Another Take on the Johannine Temple Cleansing Crux: A Perspective from Jewish Messianism

Another Take on the JohannineTemple Cleansing Crux: A Perspective from Jewish Messianism

Josaphat C. TAM

John 2:13-22 has been an interpretive crux throughout the history of Johannine studies. There has been a long controversy as to whether there is only one temple cleansing or two, and whether it is at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry or towards the end of it. After examining scholar's viewpoints and explanations, this paper presents an alternative solution. From the perspective of Jewish messianism and via literary analysis, I suggest that John deliberately transposes the event in order to create a miniature preview of Jesus' life, thus fulfilling the messianic expectations in Jesus' time. Coupled with a thorough analysis of the literary context, this proposed interpretation is able to explain the author's strategy and purpose in the Gospel more convincingly and comprehensively.