‘Doing evil’ as maiestas in John 18.30
Journal article
Wassell, Blake. (2020). ‘Doing evil’ as maiestas in John 18.30. Journal for the Study of the New Testament. 42(3), pp. 325-349. https://doi.org/10.1177/0142064X19890506
Authors | Wassell, Blake |
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Abstract | The argument of this article is that in Jn 18.30 Jesus is accused of ‘doing evil’ to Caesar – or maiestas. Johannine critics sometimes mention maiestas, but they have neither introduced the ancient and modern literature on the topic nor applied it to the interpretation of the accusation against Jesus in John’s gospel. Horace, Velleius Paterculus, the senatus consultum de Cn. Pisone patre and Suetonius, as well as various treaties and edicts, demonstrate the transference of maiestas from Rome to Caesar. So instead of slandering the people, the crime of maiestas became slandering the emperor. If an author such as Josephus seems, in his own way, to intimate the crime, then so also may John. And if ‘doing evil’ means maiestas, then Jn 18.30 fits more comfortably not only with the wider first century, but also the wider Johannine narrative. |
Keywords | John 18.30; maiestas; Rome; Caesar; Tiberius; Josephus |
Year | 2020 |
Journal | Journal for the Study of the New Testament |
Journal citation | 42 (3), pp. 325-349 |
Publisher | SAGE Publications |
ISSN | 0142-064X |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1177/0142064X19890506 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85081373498 |
Page range | 325-349 |
Publisher's version | License All rights reserved File Access Level Controlled |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 02 Mar 2020 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 13 Oct 2022 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8y558/-doing-evil-as-maiestas-in-john-18-30
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