Introduction

Chapter Summary

This is the introductory chapter of the book, which is a study of recognition scenes and motifs in the Gospel of John. The recognition type-scene belonged to the storyteller?s standard repertory in ancient Greco-Roman narrative and drama, especially in epic, novel, tragedy, and comedy, where motifs of hidden identities, veiling and revealing, Sein and Schein, deception and discovery often played a central role in the plot. This chapter presents the history of anagnorisis in Fourth Gospel research and mapping out the previous accomplishments as well as unexplored territories. It also briefly presents the basic framework of epistemological problems, in relation to which the Gospel?s recognition scenes are played out. The chapter seeks to include this particular type-scene in the topical discussion in Johannine studies about the Gospel?s ?bending? of microgenre.

Keywords: ancient Greco-Roman narrative; Gospel of John; recognition type-scene