"Signs" in the Fourth Gospel
by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

I. "Miracles" in the Synoptic Gospels vs. "Signs" in the Fourth Gospel

 . Synoptics John
Number & Type: dozens of specific narratives and general summaries; 
exorcisms, nature miracles, healing miracles, restoration miracles		 only few individual events; no summaries or exorcisms; 
only a few "nature" and "healing" miracles and one "raising dead"
Character of the Narratives: emphasize extraordinary elements of the actions; 
people often praise God afterward		 downplays "miraculous" aspects; 
but followed by controversy dialogues
Function of Jesus' Actions: powerful deeds related to Kingdom of God and authority of Jesus, esp. over Satan symbolic actions that reveal Jesus' origin, identity, and relationship with God
Role of Faith / Believing: faith is usually a prerequisite for Jesus being able to perform miracles people (should) come to believe as a result of seeing the "sign" that Jesus performed

II. Terminology

There is no single Greek word for "miracle" (despite KJV and some other translations!):
 

Greek term English transl.
Mark
Matt
Luke
John
Acts
rest of NT
dunamiV (dynamis) "power; mighty deed"
10
12
15
0
10
72
shmeion (semeion) "sign"
7
13
11
17
13
16
teraV (teras)  "wonder" [always w/ "sign"]
1
1
0
1
9
5
ergon (ergon) "work" or "deed"
2
6
2
27
10
122

III. Number of Signs in the Fourth Gospel?

Traditional list of seven (or eight?) signs:

a) 2:1-11 Water into Wine at Cana - "Jesus did this, the first of his signs... and manifested his glory" (2:11)
b) 4:46-54 Official's son near death at Capernaum - "the second sign that Jesus did" (4:54)
c?) 5:1-9ff Healing of a sick man at Pool of Bethesda - called a "work," not a "sign" (7:21; cf. 5:17)
d) 6:1-14ff Feeding of the 5000 - "When the people saw the sign which he had done..." (6:14)
e?) 6:16-21 Walking on water (never called a "sign", nor does it function as one!)
f) 9:1-7ff  Healing of a man born blind - "How can a sinner do such signs?" (9:16)
g) 11:1-45 Lazarus raised from the dead - "they heard he had done this sign" (12:18)
h?) 21:1-14 Resurrection Appearance at Sea of Tiberias (not called a "sign", but closely related)

"Many other signs" mentioned, but not narrated: 2:23; 3:2; 6:2; 7:31; 9:16; 11:47; 12:37; 20:30-31; cf. 4:45 

IV. The Main Texts of the Fourth Gospel mentioning "Signs," "Works," etc.

2:1-11 5:2-18 6:25-33 10:25 Ch. 13-20??
2:13-16 5:19-21 7:1-9 10:31-38 14:10-13
3:19-20 6:2 7:25-31 10:40-42 15:24
4:34 6:3-14 8:39-41 11:1-44 17:1-5
4:46-54 6:16-20 9:1-40 12:37,42 20:30-31

See also "work," "glory/glorify," "the hour," "will of God" 

V. The Last and Greatest "Sign" is the Cross!

a) the last mention of "signs" comes after the passion narrative (20:30-31)
b) "sign" refers to the death and resurrection of Jesus in 2:18-22
c) so does the related verb "to indicate, signify, to show by sign" in 12:31-33; 18:32 (cf. Exod 4:8-9; Num 14:11, 22)
d) verb "lifted up" implies crucifixion in 3:13-15; 8:28-30 (cf. Num 21:8-9; Isa 43:10-13; etc.)
e) in the passion narrative, the cross functions to bring people to believe (19:35-37; cf. Zech 12:10 - 13:1)
f) the death of Jesus is the "completion" of his "work" (cf. 4:34; 5:36; 17:4, 23; and 19:28, 30)

VI. Definition & Function of the Johannine Signs: Bringing People to BELIEVE

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This page was last updated on April 16, 2011
Copyright © 1999--2011 by Felix Just, S.J.