainability in the aerospace sector. The results reveal that the firm considered in the case study is “Very Sustainable.” Firm’s performance ratings are excellent in three out of 79 attributes considered for the study. Further, 24 weaker (least performing) attributes are identified with the help of fuzzy performance index. These require managerial action for improvements. Research limitations/implications The present study is based on inputs from a small group of managers in a single firm in India. It can be extended to a large group of executives in other firms like Boeing, Airbus, etc. for testing the validity of the proposed methodology and generalization of the findings. Practical implications Managers, consultants and audit agencies can use the proposed CI developed in this paper for evaluating the sustainability performance of a firm. It assists managers to identify weaker attributes for which they may plan and prioritize their activities for improvements. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to measure sustainability in an aircraft manufacturing firm. The paper proposes a novel framework based on fuzzy BWM, for assessing sustainability performance.

Implementation of Quantitative Risk Assessment: Case Study

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Mangold ◽  
W. Kent Muhlbauer ◽  
Jim Ponder ◽  
Tony Alfano
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
The United States ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Classical Statistics ◽  
Wide Range

Risk management of pipelines is a complex challenge due to the dynamic environment of the real world coupled with a wide range of system types installed over many decades. Various methods of risk assessment are currently being used in industry, many of which utilize relative scoring. These assessments are often not designed for the new integrity management program (IMP) requirements and are under direct challenge by regulators. SemGroup had historically used relative risk assessment methodologies to help support risk management decision-making. While the formality offered by these early methods provided benefits, it was recognized that, in order to more effectively manage risk and better meet the United States IMP objectives, a more effective risk assessment would be needed. A rapid and inexpensive migration into a better risk assessment platform was sought. The platform needed to be applicable not only to pipeline miles, but also to station facilities and all related components. The risk results had to be readily understandable and scalable, capturing risks from ‘trap to trap’ in addition to risks accompanying each segment. The solution appeared in the form a quantitative risk assessment that was ‘physics based’ rather than the classical statistics based QRA. This paper will outline the steps involved in this transition process and show how quantitative risk assessment may be efficiently implemented to better guide integrity decision-making, illustrated with a case study from SemGroup.

scholarly journals Rudolf Bultmann: Sy mees invloedryke bydrae in die 20ste eeu: ‘Urchristentum’, ‘Jesus’, ‘Johannes’-kommentaar?

2011 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andries G. Van Aarde
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Gospel Of John ◽  
Current Phase ◽  
Theological Interpretation ◽  
Historical Discourse ◽  
Rudolf Bultmann ◽  
Theological Discourse ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
Hellenistic World ◽  
John's Gospel

Rudolf Bultmann: His most influential contribution in the 20th century: ‘Urchristentum’, ‘Jesus’, ‘Commentary on John’s gospel’? This article pays tribute to Rudolf Bultmann as a scholar of faith who fulfilled the most influential role in the interpretation of Jesus and the New Testament during the twentieth century. In the article Bultmann’s leading publications are discussed against the background of the question of which one has been the most significant. Three important publications are identified, namely his book on the socio-cultural environment of the earliest followers of Jesus in first-century Semitic-Hellenistic world, his book on the historical Jesus, and his commentary on the Gospel of John. Various criteria are applied to value the significance of these three publications. They are Bultmann’s understanding of what the scientific nature of the theological discourse principally would entail; how modern-day believers could adhere to an ancient mythological discourse; the way in which today a historical discourse could existentially been engaged with and why Jesus of Nazareth would be regarded as theologically significant. Both the depth of Bultmann’s understanding of the substance of the theological discourse found in John’s gospel and the quality of Bultmann’s historical-critical analysis of John’s gospel lead to the finding that this commentary should be considered to be not only the most significant for the twentieth century but beyond that time even into the current phase of biblical and theological interpretation.

The Competitive Textualization of Johannine and Thomasine Tradition

2020 ◽  
pp. 131-160
Author(s):  
Chris Keith
Keyword(s):  
Gospel Of John ◽  
Synoptic Gospels ◽  
Gospel Of Thomas ◽  
John's Gospel

Chapter 5 presents the presence of competitive textualization in John’s Gospel and the Gospel of Thomas. The chapter argues that the Gospel of John claims superiority to prior Jesus books at John 20:30–31 and 21:24–25, the so-called Johannine “colophons.” Particularly in reference to the knowledge of other Jesus books reflected in John 21:24–25, the chapter also suggests that these texts support arguments that the author of John’s Gospel knew one or more of the Synoptic Gospels. The chapter then highlights how the incipit of the Gospel of Thomas continues attempts to outbid predecessors by portraying its Gospel as dictated directly from Jesus.

scholarly journals Concurrent assessment of epidemiological and operational uncertainties for optimal outbreak control: Ebola as a case study

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1905) ◽  
pp. 20190774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shou-Li Li ◽  
Matthew J. Ferrari ◽  
Ottar N. Bjørnstad ◽  
Michael C. Runge ◽  
Christopher J. Fonnesbeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Information Gain ◽  
West African ◽  
Careful Examination ◽  
Intervention Effectiveness ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreak ◽  
Sources Of Uncertainty ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Concurrent Assessment

Determining how best to manage an infectious disease outbreak may be hindered by both epidemiological uncertainty (i.e. about epidemiological processes) and operational uncertainty (i.e. about the effectiveness of candidate interventions). However, these two uncertainties are rarely addressed concurrently in epidemic studies. We present an approach to simultaneously address both sources of uncertainty, to elucidate which source most impedes decision-making. In the case of the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak, epidemiological uncertainty is represented by a large ensemble of published models. Operational uncertainty about three classes of interventions is assessed for a wide range of potential intervention effectiveness. We ranked each intervention by caseload reduction in each model, initially assuming an unlimited budget as a counterfactual. We then assessed the influence of three candidate cost functions relating intervention effectiveness and cost for different budget levels. The improvement in management outcomes to be gained by resolving uncertainty is generally high in this study; appropriate information gain could reduce expected caseload by more than 50%. The ranking of interventions is jointly determined by the underlying epidemiological process, the effectiveness of the interventions and the size of the budget. An epidemiologically effective intervention might not be optimal if its costs outweigh its epidemiological benefit. Under higher-budget conditions, resolution of epidemiological uncertainty is most valuable. When budgets are tight, however, operational and epidemiological uncertainty are equally important. Overall, our study demonstrates that significant reductions in caseload could result from a careful examination of both epidemiological and operational uncertainties within the same modelling structure. This approach can be applied to decision-making for the management of other diseases for which multiple models and multiple interventions are available.

scholarly journals Justification of RFID Implementation. A Case Study of White Goods Manufacturer

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 91-104
Author(s):  
Bartlomiej Gladysz ◽  
Katarzyna Nalepa ◽  
Krzysztof Santarek
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Radio Frequency Identification ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Careful Analysis ◽  
New Method ◽  
Rfid Technology ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact ◽  
White Goods

Abstract Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a rapidly emerging technology with a wide range of impact and still not fully exploited potential applications. The impact of RFID is not limited to the area of its direct application. There are many possible benefits to be gained from RFID application, but it must be preceded with careful analysis as its implementation is not always reasonable. A new method for an assessment of RFID technology was presented and explained on the case of a white goods manufacturer. There was a lack of such a method allowing for relatively quick and flexible assessment, which is important for decision makers, who do not want to become involved in very sophisticated and time-consuming analysis at the early stage of decision making. The method supports early phases of decision making related to RFID implementation. Conclusions derived from the analysis of the case study confirmed that the method applied allows for rationalizing decision making and answers whether RFID could generate strategic advantage, in which area RFID should be applied, how RFID-supported processes will be executed and what benefits would be expected. previous papers focused only on answering specific questions from the above list, without showing a holistic approach. the approach to answer questions about execution of processes and benefits was not considered earlier at all. The paper illustrates details of using a new method of an assessment of RFID technology (ART) using a real industrial example.

Translating Khmer Second Person Pronouns: Respect, Relations, and Social Conventions in the Gospel of John

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-237
Author(s):  
Kristofer Dale Coffman
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Gospel Of John ◽  
Social Values ◽  
Theological Interpretation ◽  
Second Person ◽  
Social Conventions ◽  
Greek New Testament ◽  
Pronominal System

This paper is a case study in the challenges of translating the Greek New Testament into Khmer, the language of Cambodia. The paper focuses on Khmer’s honorific system of second-person pronouns in order to show the difficulties of translating across language families and to highlight the amount of theological interpretation that every Khmer translation entails. Through three examples drawn from the Gospel of John, the paper explores the challenges that Jesus’ presence at the heart of Christian piety poses for a pronominal system that encodes social values such as relation and respect. The paper ends with a reflection on the possible advantages of the study of idiolect for the translation of honorific pronouns.

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