The light from Galilee: the narrative function of Isaiah 8:23-9:6 in John 8:12

Abstract

Application of criteria for identifying scriptural reuse demonstrates that John 8:12 is a specific allusion to Isa 9:1. Affirming the often overlooked proposal that the allusion answers the objection to Jesus in 7:52, this paper suggests the allusion serves a multi-layered narrative function. It demonstrates that Jesus’ opponents are ignorant of the portion of Isaiah to which he alludes, undermines them for their failure to know the Scriptures that testify on his behalf by a lexical link from ἐραύνησον in 7:52 to ἐραυνᾶτε in 5:39, and affirms the messianic identity of Jesus in accordance with the purpose of the book.