John's Gospel as Ancient Biography

After demonstrating that the Gospel of John participates in the spectrum of Ancient Lives, Anna S. Grottoli convincingly shows that the author of the Gospel of John not only knew about Mark's Gospel but also actively utilised it. She reveals that the Johannine author repurposed Markan material to create an ideal portrayal of Jesus' person and work. By focusing on an aspect of Lives-writing previously underestimated in Gospel studies, she demonstrates how authors of Lives rewrote their source material in transformative ways, rather than simply copying it unimaginatively. The author of John's Gospel, she argues, rewrote Markan material in keeping with the rewriting practices of the time and according to his thematic and theological interests. Ancient biographers typically intended their updated narratives to help readers and hearers fully grasp the subject's intrinsic character and 'way of life'. This is also the case with John; the need for this book - and therefore its existence - stems from the author's interest in enabling the audience to encounter Jesus in the rich and profound way the author originally envisioned.