A literary and theological comparison between the odes of Solomon and the Johannine literature

Abstract

Prom the time of the discovery of the Odes of Solomon relationships to the Johannine Literature have been seen. As during the course of this century new documents were discovered and related to the Fourth Gospel, as for example Mandaean texts, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Gnostic library from Chenoboskion, so they have also been related to the Odes, The investigation into the relationship between the Odes of Solomon and the Johannine Literature is based on four main areas - Christology, Soteriology, the Holy Spirit, and Eachatology, A study of these four areas reveals that although there is a certain amount of correspondence in terminology and concept, the differences are greater than the similarities. Particularly important for both the Odes and John is Christology, and it can be shown that only in the very basic titles of Christology is there any correspondence in terminology, but these terms are not employed in the same way. The attempt to express the nature of the relationship leads to an investigation of the place of Gnosticism in early Christianity. This is a question beset with difficulties because of the lack of agreed terminology and the problems of definition. Therefore we attempt to define what is meant by Gnosticism, and to draw some conclusions about the relationship between the Odes and John on the one hand, and Gnosticism on the other. In attempting to define the relationship between John and the Odes more closely, we refer to other religious movements to which they axe related - Judaism and the Quraran movement. Gnosticism, Mandaeism, and also to 0, Cullmann's thesis of the relationships of the Johannine circle. We conclude that the area which best provides the link between the Odes and John is Gnosticism, the language and conceptuality of which is seen to be part of the Syrian environment of the Odes and John,