Margaret L. Stevenson [Ph.D.]: "This man does many signs" (John 11:47): controversies over raising the dead.(SUMMARIES OF DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS)(Report)

This dissertation examines a controversial moment in the Gospel of John--the raising of Lazarus--in light of three interrelated discourses in antiquity, which counterpose "miracle" and "magic."

Part I, "Prophecy and False Prophecy," traces a discourse that John shares with rabbinic writings, that of identifying the false prophet (based on Deuteronomy 13 and 18) as one who deceives Israel by specious miracles (called "signs"). False prophecy and magic contribute to historical reconstructions of Jesus's trial (chapter one) and are overlaid in John by ethnic rivalries, themes traced exegetically (chapter two). Lazarus functions exegetically to bridge the Jewish and Roman trials …