JOHN 4:4–42: DEFINING A MODUS VIVENDI BETWEEN JEWS AND THE SAMARITANS JONATHAN BOURGEL Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (Germany) jbourgel@gmail.com Abstract It has often been pointed out that the Samaritans are a subject of special concern to John; this interest is most obvious in John 4:4–42. The passage relates Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob next to the city of Sychar. This essay demonstrates that John 4:4–42 represents an attempt to delineate the outline of a mixed Jewish–Samaritan commu- nity. This account had a twofold aim: in the first place, it was designed to overcome the Jews’ reluctance to deal with Samaritans, by depicting Jesus as disregarding prejudices about their alleged ritual impurity; secondly, it was intended to make the faith in Jesus accessible and relevant to the Samaritans. INTRODUCTION It has often been pointed out that Samaria and the Samaritans are a subject of special concern to John. This interest is most obvious in John 4:4–42, which relates Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob (next to the city of Sychar). In the course of their conversation, Jesus succeeds in overcoming the obstacle of the controversies between Jews and Samaritans by expounding the faith he brings. Thus, by the end of their dialogue, the Samaritan woman expresses her belief in Jesus and alerts her fellow Samaritans that the Messiah has come. Afterwards, Jesus remains among the Samaritans for two days and many of them come to believe in him. As John P. Meier has rightly stressed John 4:4–42 is ‘the most explicit and well-informed passage about Samaritans in the New Testament’. 1 The precise origin and significance of John 4:4–42 have sparked an intense scholarly debate. It has been contended, for instance, that the passage reflects John’s willingness to foster the mission to 1 John P. Meier, ‘The Historical Jesus and the Historical Samaritans: What Can Be Said?’, Bib 81 (2000), pp. 202–32, at 229. The Journal of Theological Studies, NS, 2018 ß The Author 2018. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com doi:10.1093/jts/flx215 1 of 27 Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jts/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jts/flx215/4810681 by Mount Royal University user on 27 January 2018