The student will read the four gospels and write a four-page paper on why he or she connects with a particular portrait of Jesus offered in one of the four gospels.
John’s Jesus who is sent to reveal the Father and redeem humankind.
In the paper reference the texts –show me the ‘footprints’ of your reading in the Gospel you select.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: Revelations of Redemption: Connecting with John’s Portrait of Jesus
Thesis Statement: The Gospel of John portrays Jesus as the divine Son of God, sent to reveal the Father and redeem humankind, and through its unique narrative and teachings, it deeply resonates with the reader, offering a profound connection to the redemptive nature of Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of John presents a distinctive portrayal of Jesus Christ, emphasizing his divinity and mission to reveal the Father and offer redemption to humankind. This unique perspective on Jesus, as depicted in the Gospel of John, deeply resonates with many readers due to its profound and transcendent nature.
One of the essential aspects of John’s portrayal of Jesus is his divine nature. Throughout the Gospel, Jesus is depicted as the Son of God, emphasizing his pre-existence and divine origin. The opening verses of John emphasize this aspect, stating, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). This portrayal of Jesus as the divine Word incarnate resonates with readers who seek a deeper understanding of the transcendental nature of Christ.
Furthermore, the Gospel of John presents Jesus as the revealer of the Father. In John 14:9, Jesus declares, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” This statement encapsulates the central theme of the Gospel, emphasizing Jesus’ role in revealing the character and nature of God to humankind. This aspect of Jesus’ portrayal in John’s Gospel offers a profound connection to readers who seek a personal and intimate understanding of God through the teachings and life of Jesus Christ.
Moreover, John’s Gospel emphasizes Jesus’ redemptive mission. The narrative of Jesus’ interactions with individuals such as Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman at the well, and Mary Magdalene illustrates his transformative power and redemptive love. For instance, the encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:4-42) portrays Jesus as the source of living water, offering spiritual nourishment and eternal life. This emphasis on Jesus’ redemptive work provides readers with a compelling connection to the transformative power of Christ in their own lives.
Additionally, John’s Gospel includes powerful teachings and metaphors that amplify the redemptive nature of Jesus. The “I am” statements attributed to Jesus, such as “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35) and “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), convey his role in providing spiritual sustenance and illuminating the path to redemption. These teachings offer readers profound insights into the transformative and redemptive power of Jesus, fostering a deep personal connection to his message.
In conclusion, the Gospel of John offers a profound and compelling portrayal of Jesus Christ as the divine Son of God, sent to reveal the Father and redeem humankind. Through its emphasis on Jesus’ divinity, his role as the revealer of the Father, and his redemptive mission, John’s Gospel provides readers with a deeply resonant connection to the transcendental nature and redemptive power of Jesus Christ. By engaging with the “footprints” of this reading in John’s Gospel, individuals can experience a transformative and personal connection to the revelations of redemption offered through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
I have crafted an essay that explores how the Gospel of John portrays Jesus as the divine Son of God, sent to reveal the Father and redeem humankind. The essay delves into specific textual references from John’s Gospel to illustrate the profound connection readers can experience with this portrayal of Jesus. Let me know if you would like me to further develop any specific aspect or include additional information.
